Joanne Drysdale BSc Dog Behaviour Clinic & Edinburgh Dog Training

The world of dog behaviour and training is a minefield. There is such a huge range of different ideas and opinions on how dogs think and how their behaviour can be changed. Dog training has evolved rapidly over the last few decades and it can be hard for owners to know what to think when they get different advice from friends, family, breeders, vets and trainers. Below are some explanations of the commonly heard theories, myths and opinions. I am a firm believer that dogs learn best when we can show them what we DO want in a kind and fair way. Understanding how they communicate and how they learn allows us to teach them how to adapt to our lifestyles.

MYTH: if a dog cannot learn a behaviour it is either stupid, dominant or stubborn.

REALITY: Some dogs just take longer to pick things up but most commonly they just don't understand what we are trying to teach them. Our communication skills may not be clear enough or we may be reinforcing the wrong thing. If we get too frustrated with them or don'r reward them for doing the right thing then they can become helpless and less likely to learn. Some dogs also find certain behaviours difficult. For example greyhounds often finding sitting down difficult as their long spine makes it uncomfortable to sit for long.

MYTH: he knows he did something wrong as he looks guilty.

REALITY: dogs do have emotions but are incapable of guilt. Much more likely is that they pick up on your body language and tone of voice that you are upset or angry with them and then show signs of appeasement.

MYTH: using reward based methods only works for calm/happy/small dogs but wont work with big/tough/stubborn dogs

REALITY: any dog can learn by using rewards. Its one of the most basic concepts of learning that every single living species responds to. Dogs do more of what they find rewarding and less of anything that has no benefit. If you find what makes your dog motivated then you can train it to do just about anything. It has also been shown that using harsh methods can make problems worse and damages the bond between the dog and owner. Why use punishment when rewards work better, last longer and make having a dog more fun?

MYTH: my dogs pulls on the lead because he is dominant or sits on me because he is trying to be pack leader.

REALITY: this theory is one of most commonly heard debates among dog owners. However, it has been completely disproved by scientific evidence that dogs are not on a mission to rule the world and do not see humans as part of a pack. The concept of dominance was developed by dog trainers who looked at captive wolf research and decided that as dogs descended from wolves (over 15,000 years ago!) that they must still behave like them. Even the man who compiled the wolf research disagrees that domestic dogs are anything like captive or wild wolves. Wild wolves do not have a dominance hierarchy and are quite simply family units. They feed their offspring first and everything about their behaviour is designed to minimise conflict. Captive wolves are under much more pressure and thus do behave differently but are in no way similar to the domestic dog. So feeding your dog last, not letting them sit above you and not letting them out the door in front of you is completely pointless if you want a better behaved dog. Quite often the reason why being the 'pack leader' appears to work is because the dog is given boundaries, consistency and basic training. All of which are of course necessary but have no connection to being in a pack or dominance. Sometimes using a 'Learn to Earn' or 'Nothing in Life is Free' programme (often associated with dominance) will appear to work as the dog becomes shut down or helpless as they are suddenly getting no affection, no rewards and do not understand what is going on. I prefer to think of myself as the care giver and teacher but not a leader. Just as a parent gives their child love and affection they must also teach them manners and life skills. Being a dog owner is no different.

For more information on this topic have a look at the behaviour articles on the useful links page.

MYTH: you should never play tug games with your dog or never let them win.

REALITY: there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't play this game with your dog. As long as they know not to touch skin and will let go when asked then it can be a great reward for them after a training session or a way to have fun in the home. Starting this game with a puppy can teach them about bite inhibition and self control which are both important skills for any dog to learn. Many owners who compete in dog sports use tug as a motivator for their dog to carry out all kinds of advanced skills. Also, there is no harm in letting your dog 'win' the game and to keep it fun they should get to win most of the time.

MYTH: you shouldn't use food in dog training as it is bribery.

REALITY: food can be used a bribe but by understanding the concepts of learning you can use this to your advantage and help your dog to learn faster. Using food as a lure and then rewarding the dog is one of the easiest and simplest ways to teach a skill. However the food should be faded out quickly as a lure and only used as the reward once the behaviour is complete. Once a behaviour is reliable then rewards can be given randomly to keep the dog guessing. A bit like playing a slot machine, its far more exciting when you dont know when you will win. Food is usually high on a dogs list of motivations but trainers also will use praise, attention, toys and life rewards such as running offlead or playing with other dogs as a reward for good behaviour.