Common Misconceptions About Dogs

Humans decided to domesticate dogs around 30,000 years ago. That’s a long time for us to get to know them, yet even with all of that time there are still so many miconceptions about dogs and why they behave the way they behave.

Here are some of the favorite ones I’ve heard:

1. That they think like people

Way too often people anthropomorphize the things around them, and assume that everything thinks the way they do. Dogs are not human, and we treat them unfairly when we expect them to behave like one. They don’t have logic and they don’t process things the same way a human would, so it’s up to us as the species with higher intelligence to figure out the best way to communicate with them.

Phrases like, “Look how sad he is!” or “Leaving a dog cooped up in a kennel while I’m at work is cruel,” appear to be trying to treat the dog ore kindly, but in reality expose the fact that the person speaking doesn’t know about dogs and what they need. Dogs don’t communicate through expressions in the same way we do. For them, it’s all in the tail and body language. So yes, your bulldog may “look” sad, but that doesn’t mean they are sad. Human beings don’t like being cooped up in small spaces for long periods of time, but for a dog it gives them a sense of security and safety while also making sure they don’t get themselves in trouble or hurt while you’re out of the house. Don’t let your human perception of the world color your dog’s.

2. That they’ll protect you

Too many people think their yorkie will protect them from a home invader. The reality is that the vast majority of dogs are going to be looking to you for protection, not the other way around.

There are exceptions to this, of course, but trained proteciton and guard dogs are very different than the random labradoodle you brought home. You are the pack leader, and therefore it is your job to protect them, not the other way around.

Dogs go into protection drive if they believe the threat is an equal or lesser threat than themselves. So you might see your dog go after another dog if they think they can take him, but if you want them to go up against a human after a lifetime of being told never to put their teeth on human skin, you’re going to be disappointed.

Luckily, because this is such a common misconception, a lot of people don’t know that your dog won’t protect you. So if you’re just looking for an angry face to scare people off, your Fido can definitely do that. 

3. They get jealous

You see it again and again, you’re petting another dog and your own comes barreling in and shoves them out of the way. You and your friends laugh because your dog is just “so jealous.”

Dogs have much smaller brains than we do, which means they can only comprehend so many things. Dogs literally don’t have the part of the brain that stores logic, and likewise, the do not understand the concept of jealousy. At least to the degree that we do.

Jealousy is complicated. You have to be aware of yourself as a separate entity from other people, aware that they can have things that you want but don’t have, and the ability to feel resentful of that fact. That’s a lot for a very small brain to figure out. So what is actually happening in the example above? Your dog sees that you are interacting with another dog and that sight stimulates what’s called their play and pack drive. They now want to socially and physically interact with you, which causes them to rush forward in order to get those drives satisfied.

When your dog snarls and bites at a dog or person who tries to interact with you, it’s not out of jealosy or a desire to protect you. Most of the time it’s because your presence gives them a boost of confidence to protect themselves.

4. They can smell emotions

Dogs can smell 40 ties better than we can, track a scent days after it originally went through an area, and differentiate between the smell of someone running in shoes or running in socks. It’s truly incredible, and not something to be taken lightly.

But there are people out there determined to give dogs paranormal abilities, like being able to smell fear or aggression. The emotion itself doesn’t have a scent, so it’s not that dogs can smell fear, it’s that they can smell the way that fear interacts with the rest of the body. Are you sweating more? Is adrenaline now pumping through your veins? They can small and process all of that.

And beyond just smelling, they’re also extremely good at interpreting body language. Not just in other dogs, but in humans as well. This is why you should never approach a dog in a hunched position, shaking and sticking your hand out as though you’re terrified. The dog won’t know what’s so concerning and your body language will just make them uncomfortable.

So no, dogs can’t smell emotions, but they can smell the chemical changes in our bodies, which is objectively 50 times cooler.  

5. They’re trying to be frustrating and make you mad

Dogs aren’t trying to push your buttons, they’re not children trying to wheedle out your breaking point. They’re just trying to figure out where the rules are and how far they’re allowed to push them. 

And unfortunately for us, that isn’t actually the dog’s problem - It’s ours. Its our job to be clear in our expectations and firm in our rules and boundaries. If your dog is constantly pushing them its because you’ve given them the impression that that is okay, or been inconsistent with your reinforcement. This doesn’t just make your life more bothersome, but it actually hurts your dog. Don’t be confusing, be clear. We can’t get mad at them when the fault lies in our own inconsistency and lack of reinforcement.

Most of the time, your dog isn’t deliberately defying you, they just don’t understand what you’re saying or don’t see the reason why it’s important to listen. Teaching your dog reliability is entirely on you and the amount of time you’re willing to work, but that’s not your dog’s fault. Keep working with them, keep stretching, and they’ll get there. One day at a time.