Dog trainer dispels the most well-known myths about dog training

When you enter the process of putting a dog in your life, you automatically think about what will happen with its training. Or better yet, with the right training. And the more you look for it, the more you worry about what you see, hear, read.

“Not all dogs can be trained”, “your dog must be afraid of you” and many other things we hear every day when we talk about dog training.

We talked with the positive dog trainer Panagiotis Mitsiopoulos about the most common myths about dog training.

# 1 There are trained dogs and untrained dogs.
All dogs are trained but their development depends mainly on the life they had before they were adopted. In many cases the behavioral problem can be completely eliminated, while in other cases depending on the history of the dog can be reduced so that it coexists harmoniously with humans. All the above can be achieved only with systematic training from both sides (human-dog).

# 2 Older dogs can not be trained.
Dogs are trained at all ages but it all depends on the size of the problem they have. Difficult behaviors are self-evident that can be solved at younger ages but without this meaning that they can not be improved at older ages.

# 3 In some cases violent methods are required for the training to be effective.
The use of force is never required to train a dog, whether physical or verbal. The dog’s intelligence has been proven to reach the age of a child of about 3 years old. Just as we would not use violence on a child (nor an adult) so should we work with the dog.

The dog does not have all the human emotions e.g. revenge. He does not do a damage to get revenge on us but to get our attention. We must look for the roots of ‘bad’ behavior and not violently interrupt it. In short we need to teach our dog how to behave and not how NOT to behave!

# 4 The dog must learn to be “afraid” of his master.
Our relationship with the dog must be one of cooperation and trust and in no case of fear. The nature of dogs is not to live in apartments and yards, so we must make their daily lives comfortable and enjoyable. The dog that is afraid of us will present behavioral problems, just as it does with human relationships. The more often they quarrel, the more their relationship wears out.

# 5 Not all dogs need training, some are naturally obedient.
Dogs are by nature obedient to their mother but are trained by humans. We usually identify inactive dogs with obedient dogs, which of course is wrong. No dog was born knowing human body language. We are the ones who have to teach them and we have to do it the right way. We must separate obedience from education.

# 6 Positive training works best for small dogs.
The training method has nothing to do with the size of the dogs. All dogs regardless of size can be trained. Scientifically proven according to universities worldwide Positive education is the most effective in all animals.

# 7 There are some races that are aggressive and no training works.
No there are no aggressive races but wrong manipulations and violent training methods. This causes the dogs to become aggressive and violent. A great example are the misunderstood breeds of Pitbull, Rottweiler, Doberman, Cane Corso and others. Clearly each breed has developed its own specific instincts (guarding, hunting, etc.) but none has a congenital instinct for aggression towards humans.

# 8 Small dogs do not need training
It does not apply in any case. Small dogs as living organisms with emotions and needs have the same needs for relaxation and training as large dogs. We must show all dogs the way to a normal daily life.

# 9 If you want to hit your dog to fight him, you hit him with a newspaper.
We never hit or yell at our dog. With this method the dog is scared and does not learn. This always has negative consequences on the dog’s psychology but also on his coexistence with us (eg aggressive behavior). The use of force in any way is not a positive education and therefore not effective.

Panagiotis Mitsiopoulos is a Positive Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant, a graduate and member of the Kynagon Dog Trainers Academy. He is a member of ICAN and ICB and certified by the International Organization of Professional Trainers ISAP in England. He is a volunteer-trainer in 3 animal welfare organizations in Athens and helps in animal shelters. She hosts stray dogs helping them solve difficult behaviors they may have acquired on the road, and prepares them for their new family. The goal of his work is always the well-being of dogs.

Facebook: Positive Mindset Instagram: Positive_mindset_dog_training

Read also:

How to choose the right shape and color for your nails, if you regret every time what you chose

6 combinations that will make your old clothes look like new

savoirville.gr

Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news