Purebreds are more intelligent than mixes (aka crosses):  NOT TRUE AT ALL!

The intelligence level of dogs does not depend on the breed.  To say a certain breed is more intelligent than another is to say "Indians are more intelligent than Chinese".  The truth is intelligence is individually-based.  How intelligent is a dog depends on so many factors and his/her own experience.  Whether your dog is intelligent or not is really not important enough to affect your love for him/her.  Think about this: a local stray dog able to cross the road without being hit by the cars or your purebred lap pooch able to follow your command to sit before eating her food - which is more intelligent?

What's wrong with some purebreds?  Know what is puppy mill.

OK to give chicken & pig bones to dogs: IGNORANCE KILLS!

This is a classic example of "the blind teaching the blind" (no offence to the blind).  Even children's books often depict a dog with a bone.  Well, the only bone you should give your dog is a man-made bone, not a real one.  Because real bones splinter in such a way that leave sharp edges which are very dangerous to the dogs when consumed.  The sharp edges can pierce the dog's gums and throat and cause severe damage in the digestive system which result in death.  There are many man-made bones for sale at the pet supply stores.  Check it out and give your dog a safe bone to chew everyday.  Great way to use up some of their energy and relieve stress.

More on bones

Puppies are good companions for children: BE CAREFUL!

Dogs are NOT toys!  All children want a dog, just like in the movies and cartoons!  Puppies of certain breeds can be too active for not-so-active children.  In Singapore, what we see commonly happening is the child wants a dog, the parents get him a puppy from the pet shop, because they wrongly believe a puppy will bond with the child whereas an older dog will not.  Many have no idea how to correctly raise and train the puppies.  In a few month's time, the puppy is not as "cute" as before, the child loses interest and the parents also lose their patience with taking care of a "nuisance" dog.  Often, the dog is either abandoned, given away or just neglected in the cage or tied up in the kitchen all the time.  

Our experience indicates homeless dogs usually end up being very good pets to the family who adopted him/her.  We strongly encourage Singaporeans to adopt older, calmer dogs instead of buying puppies.  Older dogs are certainly less active and much less destructive.

Must shampoo dog at least once a week:  WHO SAY SO?

This is a classic example of us treating dogs like ourselves.  Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat through the skin.  They sweat through their tongues and paw pads.  Too much shampoo will remove the natural oil which traps dust and dirt on the dog's fur and make the fur easier to get dirty.  Except for limited breeds like Silky Terrier, Maltese, Papillon, which need a lot of fur care for competing in dog shows, most breeds need only daily or weekly brushings to remove dead fur and dust.  In the Singapore context, once a month shampooing is just about right.  After each outdoor activity, wipe your dog with a damp towel, emphasizing on areas which need more cleaning.  Use slightly damp toilet paper to clean the anus area.  This daily maintenance will help keep your dog clean for longer time and save you lots of money on grooming.  Be careful to only allow people with clean hands to pat your dog!

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Only female dogs need to be sterilized: BALONEY!

It is not true that only male dogs will advance to mate with female dogs.  Female dogs will try whatever they can to mate with male dogs if they are on heat.  It is just all natural, they cannot do anything about it!  The last thing you want is to let your male dog go make someone pregnant and not take responsibility!  So please sterilize both your male and female dogs.

Dogs become fat after sterilization:  OLD WIVES TALE!

All the dogs I know NEVER become fat after sterilization.  Despite your neighbor's grandma, vets and books telling you so, don't believe it.  Sterilizing your pet dog is good because it helps lengthen his/her life as risk of prostate and ovary cancer is completely eliminated.  Your dog will also be less plagued by hormone-triggered behavioural problems.

Small dogs don't need outdoor exercise: WRONG!

Never judge a dog by its physical appearance.  Many small breeds are developed to be small to perform functions that require their sizes to be small, like hunting rodents underground.  It is especially true for terrier breeds.  They are small and are HDB approved (BIG mistake).  But they are not suitable for apartment living.  These dogs, although small, need a lot of exercise and loves to be always moving (yeah, like a pin-ball).  It is not surprising that terriers like Jack Russell Terrier and Silky Terrier are among the top breeds on the "owner-gave-up list".  If you want a small dog in your HDB, instead of terriers, you can consider less-active breeds like Papillon, Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, Pekingese, King Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin or Chihuahua.  Again, we are talking about generalities here, so keep in mind there are individuals that are more or less active than others of the same breed.

Dogs just eat table scraps and leftovers: BIG MISTAKE!

Dogs are not humans.  Their nutritional intake requirements are very different from ours.  They need a few hundred times more amount of certain minerals than us.  If your dog feeds on table scraps and leftovers, sooner or later they will develop deficiencies which lead to skin conditions, weak bones and premature cataracts etc.  It will be too late and too difficult and costly to fix the problems at that time.  

If you are a novice dog owner, it is recommended you start your puppy with higher grade commercial dog food.  They offer balanced diet for your dog compared to table scraps.  This can also prevent your puppy growing up to be fussy-eater.  You might have to do trial and error to find the right brand for your dog.  Once you find it, stick to it until you know your dog well enough to choose what's best for it.  Unless you know exactly what you are doing, it is not recommended that you prepare home cooked food for your dog.  However, in cases where your dog is allergic to certain ingredient in the commercial dog food, then you should consult a good vet on the proper home-cooked diet for your dog.

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All pet shop staff and groomers are experts:  BULLSHIT!

For novice dog owners, often the only places where they get "advice" are pet shops.  Unfortunately in Singapore, the qualities of pet shops as well as groomers (OK, they are all going to HATE me!) are a far cry from those of the developed countries.  Pet shops make money by selling animals.  They will say ANYTHING just to sell you that puppy.  The longer they keep the puppy, as the puppy grows, the harder to sell.  That is why the price is lower the older the puppy.

Though most vets are animal-lovers, there are few who are in that profession because of the money.  They don't always give right advice and misdiagnoses happen more often than you realize.  Generally speaking, qualified dog trainers are a better bet if you need advice on non-medical issues.  No matter what is the service you are looking for, the best way is to ask for REFERENCES on vets, trainers and groomers from your trusted dog-owner friends who have gorgeous, well-behaved dogs.

More on Pet Shops

Dogs fur causes asthma:  JUMPING THE GUN!

There are many potential culprits that trigger asthma, not only animal fur.  Many people give up their dog as soon as someone in the family develops asthma.  They blame dog fur without actually confirming if it is the cause.  It could be dust mites or about anything which can exist in houses without dogs.  Scientists have studied on this subject for years and the latest findings suggest that keeping pets at home in fact help children build up immunity that will reduce the chances of them developing asthma.

Let's go read the basic knowledge pages now!