Top 10 Dog Myths Revisited

Some time ago I published a quick list of the 10 most common myths I encounter when working with owners. Today I thought I'd expand a bit on these items based on my personal experience over the years...

MYTH # 10: All aggression is fear based.
While many dogs that bite do so out of fear, there are some that do so to control. The latter group are dogs that don't particularly like working for humans, and which I consider truly "dominant". They can be very pleasant when things are going their (the dog's) way - but ask them to do something they'd rather not and they will challenge you. These dogs won't be made better with good will, treats, or negotiations. These dogs require a very experienced and strong leader early in their life.

MYTH 9: All fearful or skittish dogs were abused.
There are a number of factors that go into a dog's individual personality. There is substantial evidence that genetics and lack of early imprinting can both contribute to skittish personalities. In my experience, these 2 factors are more likely than actual abuse.

MYTH 8: All dogs of the same breed will be similar.
Just like brothers and sisters will all be different in many ways, dogs of the same litter will actually vary a great deal. So while some breed traits are worth considering, IMO they take a back seat to a dog's individual personality.

MYTH 7: The most important ingredient for training success is a dog's intelligence.
I believe the most important ingredient is a dog's willingness to please. Intelligence is nice, but intelligent dogs can actually be quite a handful at times.

MYTH 6: My young dog will outgrow its problem behaviors.
Problem behaviors generally start early, and owners believing a dog will outgrow them are actually allowing the problem(s) to continue developing. If a dog isn't behaving as you'd like, the sooner you address the issue(s) the more likely you'll see better and faster results.

MYTH 5: Dog parks provide healthy socialization.
Not all dog-to-dog interactions are healthy socialization, regardless of what you may read online from dog park advocates. I see dogs weekly where too much rough interaction with other dogs has led to severe social handicaps. Owners will ALWAYS be best served teaching their dogs to be calm around other dogs. Spend time building a human-to-k9 bond with your pet, rather than running him/her around town for play events.

MYTH 4: Dominance is common in many dogs, and letting dogs sort out pecking order is natural.
Truly dominant dogs, in my experience, are actually very rare. Most dogs enjoy following, and want to please us - this is why we (humans) love them so much. When owners are living with multiple dogs, being in charge of the group negates any need for dogs to set order among themselves.

MYTH 3: Ignoring a dog when mis-behaving removes the attention it seeks, and will teach the dog to stop the behavior.
This is very popular mantra with positive only trainers. This tactic, in my experience, simply confuses a dog. Removing attention is not the same as making an educational point by calmly correcting a problem. Dogs learn through information. Showing your dog you ignore something you see as a problem - that's not the information you want to be sharing.

MYTH 2: Correcting a problem degrades the relationship an owner shares with their dog.
Again, dogs not only need information to learn, they respect those who offer that information in a fair and consistent fashion. Dogs correct each other, so why wouldn't we want to use part of their natural language in teaching?

MYTH 1: Good behavior and reliable obedience come out of friendship and love.
This is the cornerstone belief of positive only trainers, and I've written numerous posts in the past regarding this single topic. Good behavior, listening skills, and RELIABLE obedience actually reflect the respect side of a relationship. Love and leadership can co-exist, but dogs do see them as separate parts of a relationship. Be a friend to your dog (by all means), but understand leadership is required for best behavior and obedience.