It's time to dispel some myths…AGAIN!!

MYTH A tired dog is a happy dog

Continual ball throwing, only taking them for walks to exhaust them, or dog park romps to ‘tire out’ our pooch is not enriching and is not meeting the needs of dogs.

Problems such as over arousal, dysregulation, learned helplessness, musculoskeletal problems, behavioural issues presenting, undesired behaviours such as destructiveness, compulsive behaviours, reactivity, resource guarding, fixation, can be a result of us trying to exhaust our dogs so they can ‘relax’- this is a human concept not one for dogs to have their needs met. Often its so humans can relax......

MYTH Dogs need a job

Dogs need fulfilled lives that meet breed specific needs and activities that are enriching to the individual dog. There is no substitute for welfare and wellness. The ‘all dogs need a job, especially working breeds” is in the past. It's one of those lines that needs to be left behind so we can create enriched lives for our dogs. We know better now as we learn what dogs truly need to have their needs met - and it’s not a ‘job’. Often normal behaviours are misunderstood, and dog behaviours or breeds get incorrectly placed into a one size fits all. There are many factors that need to be considered, and they all form part of the LEGS® of a dog. Dogs deserve to be dogs!

MYTH An obedient dog is a good dog

Many well trained and obedient dogs can actually be supressed and compliant - to the detriment of their welfare. This can challenge our thinking and beliefs. And it should! Many of the things we ‘make’ our dogs do, or condition them to do are for us humans, not for the dogs. The dogs needs and wants are usually considered second, but there has been a shift! We are now realising how we can have a partnership with our dog. Statements such as they do it because they enjoy it, could actually just be they do it because they have been conditioned to do it / find it reinforcing.

MYTH A wagging tail means a happy dog

Everyone who has a dog or interacts with dogs should learn and continue to learn about body language. Humans often interpret body language incorrectly because we are imposing human emotions and expressions onto dogs. There are many gestures that we miss or ignore or misinterpret when it comes to dog body language, from whiskers, eyes, tongue, lips, fur, feet position, where body weight is, body position, and yes tail movement. Once you go down the rabbit hole of canine body language many reels with dogs become cringeworthy when you see the actual discomfort dogs are trying to communicate to us and others.

MYTH Don’t comfort or reassure your dog when they are scared

Fear is almost impossible to reinforce. Providing a calm and secure presence for your dog can help reassure them and regulate them. It can also build trust and confidence. Think about it, if you are frightened or your child is frightened and you were ignored or given comfort, which would help and which might make you feel worse. This is a quote from trainer & author Patricia McConnell. The link to her blog is below if you want to read more.

“Here’s the example for you of how hard it is to “reinforce” fear. What if someone tried break into your home in the middle of the night? Let’s say they did, and after the intruder left, a friend or loved one sat down with you on the couch, brought you tea and gave you a hug. Would the tea and sympathy make you more likely to be afraid if it happened again the next night? Of course not.” https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/you-cant-reinforce-fear-dogs-and-thunderstorms/

MYTH Dogs need to be controlled

Dogs bark. Dogs dig. Dogs chase. Dogs growl. Dogs are dogs living and trying to adapt to our human world and a lot of the time we try to make them….”less dog”.

Behaviour change and training is something that comes with responsibility - Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should! We need to remember that our dogs are ‘captive animals’ that often don’t have choice and agency, but we can begin to change our thinking and ways, to give them as much opportunity to be dogs as possible and help them lived enriched lives.

MYTH Dogs must not walk ahead of us, go through doors first, or eat before us, we need to show them who’s the alpha, etc, etc

Come on guys! The ‘dogs are going to take over the world’ dominance crap was debunked again and again, yet there are still those egos running wild about how we have to put dogs in their place (what ever that means *insert eye roll here*). Stop the alpha rolls, stop the Cesar Millan training advice, stop the crap and treat our dogs with care and respect. And stop watching “dogs behaving badly”. It is harmful. Harmful to our dogs and our relationship with them. I for one wouldn’t mind a dog running our country considering the current political circle….but unfortunately dogs are not secretly trying to rule your life or home and dominate you.