One of the biggest dog training mistakes people make is thinking that if they are forceful enough with their dog, yell at them more, or even resort to hitting them or using shock collars, that the dog will behave. These are not only the best examples of what NOT to do when training a dog, but it’s also just sad. All that happens when a dog is treated this way is that they fear their owner.
There are easier and more loving ways to train a dog than resorting to cruelty, and we’ll talk about the RIGHT training methods in this article. But first, let’s discuss 7 dog training myths, according to Professional Dog Trainer and Behavioral Specialist, Doggy Dan.
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7 Common Dog Training Myths
7 Common Dog Training Myths1. Older Dogs are ‘Set in Their Ways’ and Can’t be Trained. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a saying you’ve probably heard a hundred times. But this is simply not true. The problem is more likely that the dog owner is either using outdated training methods or he has no idea how to train dogs. Training older dogs is just as easy as training younger ones. In fact, in most cases the older dogs respond better to training that the young ones.
The truth is, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. You just need to know how to do it correctly.
2. Shouting or Screaming at the Dog is OK. Many people believe that it is necessary to shout at their dogs to get the dog to listen. But what they quickly find out is that this does NOT work. The more you shout at a dog, the more they get used to it. Eventually dogs learn to completely ignore the shouting. The real trick to training correctly has nothing to do with shouting or screaming. It has everything to do with gaining the dog’s trust so they choose to obey you. It’s really that simple (and quieter!)
3. Using a ‘Clicker’ is Necessary for Successful Dog Training. You’ve probably seen those little clickers people use to click when their dog does something good, then follow up the click with a treat. Although this may seem to make sense, the fact is the clicker just interferes with the interaction between you and your dog. You can communicate with your dog – your dog can hear and understand commands – without a clicker. And do you really want to carry the clicker everywhere you go?
4. If a Dog Can’t be Trained, Then There’s Something’s Wrong with the Dog. There has never been a dog that has something wrong with them that makes them un-trainable. The problem is never the dog. The real problem is that the dog’s owner doesn’t know the correct training techniques. I hope this is great news for those of you who think there is no hope for your dog. You CAN train your dog – you just need to know how. I’ll show you where to find the right tools to do that at the end of this article.
5. To Gain a Dog’s Respect, You Must Physically Correct and Dominate Them. Being physical or forceful with a dog or yelling and screaming at a dog are not only completely ineffective, but also cruel. Love and respect works way better! One of the best ways to train your dog is by earning his respect, not forcing him to respect you out of fear or pain. When you know how to win a dog’s respect properly, he’ll trust you for life and be obedient because he wants to, not because you forced him.
6. A Dog Trainer Can Train Your Dog for You. Some people think that they can hire a dog trainer, let them do all the work, and the dog will be magically trained. That’s just not the way it works. The most important factor in dog training is earning the dog’s respect – building a relationship with the dog. Nobody can do that for you. Dogs are not robots.
They can’t be “programmed” by one individual, then automatically become “user friendly.” Taking the time to train your dog yourself, using the correct techniques, will not only result in a well-behaved pooch, but a wonderful relationship between the two of you as well.
7. The Best Way to Stop Dog Barking is Using a Shock Collar. A shock collar is a small electrical box that is attached to a dog’s neck. When the dog barks, he is “corrected” by being shocked with low current electricity. THIS IS PAINFUL. A professional dog trainer once told me that he tested one on himself, using the lowest setting, and it literally brought him to tears. Using a shock collar is cruel, and it makes me sick that these devices are even being sold. Read PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) article about the dangers of shock collars HERE.
I have a friend whose Golden Lab was destroyed/killed by a dysfunctioning shock collar. Additionally, these are not even effective. Usually the dog either just barks through the pain, or else becomes silent out of fear. Either scenario is beyond sad. Training a dog with the use of pain is never the right things to do. Rather, there are many more effective and kind methods to use. Please read this article, How to Stop Your Dog From Barking for more information.
What is the Best Way to Train a Dog?
The best way to train your dog is to use gentle, loving, respectful and EFFECTIVE training techniques. Remember that your dog can be a trusted and constant friend and companion for many years to come. They’ll do anything for you – protect you at all costs – and love you more unconditionally than I believe any human is capable of loving. In my opinion, it is SO worth the investment to learn how to train your dog correctly so that you and he can have a nice life together – get along well – not bug each other. My #1 recommendation for dog training is Doggy Dan’s dog training website, The Online Dog Trainer.
Dog Training That Works!
Watch this video where Doggy Dan is discussing why people struggle to train their dogs and why his dog training methods actually work. I think you’ll find what he has to say surprising, especially when he points out common dog training mistakes (you might be making!). CLICK HERE to watch video.
Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to worry about your dog’s behavior? What if he didn’t bark constantly? What if he never jumped up on people when they visit your home? What if he never attacked anybody, chased cars or kids on bikes. And what if the dog actually listened to you? Please take a few minutes to take a look at The Online Dog Trainer.
This is a website that has step-by-step videos on every dog training issue you can think of, all made by one of the world’s top dog trainers. I promise it’ll be worth your while. Go to the site – look around. You’ll see all the help you need is right there at your fingertips.
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I love it. all these while i have always thought you can’t teach an old dog new tricks just because i have heard it a couple of times in situations where there’s not turning back. this is really an interesting article and it makes a lot of sense to me as a dog owner. Just by growing through the different myths without even reading through one can learn a lot.
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you benefited from this. 🙂
You provide some pretty awesome tips on this page! I never knew that all of these things were actually myths! It’s interesting that old dogs can actually learn new tricks! There is so much good information on this page I don’t know where to begin!
Thanks for all of the awesome information. This is truly a valuable article! Keep up the great writing!
Thank you so much for your kind compliments. 🙂