Dog training myths can be fun because they exist in our minds and all of the other silly rumors that float around, but they can also be dangerous. As dog lovers and owners, we want to do our best for our dogs. We want to train them properly and do what is best for their health.
That is why we are here, after all. The trouble comes when people don’t have the correct information. They aren’t aware of the dog training myths and fall back on these ideas as facts. This can lead to inappropriate training methods, lack of exercise and walks, lack of socialization (because who wants to put their pup in a situation that can harm them?), and even more serious problems like chasing cars or attacking other animals!
Old dogs can’t learn new tricks
If you have an old dog, you might wonder if it’s possible to teach him new tricks. As it turns out, old dogs can learn new tricks – but only if they’re taught in a way suited for their age.
The problem with teaching an old dog new tricks is that focusing on the task at hand is challenging. Teaching an older dog requires patience and persistence. You’ll also need to remember that your dog may tire quickly and become frustrated or irritable if he can’t figure out what you want him to do.
If your dog is getting up there in years, it’s probably best to stick with the tried-and-true commands. Don’t try teaching him new ones unless they’re going to be easy enough for him to grasp without much effort on your part. Don’t expect too much from your aging canine friend either; his memory won’t be what it once was so don’t expect him to remember everything he learned when he was younger.
Using food for training spoils dogs
It is often believed that using food to train a dog makes it harder for a dog to do the same thing without food as a reward because the dog will always expect a reward. But is this really true? Does using food spoil dogs? This myth has been around for a long time and is catching up with new dog owners unaware of the truth about food.
Dogs are the most loyal animals in the whole world, and the owner among them knows this. However, do you know what doesn’t spoil your dog? Food for training. This food, placed in a special cup or bin, is just there to sustain your pet until he gets his proper meal from you (rather than stealing food from the other hungry dogs).
Next time you are training your dog, don’t think of it as a reward; think of it as “training fuel”
Some dogs just can’t be taught
The myth that some dogs are untrainable is just that, a myth. In reality, the vast majority of behavioral problems in dogs can be solved with proper training and management. However, there is a small percentage of dogs who simply cannot be taught to behave appropriately. They may be too anxious or fearful to learn new skills or think for themselves, or they may have an underlying medical condition such as separation anxiety or fear aggression.
The good news is that most dogs fall into the first category and can be trained to do almost anything their owners ask them to do. The bad news is that it takes time and patience – two things that are in short supply for many dog owners!
Dogs can only see in black and white
Dogs have a limited ability to perceive colors, but they are not entirely colorblind. They are thought to be able to detect differences between blue, yellow, and grayish-green.
Dogs don’t see in color as we do. They have what’s called dichromatic vision. This means that they have two types of cones (photoreceptors) in their eyes and one type is more sensitive to blue light than the other, which is why dogs and other animals with dichromatic vision often have blue-tinged irises. Dogs also lack short wavelength sensitive pigments (SWS) in their cone cells so they cannot perceive red light at all.
When my dog eats grass it means they are sick
The idea that eating grass indicates illness is a common misconception. Dogs may eat grass or leaves for a variety of reasons, including to obtain certain nutrients or to aid in digestion or nausea. In some cases, dogs ingest toxic plants and must be treated by a veterinarian.
If your dog is eating grass excessively and you are concerned about its health, you should contact your veterinarian.
Why do dogs eat grass?
There are many possible reasons why dogs eat grass, but most often the answer is simple: They like the taste! Dogs can’t get enough of fresh green lawns, especially when they’re young puppies that haven’t yet learned what’s acceptable and what isn’t in terms of food choices.
However, some dogs also eat grass because it helps with digestion and relieves gastric upset, which can be caused by stress or anxiety. In addition, some people believe that eating grass helps prevent vomiting in dogs (which we’ll discuss in more detail below). Finally, some owners report that their pets will only eat fresh-cut lawns instead of dried hay or dried foods, which makes sense if you think about how similar fresh-cut greenery looks and smells compared to fresh-cut.
Dogs age seven years for every human year
You may have heard the myth that dogs age seven years for every human year. While it’s true that dogs age faster than we do, this ratio is not correct. According to the American Kennel Club, the average lifespan of a dog is 10-13 years. That’s about three to four human years — not seven.
Why does this myth persist? It may be because dogs grow and develop more quickly than humans do. They reach puberty at about six months old and can start having puppies around that time as well.
But after they reach adulthood, their behavior and lifestyle don’t change much until they’re senior citizens. In other words, they have fewer life events compared to humans who experience many different stages over time (such as childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood).
A female dog feels ‘empty’ if they don’t have a litter
A common misconception is that female dogs feel ‘empty’ if they don’t have a litter of puppies. This isn’t true at all. In fact, it can be quite harmful and traumatic for a female dog to have a litter of puppies taken away.
It’s important to remember that dogs are not humans and they do not think in the same way we do. As such, it is essential to stop anthropomorphizing your pet and start thinking about her needs in terms of her species.
It’s OK to leave your dog in a car with the windows down
We all know that leaving your dog in a hot car is dangerous, but what if you leave the windows down for them?
The general consensus is that it’s okay to leave your dog in a car with the windows down. This myth has spread through word of mouth and people repeating what they’ve heard from others. But is there any truth behind it?
If you’re planning on running errands or going shopping, it’s important to remember that even with the windows down, your dog still needs some protection from the elements. Leaving them in the back of your car isn’t safe, no matter what.
A car can heat up quickly on a warm day and cause hyperthermia (overheating) or hypothermia (chilliness). On very hot days, even with the windows down, temperatures inside a parked car can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour! If you want to protect your pooch from heat stroke, make sure you leave them at home where they can stay cool and comfortable.
Rescue dogs are all damaged
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about rescue dogs. We hear it all the time from people who are considering getting a new dog, but they’re afraid that they’ll get one with a history of abuse and neglect. They think that every rescue dog has some significant problem — and that’s simply not true.
Here are some common myths:
Myth 1 – All rescue dogs are damaged goods. That is not true — most are just as happy and healthy as any other dog. Some may have had a rough start in life, but they’ve moved on from that trauma and become whole again in their new homes.
Myth 2 – Rescue dogs can’t be trusted because they’ve been abused or neglected in the past. This is largely untrue; most rescued dogs have never been mistreated at all — those who have were likely mistreated by humans rather than other dogs or cats (or horses or goats). They’ve been abandoned by their owners because they weren’t “right” for them, not because they were dangerous or scary or mean-spirited animals who needed to be put down. If anything, many rescued animals are grateful to be alive after being rescued from an awful situation and given another chance at life — this gratitude often shows.
I need to show my dog who’s boss
I need to show my dog who’s boss myth – “I need to show my dog who’s boss.”
It’s a common misconception that you can train a dog by showing them who’s boss. While this may work for some dogs, it doesn’t work for all of them, and it can actually make problems worse, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
For example, here are some of the things that could go wrong if you try to “show your dog who’s boss”: You could accidentally hurt your dog by being too rough with them or by not knowing how to properly handle their energy. You could damage your relationship with your dog if they become afraid of you and stop listening to your commands.
If your dog is already aggressive towards people or other dogs and uses aggression as a way of getting what they want, then using force against them could cause them to become even more aggressive towards people or animals in general.
I think my dog has a cold, can I catch it?
Myth: You can get a cold from your dog.
Fact: You can’t catch a cold from your dog or vice versa. But there are some other contagious diseases that dogs and humans can pass back and forth.
While you might not have gotten the sniffles from Fido, you could be at risk for other viruses that are transmissible between humans and dogs, such as canine parvovirus (CPV) and leptospirosis.
Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in dogs. It’s transmitted through contact with infected feces or contaminated objects like food bowls or toys. Humans can become infected if they touch their mouths after touching something contaminated by the virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Leptospirosis is another bacterial disease that’s common in dogs but rare in humans. It causes fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and vomiting in people who contract it from kissing a sick pooch or drinking contaminated water after being exposed to their waste products, according to Medline Plus.
If you’re worried about contracting an illness from your furry friend — or vice versa — make sure he gets vaccinated against these diseases annually