Common Myths About Puppies

Common myths about puppy training often stem from outdated practices, misunderstandings, or oversimplified views of canine behaviour. Here are some prevalent ones:

🐾 You Should Rub Their Nose in It to House Train Them: This old-school method of house training by punishing a puppy for accidents inside the house is not only ineffective but can also lead to fear and anxiety in dogs. Positive reinforcement and a consistent schedule are much more effective.

🐾 Puppies Need to Be Dominated to Be Trained: The concept of dominating your puppy to establish yourself as the “alpha” is based on outdated and debunked theories about wolf pack behavior. Positive reinforcement, mutual respect, and understanding are far more effective and create a stronger bond between you and your puppy.

🐾 Puppies Only Need to Be Socialised with Dogs: While socialising with other dogs is important, puppies also benefit from exposure to various people, environments, sounds, and experiences to become well-adjusted adults.

🐾 Training Should Only Start After Six Months: You can start basic training with your puppy as soon as they come home, typically around eight weeks old. Early training lays the groundwork for future behaviors and helps prevent problematic ones from developing.

🐾 Playing Tug-of-War Leads to Aggression: Playing tug-of-war with your puppy, when done correctly, does not cause aggression. It’s a great physical exercise and can be used as a training tool to teach commands like “drop it.” It’s important to set rules and boundaries to keep the game under control.

Understanding modern, science-based approaches to training can help you avoid these myths and build a strong, positive relationship with your puppy.