Dog myths

[kelpie_gal]

*sigh*

So, I just spent the last week at a farm out west with Jasper. He just loves those cattle and he would work all day if I let him I think... anyway.

I was saying to one of the farmers out there (an old bloke) that I wasn't sure if Jasper's ears would stand up or not as they have been standing up a little bit and then falling back down. Anyway, this farmer says to me, 'oh, well you can fix that - just drive him down the back paddock and tie him up there overnight, when you come back in the morning his ears will be standing up and they'll stay that way'.

I just thought WTF. I didn't say anything but I gave him the frowning of a lifetime. The sad thing is, I bet he does it to his dogs and tells everyone else that it works.

*sigh*

 

[rij73]

That sounds terrible... So many uneducated dog owners...

 

[dixiecatahoula]

tie him upside down....?

 

[Zoom]

I think the idea is that the dog will have spent the whole night with his ears pricked up listening for your return that they will stay that way, kind of how your mother always told you not to make gross faces because your face might get stuck like that.

Silly idea, but I can see how the old wives tale got it's start.

 

[SizzleDog]

I've heard to old wives' tale, "Ya know, Doberman brains grow too big for their skull (or swell up, heard that one too) by the time they're two years old, and the pain drives them crazy and they turn in their owners!"

Ugh... riiiiiiight...

 

[otch1]

Pretty funny! Both wives tales. Just had someone ask me about the Dobie "story" last month Sizzle. As for your pup, Kelpie, not to worry. Is he teething? (Between 4 and 6 months right now?) This is when you'll see ears up one day down the next, they're going thru alot of hormonal changes, especially a male right now and this should correct itself soon. Tell the farmer if you tie your pup out in a paddock over night, the ears might be the only thing left of him when you come back in the morning!!

 

[chinchow]

Hey, myths are everywhere!

"Did you know Chows descended from bears? That's why adult Chows look like bear cubs, it's true!"

Oooh please.

 

[kelpie_gal]

Lol. I must have been pretty stupid to not know that chows had descended from bears .

Otch1, yes he is teething at the moment. I'm not too worried about what his ears do (whether they stand up or not). I have no doubts that his ears would be the only thing left of him if I left him out for one night, there are dingoes and dingo crosses out there that would eat him as a snack.

Oh well, at least there are some who don't listen to these old wive's tales.

 

[Zoom]

I've heard the Dobie myth about Chows and I think a Rott a time or two as well.

Perhaps it stems from dogs that had rabies, but weren't quite to the drooling/frothing stage yet? Rabies makes the brain swell, doesn't it?