Common Fallacies in Dog Training Advice

As soon as you get a dog, many people will offer you dog training advice. Your vet will say one thing and a dog trainer might say another. There are numerous books with different ideas about what to do and what not to do, but advice from even the most well meaning friend can lead to major problems and even dangerous behaviors. It's a good idea to choose two reputable sources for your own learning and stick with the information from those two sources. The best sources for dog training advice include a professional dog trainer, your veterinarian and an experienced puppy school teacher. Here are some common fallacies you'll hear when you get dog training advice.

Show Your Dog Who's Boss Any Way You Can

Many people take the alpha dog advice too far. Corporal punishment including swatting, hitting or causing other physical pain often leads to aggression, anxiety and retaliation. Avoid inflicting physical pain on your dog. You can assert yourself as the alpha with firm and consistent language and other sounds that are annoying to your dog, but don't involve yelling or hitting.

Show Love by Letting Your Dog Do Whatever He Wants

This is on the opposite end of the spectrum, but it's something people often say when offering dog training advice. Your dog will feel most comfortable if he knows that you're in charge. Then there's more freedom and clarity around affection, treats and outings. It will help with your bonding to be a firm and consistent yet loving leader.

Rub Your Dog's Nose in His Accidents

This is one of the most common fallacies offered as sound dog training advice. This action will mainly result in your dog being afraid to eliminate in front of you. He won't understand why you're yelling at him. His memory won't be long-term enough for him to know why he's getting scolded. Having to smell his own waste will be a noxious experience for him.

Don't Reward with Treats

As long as you don't give the dog too many treats in terms of calories, using treats as a reward is an excellent skill in training.

Keep Your Dog inside for the First Year of His Life

Puppies are more susceptible to disease from bacteria, but socialization is extremely important for your dog as a puppy. The best way to socialize your puppy is to take him outside to meet other dogs. You just need to keep him from eating or rolling in feces or drinking from puddles. It's also a good idea to avoid areas where there might be human or animal waste on the street when you can't keep your puppy away from it.

Dog training fallacies can really sabotage your success with your dog. If you stick to reliable dog training sources, you'll be able to train your dog and learn the best dog training tips to teach others!

 

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