"Wagging Tail and Barking 'Woof Woof'... Trusting Too Much Can Get You 'Bitten' (Part 2) [If You Know]"

Information on Dogs Not Featured in the Movie 'Dog Days'
Germany Requires Classes to Own a Dog
Does Eating Uncooked Bones Make Teeth Cleaner?
Why the Neutering Rate Is Low Among Nordic Dogs...

'When you think about it' information that is good to know is delivered in a somewhat disorganized manner. These are tips for enjoying movies and series more interestingly.

*Following <Why Couldn't the Dogs of the French Commoners Run Properly? (Part 2)>

*In Korea, the probability that a companion dog lives its entire life in one household and crosses the rainbow bridge is 12%. The remaining 88% either move between multiple homes, are abandoned on the streets, or are euthanized.

*In China, many puppies die within about a week after being adopted without the owners realizing they were sick, leading to the creation of the new term 'Weekly Dog.' This is due to some unscrupulous sellers irresponsibly selling puppies born in unsanitary illegal breeding facilities. Of course, the bigger problem is the perception of dogs as products rather than living beings.

*The act of a dog eating its own feces, known as coprophagia, is not a strange phenomenon. Although it looks disgusting and odd to human eyes, many dogs eat their feces for various reasons. A report presented by Dr. Benjamin Hart of the University of California in 2012 at the American Veterinary Medical Association contains interesting findings related to this. Among the dogs studied, 16% showed severe coprophagia, and 24% ate feces at least once. Causes vary, including pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, parasitic infections, and corporal punishment. Some dogs exhibit coprophagia even without these problems. A typical example is dogs poorly cared for in some pet shops.

*The first thing to check to solve coprophagia is whether the dog is receiving sufficient nutrition. Very thin dogs often do not get proper food or diet. In such cases, simply providing enough food that the dog likes can resolve coprophagia. The second point to check is if the dog is ill. If pancreatic function is impaired and digestion is poor, undigested food may appear in the feces. In this case, feces become like food. If digestion is difficult and nutrition is not absorbed, the dog naturally eats feces.

*The cruelest season for companion dogs is summer. The highest number are abandoned then. Especially during vacation seasons, shelters for abandoned dogs are often full.

*Experts emphasize that adopting a dog solely based on the appearance of a specific breed, regardless of one's lifestyle, is risky. They argue that breed should be the last consideration when deciding, as it can lead to unhappy outcomes.

*In Korea, the entry barrier to raising a dog is low. Anyone can raise a dog if they want. The cost of acquiring a dog is only about 10-20% of that in neighboring Japan.

*In Germany, one must attend a training institution called 'Hundeschule' for a certain period to qualify to raise a companion dog. During this period, owners learn about dog behavior and receive guidance on basic training methods. They also learn the mindset needed when problems arise living with a dog and how to handle various unexpected situations more wisely.

*Americans generally do not give special attention or deliberately approach dogs even when showing friendliness. They understand that suddenly approaching an unfamiliar dog and acting friendly can make the dog anxious. They refrain from actions that might make the dog uncomfortable.

*Dogs' fertility decreases with age. They do not experience menopause. Therefore, dogs in breeding facilities never get rest. They are confined their entire lives, repeatedly impregnated and giving birth. They have no time to emotionally stabilize with their newborn puppies. Selling puppies under two months old is illegal, but it is openly practiced in many places. Even puppies just over one month old are separated from their mothers and sold as products because they sell well.

*All animals have 'personal space.' When this is invaded, any animal experiences stress. The range of personal space varies by dog. Social dogs have very narrow personal space, while highly anxious dogs have very wide personal space. If you reach out your hand too quickly to get close, invading the dog's personal space, the dog may bite the hand to protect its space.

*Many people bend their upper body or make eye contact in front of dogs. Timid dogs interpret a person bending toward them as an attack signal. When the center of gravity of an untrusted subject leans forward, the dog perceives that the person might attack. The same applies to eye contact. Eye contact with a close person is a sign of affection, but direct eye contact with a stranger can be interpreted as a threat.

*Many Koreans interpret a wagging tail as only a sign of happiness. So much so that a song lyric says, "My dog is a fluffy dog ~ wagging its tail happily, woof woof woof." Of course, similar misunderstandings exist abroad. This misconception is a cause of many dog bite incidents.

*It is clear that tail wagging is a signal expressing specific intentions to others, like human language. Just as people rarely talk when alone, dogs rarely wag their tails when alone. The problem is that it is not easy to judge a dog's intentions by tail wagging alone.

*Surprisingly, most dogs are severely nearsighted. Their vision is worse than humans. They also have red-green color blindness (seeing the world in yellow and blue tones), making it difficult to distinguish distant objects.

*A 'moving tail' is much more easily recognized by other dogs and is a very useful means of communication. Some dogs have dark or bright fur only at the tip of their tails to enhance communication. This is intended to make the tail more visible when moving. Some breeds have evolved tails that are fluffy and large to make them more visible.

*Dogs wag their tails when happy or feeling friendly toward others. However, they also wag their tails when fearful, anxious, or warning others. When analyzing tail language, attention must be paid to tail position, especially height. A tail held at mid-height often indicates a comfortable and stable emotional state. A tail raised high can be a sign of increasing threat. A tail held vertically usually expresses overflowing confidence. In human terms, it can be interpreted as "I will guard this area" or "Back off now or you will get hurt." Conversely, a low tail position indicates anxiety or fear. In extreme cases, dogs tuck their tails between their legs, signaling "Please do not hurt me."

*When interpreting tail position to understand a dog's emotions, caution is needed because each dog may have a different baseline tail position. Just as the same word can have different meanings depending on the region in human language, dogs differ too. Jindo dogs, Beagles, and many terrier breeds naturally have vertical tails. A tail standing straight up is normal for them. On the other hand, Greyhounds or similar breeds have tails naturally held very low. Ignoring breed-specific traits and interpreting tail position based on general standards can lead to errors.

*Recently, many owners cut their dogs' tails short for grooming purposes. This makes it impossible to understand the dog's language through its tail. It can also negatively affect communication among dogs.

*To interpret a dog's tail language, the speed of tail movement should also be observed. It indicates the dog's level of excitement. Dogs get excited not only when happy but also when angry. Rapid tail wagging can mean the dog is either very happy or very angry. The width of the wagging can also be a clue. Generally, wide wagging indicates positive feelings, while narrow wagging often expresses negative emotions.

*Recent research has added another important factor in understanding tail language. When dogs feel positive, they generally wag the right side of their tail more, and when feeling negative, they wag the left side more. According to research by Giorgio Vallortigara, a neuroscientist at the University of Trieste in Italy, dogs wagged their tails more to the right side of their bodies when seeing their owners. They also wagged somewhat to the right when encountering unfamiliar people, but not as much as with their owners. Conversely, when seeing aggressive or unfamiliar dogs, tails wagged to the left side. This finding is not surprising, as many scientists have already shown that the left brain hemisphere is responsible for stable and calm emotions in many animals, including humans, monkeys, birds, and frogs.

*Puppies also express emotions through their voices. For example, a high-frequency howl means "Come to me." A low-frequency growl signals "Stay away from me."

*Most dog bite incidents do not occur during walks with companion dogs. They mostly happen when the dog is not on a walking path. Most are caused by the owner's negligence.

*Whether a companion dog bites a person is not determined by its body size. More important factors are whether the dog was socialized when young and whether the owner knows basic training methods and the dog's characteristics. Of course, the dog's size can affect the severity of injuries.

*Training is necessary to put a muzzle on a dog. Many dogs do not stay calm when the muzzle is put on. For dogs that do not tolerate it, putting on a muzzle during walks is difficult. The mouth is like a hand to a dog. Dogs use their mouths to make sounds, eat, and communicate. They also release body heat through their mouths. A muzzle interferes with all these activities, making the dog uncomfortable. Still, if a muzzle must be used, the owner should choose one that causes the least discomfort and train the dog to tolerate it. Forcing muzzle use without such preparation can cause problems. Many owners may fail to put on a muzzle and give up walking their dogs altogether. This leads to stress accumulation and a higher likelihood of other behavioral problems. Walking is one of the dog's most basic needs.

*It is dangerous for companion dogs to eat bones. Sharp fragments can damage internal organs. Cooked chicken bones, in particular, can break sharply and get stuck or cause perforations while passing through the esophagus and stomach. Dogs with good appetites and impatient personalities may swallow large bone pieces whole. Small bone fragments may dissolve in stomach acid but can also clump and cause intestinal obstruction. Even if dogs chew bones well, problems can occur. Eating bone fragments can harden stools, leading to constipation. The dog's intestines have several narrow parts where hardened stools can easily get stuck. In such cases, hospitalization for enemas or surgery may be necessary. Some say raw bones are safer because they do not break sharply, but raw bones are not necessarily soft.

*Many people believe feeding raw bones cleans a dog's teeth. Veterinary dental specialists advise against giving hard objects. Chewing hard items can damage the enamel layer on teeth, causing tartar to build up faster and straining the gums. This is why most functional dog chews are soft. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also does not recommend feeding bones to dogs.

*A puppy's brain development is equivalent to an average human child aged two and a half to three years. However, some breeds like Border Collies may develop up to the level of a five-year-old child.

*Korea is one of the few countries in the world where value-added tax (VAT) is applied to companion dog medical fees.

*Neutering surgery is not mandatory. However, it prevents pyometra and mammary tumors and extends life expectancy. If sexual desires cannot be satisfied, neutering is a way for both owners and dogs to be happier. Unneutered male dogs tend to be more aggressive and harder to manage. Especially during puberty, they may suddenly start barking at strangers or attack those invading their territory. Dogs' cerebral frontal lobes are not as developed as humans', so they do not make rational judgments and actions well. Long-term training can improve this, but sexual urges remain a strong stimulus that can override everything in unneutered dogs.

*Male companion dogs do not have periodic heat cycles. If an unneutered male meets a female in heat, unexpected behaviors may occur. For example, if a male approaches a female not yet in the acceptance phase (when female puppies allow males to mount), he risks being bitten. During the acceptance phase, once mating starts, it is anatomically impossible for humans to separate them. This can cause unwanted puppies for other female owners.

*Northern European countries like Sweden have low neutering rates for companion dogs. This is due to a strong naturalistic tendency to "raise them as they are." In Sweden, neutering is legally regulated to be performed only after a comprehensive evaluation of the dog's health and behavioral issues by a veterinarian, not the owner. Therefore, the neutering rate is only 7%, significantly lower than about 70% in the U.S. In the UK, 68% of companion dogs are neutered. Analysis by income level shows that owners with higher incomes have higher neutering rates (75%), while those with lower incomes have lower rates (25%). Korea's companion dog neutering rate is 30%, which is not very high.

*There are two main reasons for neutering companion dogs: medical issues and behavioral problem prevention. The low neutering rates in some European countries are closely related to the latter. Europeans spend much more time with their dogs than Koreans do. They go everywhere together and travel together. This cultural difference helps prevent problems caused by not neutering, such as instinctive behaviors, aggression, and abandoned dogs. Countries with serious abandoned dog problems are different. In 1867 New York, the number of stray dogs roaming the streets was socially problematic. Cruelly, about fifty stray dogs were put into cages and drowned in the river at once. Even after that, the U.S. continued to face abandoned animal issues. In 1970, 24 million dogs and cats were euthanized. By 2007, this number dropped to 4 million due to growing social consensus on the necessity of neutering.

*The idea that puppies hop around because their paws are cold when walking in winter is a misconception. Dogs' paw pads have a very effective heat exchange structure. Arteries and veins run very close, warming the cold venous blood. Additionally, the pads made of keratin and paw hair make them less cold than expected. However, caution is needed. Calcium chloride reacts chemically when it meets moisture. Naturally, walking on snowy fields wets the dog's paws. When calcium chloride meets moisture, it can chemically irritate the paw skin. Also, if calcium chloride on the paws is not properly wiped off after a walk, the dog may lick it off. If ingested, calcium chloride can cause vomiting and other digestive disorders.

References: Clive D. L. Wynne, translated by Jeon Haeng-seon, published by Hyunamsa, How Dogs Love Us (2020); Lee Jang-won, published by Gongjon, Companion Advocacy (2024); Pierre Schultz, translated by Heo Bong-geum, published by Choroknamu, Comfort Given by Dogs (2011); Seol Chae-hyun, published by Dong-A Ilbo, Did That Dog Really Wag Its Tail Because It Was Happy? (2019); Miura Genta, translated by Jeon Gyeong-a, illustrated by Suzuki Miho, published by Writing House, The Message That Dog Wanted to Convey (2018); Gregory Burns, translated by Kim Shin-a, published by Jinseong Books, Do Companion Dogs Really Love Humans? (2016); Lee Woong-jong, published by Sam & Parkers, Dogs Are Dogs and Humans Are Humans, etc.