Dog Training
10 Dog Training Myths
Some might surprise you.
Beware — dog training is an unregulated industry
Dog training is largely an unregulated industry in most countries and so there are many opinions about how to train a dog. Behaviour myths based on old-school thinking are still common. They represent a departure from animal behaviour science, which professional, credible behaviour consultants subscribe to.
Below are a few of the more common myths still floating around.
1. Do I need to show my dog that I’m the ‘alpha’ or the ‘pack-leader’?
The myth of being the ‘pack-leader,’ the closely associated ‘alpha’ myth and the alleged need to ‘dominate your dog’ seem to remain among some old-school trainers, despite it being debunked decades ago. The original researcher, David Mech, who talked of alpha males when studying wolves, corrected his earlier materials and admitted he was wrong.
Unfortunately, reality TV picked up on this outdated approach some years back, and has contributed to the perpetuation of this unfortunate misunderstanding,.
This ‘dominance’ approach to dog training is not only unnecessary, it can be dangerous.
Some years ago at a local training club near where I lived, a so-called instructor was showing the beginners class what to do if a dog didn't immediately comply. The instructor pinned a young French Bulldog down with their hand over the his face until he ‘submitted’. Eventually as the class watched on, the little dog stopped struggling, but not because he learned anything, he actually stopped breathing — permanently. This happened many years ago but I’m still haunted by the story, and how the owners must have felt — entrusting their family member to this dangerous ‘dominance advocate’ who obviously knew little about dogs.
Training dogs or other animals is so much more effective when cooperation is sought — not submission. Force is a technique some trainers use to make up for a lack of skill.
2. Should I smack my dog when she misbehaves?
There is no reason to ever smack your dog. Apart from being of no benefit, it may create a fear of approaching hands, as they represent a threat. A dog who perceives hands as a threat may eventually try to to get in first and bite as a hand approaches — even if it’s the hand of a five year old wanting to stroke the dog.
In any case, I for one don’t subscribe to the concept of dogs misbehaving. Many dogs are misunderstood and people sometimes have unrealistic expectations and often don’t adequately train their dog.
Smacking or hitting a dog is not training — it can harm the relationship and shows a dog that a person can be violent and a bully.
3. Does my dog pee in the house to get back at me for going out?
Revenge is something a person might consider, but not dogs. There are many reasons a dog might pee in the house, but revenge isn’t one of them. For example, he may not have been toilet-trained yet; he was left inside without a break for too long; he may have separation anxiety; a bladder infection; or other health issue.
None of these reasons relate to getting back at an owner, and they each need to be considered and appropriately addressed.
4. If I cuddle my dog when he’s scared, will this encourage him to act fearfully?
Fear is not a behaviour that can be trained or reinforced — it’s involuntary. Supporting an under-confident or fearful dog during a thunderstorm or fireworks can help them feel less fearful — not more.
5. My dog looked guilty so she knew she was naughty right?
That so-called ‘guilty’ look in a dog is not guilt. Dogs don’t ‘know they’re naughty’. Labeling a dog as naughty is unhelpful. The look is generally one of fear because someone is yelling that them for chewing their shoes or peeing in the house. Misreading fear signals in a dog’s body language is far too common.
All those ‘guilty dog’ social media videos may seem entertaining, but are misguided and cause credible dog trainers to cringe.
6. What’s the best time to socialise a dog?
Socialisation should start as soon as a puppy arrives. In fact good breeders would commence this before the adoption.
A big problem is that many people believe that they shouldn’t take their puppy outside the house until the’ve had all their vaccination shots and this is when they’ve reached about sixteen weeks. By then it’s far too late from a behavioural perspective.
Puppies have a critical development stage between eight and sixteen weeks. It’s within this time that their temperament and personality is formed. While genetics plays a part with fear issues, dogs can become fearful of things that they weren’t socialised with as a puppy. Inadequate socialisation in the critical development period can create fear issues later in life. Given that most dog aggression is fear-based, inadequate socialisation can be a recipe for disaster.
There are many ways to safely take a puppy out for socialisation expereinces without risking them contracting disease, and it’s very important to do so.
Sure, there are exceptions where a dog may be poorly socialised but not develop major fear issues. A dog may inherit great genes that enable them to be relaxed and confident in most situations. But whether a dog has inherited these traits won’t be known until they’re older and then it’s too late.
7. Are some breeds more aggressive than others?
Aggression is not a breed thing. Any individual dog of any breed can be aggressive.
Some breeds are unfairly stereotyped because they never fail to make a great headline. Some people love to demonise certain breeds and that’s unfortunate and ill-informed. Bias in the media to sell news stories doesn’t help.
Sure, a bite from a large dog will generally do more damage than one from a smaller dog. But this is not related to breed.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) which discriminates against or restricts some breeds, was implemented with the well-meaning but misguided approach to reduce dog bites. But BSL will always fail, as it removes focus from the right things that can reduce bites: education about preventing bites, including the fact that any dog can bite; that there are many warning signs before nearly all dog bites; that getting a toddler to ride the family dog like a horse for a YouTube or TikTok video is not safe; and just because your dog is a Golden Retriever doesn’t mean she won’t show aggressive behaviours.
Because BSL has failed so badly, many jurisdictions are repealing such legislation in favour of more sensible approaches supported by science rater than emotion.
8. Why isn’t my dog happy to stay outside all the time like dogs do in the wild or on farms?
Dogs are social animals. Most pet dogs are not content when left alone in a backyard for long periods of time and behaviour issues such as barking may emerge.
Pet dogs are different to working dogs who may live outside but have a job to do with lots of stimulation throughout the day. They’re also different to street dogs who may not live a great life but get plenty of stimulation and are not left alone.
9. Is using food in training, bribery?
Dogs need to eat and they love food. Using food in training activities makes it easy and fun to show a dog what you want them to do. That’s why it’s used so commonly. It’s not bribery if you use it the right way.
In the early stages of training a behaviour, food can be used as a lure. Luring a dog into a sit shows them what you want them to do. After five to ten repetitions and the dog generally complies, the food should not continue to be presented before the requested behaviour, or this may become an ongoing bribe.
Instead, when a dog understands what is expected following a verbal or visual cue, food can be used as a ‘reward’, ie offered after the behaviour is achieved. And the rewards can be intermittent or variable in some way, and not offered every time. This is very different to a bribe before the behaviour.
10. Is it too late to train an old dog?
It’s never too late to train an old dog new tricks. In some ways they’re easier than puppies who can be really, really hard work!
Many trainers agree that the hardest part about dog training is generally not about the dog at all. It’s getting the person or family to change something — and that can be far more challenging.
