Last Updated: 11/02/2026
Demystifying Common Dog Myths
Wondering about some of the common dog myths? Read more from our vets as we dive into which are true and false.
Author: Dr Kim Chainey BVSc
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
Ever wanted to know why your dog constantly sniffs other dogs' butts at the dog park? Maybe your cat is a night prowler, and you wonder how they can see so well in the dark? Have you ever contemplated taking them to the vet because their nose suddenly felt dry?
Our Vet Squad team aim to sniff out the truth! We have compiled and debunked some of the most common pet myths around. Some hold merit, while some are so outlandish it's amazing they caught on in the first place! So, if you've got a spare five minutes, grab a puppuccino and read on.
In this article
- Myth #1: Dogs sniff each other's butts to say hello
- Myth #2: You age a dog by multiplying by 7 years
- Myth #3: Dogs only eat grass when they feel sick
- Myth #4: Scooting means your dog has worms
- Myth #5: Dogs can see in the dark
- Myth #6: A wagging tail = A happy dog
- Myth #7: A dry nose means your dog is unwell
Myth #1: Dogs sniff each other's butts to say hello
Butt sniffing is a very common behaviour in our canine companions and it's not because they are obsessed with another dog's butt! Dogs are generally non-confrontational when they greet a new person or animal. Take a look next time you're at a dog park and you'll find that dogs approach each other indirectly, they usually avoid eye contact and they spend a great deal of time just sniffing each other to gather information. Physical contact is not made until this initial smelling or olfactory data is completed.
Butt sniffing is in fact is how dogs get to know each other and essentially how they say hello. This myth is TRUE.
So what exactly are they smelling on each other?
The reason dogs sniff each other's rear ends is because of anatomy. Located near a dogs bottom are two special sacs, called the anal glands. The anal glands secrete a thick, oily, and noxious smelling fluid that is completely unique to each dog and essentially is their 'chemical footprint'.
By sniffing anal glad secretions, a dog can determine a lot about another dog such as if they have met before, whether they are male or female, their mood and even if they are unwell.
So if you see your dog partake in this behaviour, it's important not to discourage them from doing so. After all, they are simply doing a bit of detective work to get to know the other dog first. It is the polite doggy thing to do!
Myth #2: You age a dog by multiplying by 7 years
The saying goes that multiplying your dog's age by 7 will determine their human age. For example, if your dog is 7 years old, they are actually 49 in human years.
All dogs initially age at the same rate for the first 4-5 years of their lives. After this time, smaller breed dogs actually age slower and live longer than their medium, large and giant breed counterparts. See our chart below for this comparison. Therefore this myth is actually FALSE.
Due to dogs different rates of ageing, it is important to feed a diet tailored towards your dog's age and size. Diets for small, medium, large and giant breed dogs, as well as seniors, ensure that these pets are receiving a complete and balanced diet specifically formulated for their current life stage.
Myth #3: Dogs only eat grass when they feel sick
Consuming grass is considered completely normal behaviour in dogs with almost 80% of pets eating grass on a regular basis.
Studies have shown that most instances of grass eating are unrelated to illness and this behaviour is actually an instinct inherited from wild ancestors. More research is needed but one theory is that the grass eating in canine and feline ancestors served a biological purpose to help purge parasites. Despite modern day parasite prevention modern dogs and cats still adopt this instinctual behaviour. Therefore this myth is FALSE.
Other reasons that pets may eat grass include a nutritional deficiencies, to aid digestion, behavioural issue like stress or boredom, and help curb nausea during the times that they do feel unwell. Providing your pet with regular fresh grass is a great addition to a complete and balanced diet.
Want to know more? Read our veterinary article Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Myth #4: Scooting means your dog has worms
Scooting, the term used to describe a dog that rubs it's bottom on the grass or carpet, has long been associated with worm infestation, though this is rarely the case. The majority of dogs that scoot are in fact experiencing issues with their anal glands. This myth is FALSE.
The Anal glands are located within a dog's bottom and typically empty during defecation. Unfortunately, in some dogs this is not the case and they may instead become impacted and full, which leads to irritation and scooting behaviour. In some cases, the addition of extra fibre such as psylium husks in the diet, Glandex soft chews orfeeding a high fibre diet such as Royal Canin Gastrointestinal High Fibre Dry Food, or regular anal gland expressing can help manage the issue.
Other reasons for scooting behaviour can include a lump, allergies, faecal contamination and lastly, parasites. A tapeworm infestation can cause anal irritation but in general worms will be noticed around a dog's bottom or on their faeces. Fleas are the culprit for tapeworm spread so always ensure your pet's parasite prevention is kept up to date.
Recommended products to support anal gland health
Myth #5: Dogs can see in the dark
Have you ever noticed that your pet's eyes glow at night when a light shines in them? Or have you ever tried to take a photo using the flash, only to find glowing eyes staring back at you!?
Unlike humans, dogs and cats have a much higher concentration of rod receptors in their eyes, as well as an additional layer of tissue called a Tapetum Ludicum. This tissue layer sits behind the retina and reflects light back, to hit the receptors a second time. This reflection gives light a second chance to hit the animal's rod receptors which in turn help to enhance their night vision. This reflection is the 'glowing' that we see from our pet's eyes when we shine a bright light in a dark environment.
So while our pets are more adapted to see better in low light they certainly can not see in complete darkness, any more than we can! This one is FALSE.
Myth #6: A wagging tail = A happy dog
You only have to go to your local dog park to realise that dogs wag their tails for many different reasons, and it's not necessarily because they're happy or excited. Of course, some dogs are overjoyed to be running around playing with other dogs, their tails wagging so fast you think it might fall off. Meanwhile, other dogs who perhaps aren't as sociable or a little timid may be wagging their tails for a very different reason such as anxiety and fear. This one is most certainly FALSE.
Factors such as the position of the tail, whether it is waging to the left or right and the speed of the wag, give clues about a dog's emotional state and their willingness to interact.
Want to know more? Read our veterinary article Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?
Myth #7: A dry nose means your dog is unwell
This is probably one of the most enduring doggy myths out there. Ultimately, this is FALSE. It probably originated from the thought that a dry nose indicates dehydration, but that's not necessarily the case.
There are a number of factors which contribute to a dog's wet nose:
1. To trap scent particles
Within a dog's nose lie mucous glands. Just like us, dogs salivate when they smell something delicious or interests them, and this causes secretion from the glands inside their nose. This secretion helps them absorb the scent. How? The mucous captures and dissolves molecules in the air and brings them into contact with specialised smelling cells. Dogs then lick their noses to taste the fluid that's been secreted, which dampens the surface of the nose.
2. Dogs sweat very differently to us
The nose and footpads are the only places that dogs sweat from, so a dog is more likely to have a wet nose when they are hot.
So in general, your dog is most likely to have a wet nose before or during meal times, when they are absorbing scents, and to help cool them down. The temperature and dryness of a dog's nose will also be dependant on its environment. Dogs who have been outside in the heat or wind are more likely to have a dry nose.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed Feb 11 2026
Edited by Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)Dr Kim Chainey BVSc
Contributing Author, BVSc
Kimberley graduated from James Cook University in 2012 and initially worked in a mixed animal practice on the Atherton Tablelands for two years. Her interest in small animal medicine led her to undertake a rotating internship at Veterinary Specialist Services in Brisbane. Since then, she has worked in small animal clinics throughout south east QLD and NSW! She is passionate about providing the best quality of care to all animals that walk through the door
