Dog training is full of myths, from adages that we use in daily conversation to approaches to dog training that can be dangerous to your dog or yourself. There is a lot to unpack in dog training and many dog training myths to avoid. Take a look at the most common dog training myths we’ve seen and what our solutions are for how to deal with them.
Myth 1: You need to punish your dog to teach them how to behave
This is a 100% untrue dog training myth. You do not have to punish your dog to teach them obedience and how to behave. Methods like hitting and yelling at your dog are not at all recommended to teach your dog what is right. On the other hand, methods like verbally praising good behaviour are a good way to teach your dog how to behave the way you want them to. Dogs learn through consistent calm repetition of an action, i.e. teaching your dog to go to its bed on your instruction.
This simply needs to be practised calmly 2 or 3 times a day until the dog learns that is what you want. It might take some dogs up to three weeks to get the message, but that’s fine. Dogs, like humans, learn at different rates. You do not need to give food to get a dog to respond to you.
Methods such as physical and verbal assaults against the dog will create a fearful atmosphere and frighten the dog. Your dog will simply come to fear you and you will create an unhealthy relationship. Additionally, dog training myths like this will only result in a scared dog that is more likely to lash out.
Myth 2: Puppies can’t learn until they are older
Like a baby, puppies are constantly learning. They sense the environment around them through smell, taste, and sight and learn about their world using every sense.
New puppies will also learn from their mother how to walk at just as little as 3 or 4 weeks. They will also learn great things like how to socialize and play by interacting with other puppies and their mothers. Dogs teaching dogs works better than owners teaching dogs because the dog understands the instructions.
In fact, a study by Ai Kutsumi showed that puppies as young as four months old attending adult dog classes showed promising results in obedience no matter the age.
Despite these dog training myths, studies have shown that puppies are at their most fit to learn at about 8-9 weeks which is when your training for your pup should start. You should train them to do the toilet outside instead of inside, not to bark for attention, to get into a routine for training daily, where they sleep and where to find their food and water.
Myth 3: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
This adage is another dog training myth that has been proven to be false: no matter the age, dogs are always open to learning new ideas and tricks.
You don’t have to barrage your dog with new tricks all the time, in fact, you’ll get better results focussing on one at a time, but it’s a good idea to keep going back and recalling all the tricks and obedience training that was learned long ago as it will help with strengthening the bond between you and your dog even more. This is even the case when talking about a dog in its elderly years.
One good idea is to ease the pet into whatever they are scared of in small increments, whether it be a vacuum cleaner used from afar or the noise of other dogs quietly or from far away and reward it with positive reinforcement like praise.