German Sheperd Handbook 1

There is so much misinformation out there about dog training that it can be difficult to know what information you can actually trust. Some training techniques are not at all recommended and the last thing you want as a dog owner is to discover that you have been doing more harm than good. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most common dog training myths and the truth behind them!


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You Can Only Train a Puppy, Not an Older Dog

This is what I like to call the 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' myth! A large number of dog owners seem to think that once their dog gets to a certain age there is no point in training it if they have not done so already. This is completely untrue! You most certainly can teach an old dog new tricks because dogs are not set in their ways like we human beings are! In an ideal world, the younger you can start dog trainingthe better, but you can still effectively train an older dog it just takes a little perseverance! Dogs actually thrive on learning new things and starting obedience training with an older dog might even give it a new lease of life!

Positive Reinforcement Only Works With Small or Willing Dogs

Positive Reinforcement is very much the most gentle and humane method of dog training, but some owners seem to think that it will only work with smaller breeds, willing learners and non-aggressive dogs and that big or aggressive dogs need a firmer hand. This is not true. Did you know that Positive Reinforcement is actually the same technique used by Sea World to Train their Killer Whales? Mammals don't get much bigger than that! Animals have a natural instinct to seek out things that reward them, so regardless on the breed of dog you own, Positive Reinforcement can be the most effective way to train them into the behaviours you desire.

Dogs Are Pack Animals and Should Be Trained Accordingly

This is perhaps one of the most common misconception when it comes to dog training. It is true that dogs are descendants of wolves, but that does not necessarily mean that they behave live wolves. After all, we were once apes, but most of us do not go around throwing faeces at each other and grooming for fleas! The 'dominance method' is one of those training techniques that just refuses to go away. The truth is that pack hierarchy can only exist within the same species and dogs are smart enough to know that we are not bigger, more dominant dogs so trying to force them to believe this is pointless.