Myth 1. It's Too Early to Start Training My Dog.
The TRUTH: It's NEVER too early to start training! Puppies learn new things from Day 1. In fact, they can even learn from before they are born! The science suggests that stroking the mum's stomach during pregnancy can effect the confidence of the puppies. Then, as soon as the eyes and ears have opened at around three weeks, that's when you can start to teach... anything! These things do take time, and I'm not suggesting someone should start a three week old puppy with agility! But socialisation to new objects, toilet training, learning to settle, and maybe even learning to sit and lay down CAN be taught before your puppy even gets home to you at eight weeks!
Myth 2. You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks.
The TRUTH: On the subject of age, old dogs can learn too! Whether you want to teach your old dog to do something new, or you have a new and elderly rescue dog that needs some training, it can be done! Yes, puppies learn quicker, as their brains are like sponges at that age (just like children!), but that doesn't mean their brains just switch off at a certain age.
And even if your dog is going blind or deaf, they can still learn! Deaf dogs learn through visual signals, such as pointing to the floor as a 'down' cue, or waving your hands in the air as a recall cue. Blind dogs can still hear you, so you can continue to use verbal cues alongside using a treat to lure them into the position you want.
Myth 3. Your Dog Will Grow Out Of It
The TRUTH: I'm sorry to say it... but dogs don't just 'grow out of it'. More often than not, 'naughty' behaviours are rewarded by you. Whether you have laughed at your dog for jumping up, or accidentally played tug when your dog wouldn't give your slipper back, your dog has been rewarded for that unwanted behaviour.
But let's say that you really didn't reward your dog in any way for the unwanted behaviour, would they then grow out of it? Unfortunately not, because most unwanted behaviours (jumping up, biting, chewing) are fun! So choosing to do that behaviour is a self reward.
Myth 4. My Dog is Untrainable
The TRUTH: Some dogs and some behaviours are harder to train than others, but I have never met a dog who is untrainable. The trick is finding your dog's motivation. I have heard many times "my dog isn't motivated by food", and this simply isn't true, as if they weren't food motivated, they would starve themselves.
Perhaps they aren't motivated by those low quality biscuits they've had hundreds of times before, so try more meaty treats or a treat they've never had. Perhaps they are motivated by food, but not on walks, so change the focus of your walk from 'walk' to sniffs and play and training!
And if you really think treats won't make the cut, that still doesn't mean your dog is untrainable, as there are plenty of other ways to motivate your dog, from tug to fetch to cuddles to verbal praise. What motivates your dog?
Myth 5. I Need to be the Boss / Alpha of my Dog
The TRUTH: No you don't.
The 'alpha' and 'dominance' theory are outdated and ineffective. Your dog does not want to dominate you, partly because they want to be your friend, and partly because your dog understands that you ARE a different species! Your dog wants to sleep on your bed because it's comfy, not to dominate you. Your dog couldn't care less if you walk through a door first or eat first. This is not going to make them think of you as their alpha, because, well...dogs have evolved a lot since wolves! (Bonus fact: Alpha wolves actually take care of their pack and don't always eat first anyway!)
Myth 6. To Have a Well-Behaved Dog, You Have to Punish Them
The TRUTH: I know thousands of well behaved dogs who have learnt purely through positive reinforcement and force free methods. This is evidence enough!
But the science also states that positive reinforcement will give you a better bond with your dog, a happier dog and happier owner, better training results, AND a well-behaved dog. Punishment can actually make problematic behaviours worse, as well as introducing new unwanted behaviours, such as fear, barking, and aggression.
Myth 7. If You Use Positive Reinforcement Training, You'll Always Have to Give Loads of Treats
The TRUTH: Everything we ask our dogs to do, they consider work, and they want paying for it. (You would too!) But that payment doesn't have to be treats, it just has to be worthwhile to your dog. Toys, playtime, cuddles, verbal praise, as long as your dog wants it, you can use it to reinforce the behaviour.
Myth 8. Don't Comfort a Scared Dog
The TRUTH: DO comfort a scared dog!
The theory behind this myth is that you could reinforce the fear by rewarding them with comfort or attention. This doesn't work though, because it's a physical impossibility to reinforce an emotion. By comforting a scared dog, you will simply make them feel more confident.
Myth 9. A Dog Who is Scared of 'X' Just Needs to Experience It
The TRUTH: Putting a dog in a situation they are scared of is called 'flooding' and is incredibly dangerous. The myth is based on the idea of 'throwing them in the deep end to make them swim', but if you were terrified of spiders and I forced you in a room full of the biggest ones, that wouldn't fix your fear. If anything, it could cause a panic attack, and then the next time you see a spider, you just remember that spiders cause panic attacks. This is flooding, and it typically makes fears worse.
Myth 10. Your Dog Feels Guilty
The TRUTH: There is absolutely zero science to suggest that dogs feel guilt...but...dogs are great at reading our body language. Your dog isnt feeling guilty when you tell them off for chewing your slipper: They are actually seeing that you are angry and that 'guilty' look is actually their attempt at trying to diffuse your anger.
And the chances are very high that your dog has absolutely no idea what they did wrong. (Science Fact: A study showed that even dogs who did nothing wrong at all, still showed the guilty look if their owners thought they had done something wrong).
Myth 11. Harnesses Encourage Dogs to Pull
The TRUTH: There is no tool that you can use to either cause or cure a dog's pulling on lead. Only training can do that. Yes, it's true that some tools, such as a Halti or choke chains can stop a dog pulling, but in reality, it's only hiding your dog's pulling. They would still pull if you took that tool off, meaning you haven't actually solved the pulling at all, only masked it.
As for harnesses, this myth has come from the idea that because sleddogs wear them, and they pull, so it must encourage them. In reality, sleddogs are taught to pull. They don't just have a harness put on them and off they go! Harnesses are worn not to encourage them to pull, but to keep them safe when they do.
In truth, the only way to truly stop a dog from pulling on lead is training.
Myth 12. Tug Games are Bad for Dogs
The TRUTH: Tug games are fantastic for dogs! They do not cause any aggression, but instead can teach some great and important skills such as mouth control, a 'leave it' cue, and bonding with humans. In addition, it is a great game to add to your rewards as an alternative to treats!
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