Training your dog is a fun, but sometimes hassle experience. Here are a few things people commonly think about when training dogs.
If a dog doesn’t learn, he’s either stupid, dominant, stubborn or all three.
In fact, dogs are like humans in many ways, especially when it comes to learning things. Some dogs learn fast while others take their time with the lesson. It’s always a challenge to teach a dog how to do tricks since you can really talk to them and they can reply back. Keep working on the trick and be patient with your dog. Sooner or later, he or she will understand it. You also need to be aware of their health status. Dogs that are sick, like the ones that have degenerative myelopathy, may need more time and even assistance when taught a new lesson.
Dogs know that they did something incorrectly because they look guilty
Guilt is commonly seen in humans and researchers are still debating over emotions and animals. That “guilt look” that your dog gives you is just reactions that form the body language you let out. Dogs are sensitive to body language and they do react or reply to this in their own little way.
They have to be 6 months old before they can be trained
The “old school” philosophy in training states that a dog has to be half a year old before you start doing rigorous training. The truth is, as long as the dog is old, or big enough to wear a collar around its neck, then it can be managed to be trained. About 4 to 5 months the dog should be old enough to be trained. Another thing is a dog can never be too old to be trained. Training is a change of behavior and you can do this no matter what age a dog is.
Dogs with physical disorders are not trainable
To some extent, they can do certain tricks. However, when it comes to trainability, dogs that have physical disorders due to birth defects and accidents are still trainable. Even dogs that have genetic illnesses, like degenerative myelopathy, can still be trained.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to train
This depends. Some dogs learn better when using nothing but positive reinforcement while others may need some negative reinforcement to learn the lesson. The main difference between both is that you give something during positive reinforcement while you take something away during negative reinforcement. Both aim to increase the possibility of the dog doing the behavior again.
Giving them food is the only way to reward them
There are other ways to show your dog that they did the right thing. Praising them, giving them attention, smiling at them and petting them are just a few ways to reward them.
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