As a master dog trainer of over a decade, I've heard some terrible advice. Here are the top 5 worst pieces of advice and what you should do instead
As a dog owner, you want to do everything in your power to ensure your furry friend is well-trained, happy and healthy. However, not all advice is created equal. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad advice out there when it comes to dog training. As a master dog trainer of over a decade, I've heard some terrible advice that can actually do more harm than good. In this blog post, I will be sharing the top 5 worst pieces of advice that I have ever heard and what you should do instead.
Number 5
"Ignore barking and jumping, they'll stop on their own!" This is a common piece of advice that I've heard, but it's completely untrue. Ignoring barking and jumping will not make them stop, in fact it will likely continue because you have demonstrated with your actions that it really doesn't matter. Instead, train your dog to stop barking and jumping on command. This will help them understand that there are consequences for their actions and that you are in control.
Number 4
"Medicate anxious dogs [as a first resort] when they are anxious." This is another piece of advice that I strongly disagree with. Medication may provide temporary relief, but it will not solve the underlying problem. Training can solve most anxiety that medication will never actually solve. Instead of sedating your dog their whole lives, try to identify the cause of the anxiety and work on training exercises to help them overcome it.
Number 3
"Use Treats to get your aggressive dog to like your company!" This is a dangerous piece of advice, as it can actually make the situation worse. If you use treats to try and get an aggressive dog to like your company, you run the risk of your dog believing they were given treats BECAUSE they were aggressive. This can reinforce aggressive behavior. Instead, work on training exercises to help your dog understand that aggressive behavior will not be tolerated.
Number 2
"Pet your dog to comfort them when they are scared." This is another piece of advice that can actually do more harm than good. If you pet your dog to comfort them when they are scared, they may interpret it as affirmation that they were right to be scared. Instead, the best thing you can show the dog is confidence. Remain calm and assertive in the face of fear and show your dog that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Number 1
"You can feed a food aggressive dog in their kennel so that they are isolated when they eat and a fight can't be started." This is a terrible piece of advice that can lead to more problems. The one part of the home that the dog is not going to share with you is their kennel. They tend to start taking ownership over their kennel, to some degree. You don't want to put high value things in there, especially food, because a dog is likely to begin taking ownership over the food. Instead, work on training exercises to help your dog understand that food is a shared resource and that aggressive behavior is not a productive way to retain your resources.
As a dog owner, it's important to be aware of the bad advice out there when it comes to dog training. The top 5 worst pieces of advice listed in this blog post are just a few examples of the misconceptions that can lead to more harm than good for your furry friend. If you've been given any of the advice listed above, it's important to re-evaluate your training methods and seek out clear, scientific, and holistic answers to your dog training questions. At this point, if you're ready to take your dog training to the next level and get the results you desire, it's time to book a free strategy session with us. Our expert trainers will work with you to create a personalized training plan that will help you achieve your goals and give your dog the best possible life. Book here
TL;DR:
The top 5 worst pieces of advice for dog training include:
"Ignore barking and jumping, they'll stop on their own!"
"Medicate anxious dogs [as a first resort] when they are anxious."
"Use Treats to get your aggressive dog to like your company!"
"Pet your dog to comfort them when they are scared."
"You can feed a food aggressive dog in their kennel so that they are isolate
when they eat and a fight can't be started."
These pieces of advice can lead to more harm than good for your furry friend.
Seek out clear, scientific, and holistic answers to your dog training questions here.
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