We know how it is when you’re looking for an answer to your dog training or dog behavior problems, and you’re bombarded with a ton of different (and sometimes opposite) advice. Whether it’s online or hearing from people in person, it can be tough to know what advice is helpful and what should be dismissed.
What’s some of the most common dog training advice? Here, we’ve compiled the most commonly repeated advice…and we’re going to explain why each of those things is true or false, based on actual scientific research in the field of dog training.
Dog Training Myth #1: It’s not safe to socialize puppies outside the home before they have all of their shots.
Fact: It’s not just important–it is CRITICAL for puppies to be socialized as thoroughly as possible, particularly before they turn 12 weeks old.
PRO TIP: If your puppy doesn’t have all her shots yet, just carry her in a tote bag or carrier so her paws don’t touch the ground! That eliminates dangers she may encounter in public places, since diseases like parvovirus are transmitted via infected dog feces on the ground.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states: “We believe it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive…socialization before they are fully vaccinated.
“Because the first three months are the period when sociability outweighs fear, this is the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, and experiences. Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance, and/or aggression. Behavioral problems are the greatest threat to the owner-dog bond. In fact, behavioral problems are the number one cause of relinquishment to shelters. Behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.“
Dog Training Myth #2: Dogs of the same gender can’t get along.
Fact: Whether dogs get along is primarily about how well-socialized they are.
Sometimes dogs just don’t like each other–just like people–but even when that happens it’s not really about gender. When a dog hasn’t met many dogs of whatever type (whether that’s a particular gender, breed, personality type, play style, etc.)…that dog may get uncomfortable when she does encounter them, simply because it’s unfamiliar. Of course, a dog’s discomfort can also be exacerbated by the stress levels of the people involved in the dog-dog interactions, as well as things like illness or high energy levels.
Dog Training Myth #3: Certain dog breeds are pre-disposed to being aggressive.
Fact: NO breed is inherently aggressive or dangerous!
Whether dogs develops reactive or aggressive tendencies is about socialization, and whether anyone taught them proper bite inhibition as puppies.
Read all about this (and many other critical topics) in Dr. Ian Dunbar’s books “Before You Get Your Puppy” and “After You Get Your Puppy,” which we offer for free when you sign up for our mailing list.
Dog Training Myth #4: You can’t trust certain dog breeds off-leash, no matter what.
Fact: Off-leash reliability is mostly about training and practice.
With enough training and practice, and with enough practice building your bond with your pup, any breed can be allowed some off-leash freedom! Peruse our own website and our YouTube channel to see our own personal dogs, Alaskan Malamutes, showing their reliability off-leash…you may know, Alaskan Malamutes are absolutely NOT known for having reliable off-leash obedience skills! So it goes to show that any breed can learn. It’s just that with some breeds and particular individual dogs, you may have to be much more careful about the environments you choose to practice off-leash skills.
Bottom line: Don’t believe everything you hear, no matter how often you hear it!
