Puppy Training And Obedience: Myths And Misconceptions

Getting a new puppy can be exciting but also a little scary when you realize your curious friend has a mind of their own. Training your puppy properly not only protects your furniture from being destroyed and your puppy from peeing on the carpet, but training also helps your dog stay safe. Here are a few of the most common myths and misconceptions you should not believe about training your puppy or dog.  

My Puppy Is Too Stubborn or Strong Willed to Be Trained

Each puppy is different, and some puppies will pick up on a command in a few minutes, while other puppies might take several days or weeks before they respond. This is not because the puppy is not as smart as other puppies, or the puppy is stubborn or strong-willed. Instead, your puppy might just need some extra time and attention to understand and respond. If you are truly struggling with teaching your dog any commands, professional obedience training is a great option.

My Dog Is Too Old to Be Trained

There is a popular saying that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. However, no matter what the age or temperament of your dog, it is possible to teach any older dog some basic obedience. The issue that some owners of older dogs have is that to teach their dogs positive behaviors, they must first undo some negative behaviors.

Unfortunately, this can be a difficult task, which is why owners of older dogs often find that the best way to replace negative behaviors is to work with a professional trainer. A trainer will have the skills and knowledge available to safely and effectively train any dog, no matter what its age.

Rubbing Your Dog's Nose in Its Mess Is an Effective Training Technique

Puppies have accidents in the home and often, it is unavoidable. It is a common technique to rub the puppy's nose in their mess. The idea behind this technique is that it will teach the dog a negative association with defecating in the home. Unfortunately, this is not an effective strategy because your dog will simply not understand that they are being punished by defecating indoors.

Instead, work with a professional trainer to find more positive ways to house train your dog. For example, treats and praise are simple and effective methods to help your puppy understand where they need to relieve themselves.

From the idea you cannot train an older dog to the belief that some puppies are too strong-willed to be trained, there are several obedience and training myths you should not believe. Reach out to a company such as Bunk & Biscuit to find out more.


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