Dog training and preconceived ideas
Six common assumptions about dog ownership — from “never punish with your hand” to “self-regulated feeding” — examined and corrected.
A dog has only one owner.
It's true that a puppy carries over his attachment bond to one particular person, but he can have several "masters" — anyone who holds a hierarchical rank above his own.
You have to speak harshly to a dog to be obeyed.
A dog can obey hand signals alone, which shows that obedience doesn't depend on a firm voice. A soft, pleasant voice is actually preferable — it lets the dog associate the command with a pleasant moment.
Upon arrival, a puppy must sleep in the spot that will be permanently his.
A puppy can perfectly well sleep in his owner's bedroom for a short week, during the transition away from the breeder, before being moved to his permanent spot afterward.
You should never punish a dog with your hand.
In nature, a mother uses her mouth to reassure and soothe her puppies, but also to discipline them. In the same way, a hand can be used both to pet a dog and to correct it. A dog knows very well whether you're approaching to reprimand him or to pet him — in each case, we don't approach the same way: our gestures and facial expressions differ.
A dog's upbringing should begin at 5 or 6 months.
Upbringing and training are two different things. Training — teaching a dog a job or a highly specific task — requires a certain maturity in the animal, and it's true that it can't begin in the very first months. A dog's upbringing, on the other hand, involves establishing house rules and simple everyday commands. That should begin the moment the puppy arrives home.
You can leave food out and let the dog self-regulate its eating.
Physiologically, this isn't a problem, but hierarchically it is a mistake. A dog that eats whenever he pleases is being granted a dominant privilege. When a dog decides to eat right before his owners sit down to their own meal, he eats first — and whoever eats first holds the higher hierarchical status when it comes to food.
Stephan MairesseProfessional dog trainer & canine behaviorist, 30 years of experience across 16 countries. Certificat de capacité N°750108. Read his full background →
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