Debunking Dog Behavior Myths
Wild dogs and feral dogs don’t form packs. They have loose, transitory associations with each other, coming together to scavenge, hunt, and mate, then going their separate ways.
A great deal of what many people think about dogs and training is based on a lifetime of beliefs, or gleaned from TV programs and the Internet. When I first started working with dogs two decades ago, I had my own preconceived notions about canine behavior based on memories of my childhood dog, input from friends, and books I’d read.
While there are now decades of rigorous peer-reviewed academic research on canine behavior, the myths persist. Here are the top seven myths that can be detrimental to teaching your dog manners, your dog’s overall welfare, and your relationship with your dog.
1. Myth: Dogs are pack animals with an “alpha” who dominates the others (including us).
Research has shown that feral and semi-feral dogs don’t form packs. Left to their own devices, dogs form loose, transitory associations with other dogs, coming together over a resource or to reproduce, then going their separate ways.
The idea that dogs form packs with an alpha controlling the group comes from an incorrect extrapolation of Dr. L. David Mech’s research on captive wolves. (Dr. Mech is outspoken about correcting this erroneous interpretation of his research.) We now know that wolves live in family groups, centered around a male/female breeding pair. While dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, neither animal seeks to be the leader of the pack.
Dominance is a harmful idea tied to the (incorrect) notion of pack behavior. Trainers who claim you need to assert “dominance” do so primarily with outdated, coercive methods that can hurt or frighten your dog. Studies show dogs learn less well with these methods, which can also harm your relationship with your dog.
Is it possible we also like to project our own human need to “dominate” onto animal behavior? I suspect this may be the case.
2. Myth: Food rewards are bribes for desired behaviors.
Animal behavior researcher Susan Friedman, Ph.D., pithily sums up why your dog does what she does: “Behavior is a tool to produce consequences.” All properly functioning organisms (dogs, insects, humans) use behavior as a tool to create consequences that help them survive.
When we train our dogs with rewards, we’re tapping into that survival mode by providing a potent motivator — food — for dogs to learn the hard work of doing what want them to do, rather than following their impulses.
We teach a dog to walk without pulling the leash because he learns when he walks near you, he gets a treat. Rewards-based training provides a strong motivation and consequence to his behavior of walking near you. Your dog will want to walk near you rather than be compelled to by wearing a collar that chokes him when he pulls.
Training with food rewards has the bonus of your dog learning that you are the Provider of Fabulous Things. This builds a strong relationship, rather than compromises it.
3. Myth: If you comfort your dog when he’s afraid, you’re rewarding the fear and it’ll get worse.
There are no studies to support this idea. Fear is an emotional state. Comforting a frightened child or adult doesn’t cause them to become more fearful of a situation; the same goes for our dogs. Soothe them all you want (and there are ways to help them overcome their fears).
4. Myth: Punish dogs for growling or they’ll become aggressive.
Dogs growl because they’re worried about something and growling is how they communicate that worry.
I get it! We’re living with predators who have sharp teeth, and growls are scary for us. But rather than punishing a dog with an outdated response such as a squirt bottle, yelling, or worse, it’s much more effective to teach the dog that what he’s worried about (people getting near his food, for instance) predicts good things for him.
Punishing a growl may mean your dog decides next time “Hmmm… that didn’t work to make them back off … I better go straight to biting.”
5. Myth: Playing tug makes dogs aggressive.
Another hard “no.” The only study ever done found no correlation between tug and aggressive behavior directed at either family members or strangers. Tug is actually a cooperative behavior directed at tearing apart simulated prey (the tug toy) and is a great physical and mental energy burner.
6. Myth: If you give dogs chew toys, they’ll chew everything.
Quite the opposite! Dogs readily learn to distinguish their toys from forbidden items with minimal training. Supervision is key — as is picking up items you don’t want them to chew in their early days of being in your home.
The need and desire to chew are so hardwired in dogs that removing chew toys can be considered a welfare issue.
7. Myth: Different breeds of dogs require different training methods.
All dogs, regardless of breed, learn the same way.
People may have heard that their breed of dog needs a particular training method. This is often said about dogs who have historically been bred to perform a function, such as a herding dog or protection dog.
What is true is that individual dogs have different learning capabilities. Some dogs learn simple skills quickly but struggle to learn challenging ones such as coming when called.
Some take longer to get the basics down pat. A dog who, for instance, has not had any training for the first few years of her life may take longer to pick up the skill of learning.
There’s never a need to use anything but kindness and food rewards to train your dog in her everyday manners. Studies show that using anything besides kindness and food rewards makes for less effective training and can be detrimental to how your dog feels about you in general.
Ditch dominance and musty myths and give your dog love, kindness, and cookies instead
Go ahead. Love your dog all you want. Comfort your dog if she’s worried about fireworks or thunder. Bring fabulous treats on your walks and reward your dog for being near you. Pay attention to what you’re dog is telling you with her body language and vocalizations. And enjoy a rousing game of tug!