Your pup will thank you

Common dog myths you probably believe, but shouldn't!

Image: Jametlene Reskp

Dogs are part of the family: They're our best friends and our constant companions. But over the years, myths about dog behavior have made their way into common belief. Some sound logical, while others are just crazy, but how do we separate fact from fiction? Can dogs really tell time? Is chocolate always deadly? Let's take a look at some of the most common myths about our four-legged friends, some of which might just surprise you!

Image: Dominik QN

Many dog owners believe that once their pup has reached a certain age, training becomes impossible. It’s only logical: When we see a young pup and their eagerness to pick up on commands quickly, we tend to think older ones won’t be able to do that. Because of this, many people give up on training their senior dogs, assuming the effort won’t pay off. But is this belief really true? Place your bets!

Image: Camylla Battani

As it turns out, age is just a number: Dogs are capable of learning at any stage of life! While older dogs may take a little longer to pick up new habits, just like we humans, their brains remain highly adaptable.

Training activities work best when it’s fun, positive, and rewarding, so grab some tasty treats and start small. Short, frequent training sessions are the key to success.

Image: Matthew Henry

Ever leave the house and come back to a dog who acts like you’ve been gone for years? Many assume dogs don’t understand time, thinking they react the same whether you’ve been gone for five minutes or five hours.

Since they don’t read clocks, it’s easy to assume they live entirely in the moment. But if that’s the case, how do they seem to know exactly when it’s time for dinner or their daily walk?

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Science confirms that dogs have a sense of time. Studies have shown that dogs can distinguish between different time intervals, meaning they know the difference between an hour and several hours. But how?

They associate events with specific routines. If you always walk them at a certain time, they’ll start anticipating it. Some experts believe dogs use scent to tell time, as human odors change throughout the day. So yes, your dog really does know if you’re late for dinner!

Image: Tim Mossholder

On warm days, it’s tempting to crack the windows and run into the store, thinking your pup will be fine for a few minutes. After all, they have fresh air, right? Many people assume that as long as the windows are open, there’s no risk of overheating. But just how safe is it?

Image: John Carlo Tubelleza

Leaving a dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes, can be incredibly dangerous. Cars heat up shockingly fast, even with the windows cracked, and dogs have a harder time regulating body temperature than humans.

Heatstroke can set in quickly, and once it does, it can be fatal. If you wouldn’t sit in a parked car on a hot day, why would you let your dog do so?

Image: Erica Magugliani

Humans rely on words to express emotions, but dogs sadly don’t have that luxury. Many assume that while dogs pick up on body language, they can’t actually sense how we feel.

After all, emotions are internal, right? However, have you ever felt your dog was closer than ever when you’re feeling down? Is that real, or is it just your mind playing tricks?

Image: Eric Ward

If you said this was possible, you were right! Dogs don’t just guess your feelings; they can smell them! Their noses are 100,000 times more powerful than ours, meaning they pick up on chemical changes in our bodies.

When we’re scared or anxious, we sweat slightly differently, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Your dog doesn’t just see your nervous body language; they literally smell your fear. So yes, they know when you’re having a bad day, and that’s why they’re always ready to comfort you.

Image: James Barker

Chocolate is delicious, and dogs seem eager to try everything we eat, don’t they? We might feel tempted to share our piece of chocolate with our furry best friend.

Many people believe that while chocolate is technically bad for dogs, a small amount won’t actually cause harm. If a dog sneaks a bite of a cookie or a tiny piece of chocolate, it’s no big deal… right?

Image: Artem Sapegin

Well, chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to dogs. The danger of it depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. Naturally, dark chocolate is the worst, as it contains the highest levels of theobromine.

While a tiny bit of milk chocolate might not be fatal, it can still cause vomiting, diarrhea, or heart issues. If your dog eats any chocolate, call your vet immediately. You know the saying: Better safe than sorry!

Image: Stas Svechnikov

When humans have aches and pains, we reach for ibuprofen or aspirin. Some dog owners assume it’s safe to give their pups a tiny dose of these medications if they’re injured or sick. After all, if it helps humans, it must help dogs too, right?

Image: Laula Co

That’s actually not the case! Giving ibuprofen to your dog can have serious, even fatal, consequences.

Dogs process medication differently than humans, and even small doses can cause stomach ulcers, kidney damage, or liver failure. If your dog is in pain, never give them human medicine. Just consult your vet for safe, pet-approved pain relief options. What works for us doesn’t always work for them!

BRINY TALES

10 Surprising Facts About Earth's Seas

Image: Jakob Owens

Although Earth’s oceans cover over 70% of the planet's surface, they still remain largely unexplored. Shocking natural phenomena and alien-looking creatures populate their waters, baffling both scientists and explorers.

Dive with us to explore the depths of our seas as we uncover 10 intriguing facts that will leave you in awe of the wonders hidden beneath the waves.

Image: The Tampa Bay Estuary Program

Unlike most conventional seas, the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean is distinct for its lack of coastline boundaries. Instead, it's defined by its relatively calm waters and a characteristic floating mass of seaweed called Sargassum, which provides vital habitat for various marine species. A true "floating forest", it has fascinated as much as worried early sailors and adventurers due to the lack of winds and seaweed so dense it could hide shallow waters, or even entangle a ship.

Image: Dave Herring

Situated between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is renowned for its extreme salinity, reaching levels nearly ten times higher than regular seawater. This high salt concentration renders it inhospitable for most aquatic life, hence its name, but it also allows swimmers to float effortlessly. Some even claim its waters and the unique climate of the region might have several health benefits, particularly for people experiencing respiratory issues.

Image: Cristian Palmer

Oceans play a vital role in producing oxygen for our planet. Through photosynthesis, marine plants, particularly phytoplankton, generate a significant portion of Earth's oxygen supply. In fact, roughly 50% of the oxygen we breathe daily comes from the oceans, way, way more than all of the planet’s tropical rainforests combined! Which, by the way, according to recent estimates rounds up around a meager 6%.

Image: NOAA

Beneath the waves lie countless shipwrecks, submerged cities, and archaeological artifacts waiting to be discovered. In fact, according to researchers, there’s an estimated three million shipwrecks lying in the bottom of the ocean! Also, since the invention of scuba diving, hundreds of submerged settlements and buildings from times past have been discovered underwater in various locations on the planet. Atlantis might be more myth than history but, as always, there’s an inch of truth to the tale.

Image: Manny Moreno

Stretching over 1,400 miles along the coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth. Composed of billions of tiny organisms known as coral polyps, it constitutes an extraordinary reservoir of marine biodiversity, and it is so large that it is even visible from space! However, the future of the Great Barrier Reef hangs in the balance as warming ocean temperatures pose a grave threat to its survival.

Image: NASA

Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by redistributing heat around the globe. From the warm Gulf Stream to the cold Labrador Current, these currents influence weather patterns, marine life distribution, and even the functioning of the planet's ecosystems. Monitoring their patterns is akin to listening to the planet’s heartbeat, and understanding the complex dynamics behind the currents is essential today for predicting climate change and its impacts.

Image: Naja Bertolt Jensen

Located in the North Pacific Ocean, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast expanse of marine debris, primarily consisting of plastic waste, bounded in place by large swirling currents in the middle of the ocean. The spiraling trash patch already spans an area twice the size of Texas, and over time the tons of plastic debris break down into tinier and tinier pieces, polluting marine life - and ultimately the entire planet - with dangerous microplastics.

Image: Matt Paul Catalano

Tsunamis, often triggered by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, are colossal waves capable of wreaking havoc along coastlines. These powerful phenomena can travel across entire ocean basins at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour. However, despite being often depicted as giant breaking waves, tsunami waves are actually more similar to a rapidly rising tide, taking shores by surprise and making them even more deadly.

Image: Michal Mrozek

At a staggering depth of about 36,000 feet, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench holds the title for the deepest point in Earth's oceans. This abyss plunges deeper than Mount Everest is tall! Its mysterious depths have been explored with the help of deep-diving submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and sonar bathymetry, but its true extent remains largely uncharted. As of 2022, only 27 people have descended to Challenger Deep - including film director and explorer James Cameron.

Image: NOAA

In the depths of the ocean floor, hydrothermal vents spew forth superheated water laden with minerals and gasses. Despite the extreme conditions, these vents support thriving ecosystems teeming with unique and often bizarre forms of life. Creatures like tube worms, giant clams, and blind shrimp have adapted to survive in this harsh, otherworldly landscape. In fact, some scientists speculate that all life might have originated in these extreme habitats - and that if we are ever to discover life on other planets, exploring similar environments could greatly enhance our chances of success.