5 Dangerous Dog Training Myths Explained | Pupford

Dog training myths have turned into 'facts' for many people. While the roots of these myths are argued, letting them govern how we raise our dogs can be extremely problematic. It often leads to an overuse of punishment, dominance and other methods that can perpetuate aggressive behavior.

In this interview with Jocelyn Walls CPDT CTC, we dive into three of the most prominent dog training myths and talk about their truthful opposites.

• MYTH #1- Dogs are pack animals, some behaviors occur because my dog is trying the be the alpha or dominate me.
• MYTH #2- It’s better to get a puppy with a clean slate vs a rescue dog because you don’t know their background.
• MYTH#3- My dog knows when they’ve done something wrong, they totally look guilty!

Plus, we added 2 more bonus myths to this article:

• MYTH #4- Playing tug causes aggression
• MYTH #5- You can't teach recall without an e-collar

Connect With Jocelyn, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer

Jocelyn's Website: http://www.muttineer.com/

Jocelyn's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFt4sAiMx5WdFfU6V2tFnXg

Jocelyn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muttineerla/

PS- Learn from Jocelyn about how to introduce a dog to a cat here!

Audio Podcast of Dog Training Myths Episode

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Video Podcast of the Episode

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Overview of 5 Dangerous Dog Training Myths

While plenty of debate rages on about positive reinforcement training vs alternative methods, we want to look at common myths that can span all types of dog and puppy training methods.

Here is a brief overview of the three dog training myths we talked about with Jocelyn, plus two other common misconceptions about training and raising a dog.

1. Dogs are pack animals and are trying to dominate me
2. It's better to get a puppy with a clean slate than a rescue dog
3. My dog knows when they've done something wrong, they look guilty
4. Playing tug causes aggression
5. You can't teach recall without an e-collar

Let's look at each common dog training myth below. 👇

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MYTH #1- Dogs are pack animals, some behaviors occur because my dog is trying the be the alpha or dominate me

The study that many people found their reasoning behind this myth, has actually been debunked in many instances.

Original studies cited a pack mentality with wolf behavior in captivity. Recent research has found that those original studies don't seem to correlate to wolves in the wild, and surely not to dogs.

Our dogs are opportunistic. They do things that will provide them with what they desire (or desire to get away from).

Do you really think your dog bursts their doors because they want to show you who the boss is? NO, they want to explore new smells, sights, and sounds!

The challenge with relying on this myth is that it often leads to using severe punishment for undesirable behavior in our dogs. The reality is that showing our dogs alternative behaviors, rewarding correct behaviors, and trying to understand our dogs' perspective can lead to improved behavior.

If we think our dog is trying to dominate us, doesn't that lead us to think we need to dominate them back? Yikes!

Related Reading: What Not To Do With a Puppy

MYTH #2- It’s better to get a puppy with a clean slate vs a rescue dog because you don’t know their background

Although this myth is more of an opinion, it's not always true.

With a rescue dog (especially adults), you can actually have a better understanding of what the dog's "positive" and "undesirable" traits might be.

When you get a puppy, factors such as their mom's stress levels during pregnancy and birth, genetics, and more can cause potential "problem behaviors".

Simply put, no matter the dog you can train correct behaviors and foster growth and learning! Whether you have a new puppy or a rescue, you can learn about dog body language, employ positive reinforcement techniques, and teach proper behavior through obedience training.

Related Reading: How to Train a Rescue Dog

MYTH#3- My dog knows when they’ve done something wrong, they totally look guilty!

I think "viral Facebook videos" are partly to blame for this... We see compilation videos of guilty dogs that are very convincing.

IT IS NOT TRUE. Dogs do NOT understand guilt (ie, right vs wrong) the way that we do.

Please read this study.

The "guilty" look is actually correlated to our own response to our dog's behavior. They just want to appease us. This is a prime example of anthropomorphism in dogs!

Again, this is where a deeper understanding of reading dog body language can help us raise happy and well-mannered dogs.

🐶 Don't miss out on a positive reinforcement based online training course, 30 Day Perfect Pup. Sign up for free here!

MYTH #4- Playing tug causes aggression

Another common dog training myth is that playing tug makes a dog aggressive. There are a number of things that can result in “aggressive” behavior in dogs. Things like:

• Medical issues
• Stress or anxiety
• Changes in your dog’s environment or routine
• Higher levels of arousal (which can come into play with your tug game)
• Resource guarding

The last two things, resource guarding and higher levels of arousal are the things that many people equate to aggression from playing tug. The fact is that with proper rules and techniques, tug of war with your dog is completely safe.

The rules will look different for every single dog, however, the number one rule should be:

If the game seems like it’s going too far, make it stop.

Tug of war can be a beneficial form of both physical and mental stimulation for your dog when properly done.

MYTH #5- You can't teach recall without an e-collar

Often you'll hear that you can't teach certain behaviors without a prong collar or a shock collar. I've heard countless people say "You can't teach recall with an e-collar".

Let's say this... A blanket statement that any behavior can't be taught without a specific tool is problematic. trainingThere are SO many different types of methods, techniques, and tools in the dog training world.

Millions of people have taught their dogs a solid recall without an e-collar.

Utilizing long leash training, practicing in distracting environments, and using dog recall games can all help you teach a strong recall, without an e-collar.

Using aversive methods and tools isn't the answer to undesirable behaviors, remember that.

5 Dog Training Myths Recap

Find any field of study and you'll find myths. Dog training is no different! As a recap, here are 5 common dog training myths:

1. Dogs are pack animals and are trying to dominate me
2. It's better to get a puppy with a clean slate than a rescue dog
3. My dog knows when they've done something wrong, they look guilty
4. Playing tug causes aggression
5. You can't teach recall without an e-collar

Above all, remember that some myths can cause destructive mindsets for us as humans in relation to our dogs. And often that leads to inhumane training, which isn't good for dogs or humans in the long run.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by conflicting opinions, be sure to sign up for resources rooted in positive reinforcement and science. We offer a 100% free online video course, 30 Day Perfect Pup, taught by Zak George. Sign up for free here!

Any other myths you've heard that you want us to cover? Leave a comment below!

🐶 Don't miss out on a positive reinforcement based online training course, 30 Day Perfect Pup. Sign up for free here!