Dogs: 10 Myths You Should Never Believe

1. Small dogs won’t hurt you. It’s okay if they growl and bark ferociously.

A lot of people laugh and call these small yippers ankle biters. BUT Small dogs can hurt you, sometimes more seriously than big dogs. Their teeth are sharp too. If they are barking and growling, they are showing aggression and they need to be trained to stop this behavior before they do bite.

2. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Actually dogs never stop learning. My dog, Snickers learned most of the dog tricks for our program at the age of seven. Just as with training up our children, dogs need ongoing training as well. It keeps them obedient, challenges them, and keeps them engaged, healthy and active. Never give a dog a FREE TREAT always make them do something to earn it! By doing this, they will gain more love and respect for you.

3. My dog doesn’t need to be trained it’s just a house pet.

Every dog needs to be trained, just as every child needs to be disciplined and trained. If left untrained your dog will not obey you, is a danger to themselves and others, and might cost you more than you can ever imagine. One lady recently went to court and paid over $2,000 when her untrained dog bit another dog.

4. All dogs are friendly.

The world we live in today leads us to believe that all dogs are friendly. Sadly, that’s just not so. Just as some dogs are friendly, there are some very aggressive and vicious dogs out there as well, who without the proper training and discipline can hurt or even kill someone.

5. Certain dogs don’t bite.

We may tell our children to watch out for “certain dogs” that look mean, are big, etc. We can often mislead them to believe that there are those other dogs that are really nice and will never bite. Dogs are not humans. Any dog can bite under the right circumstances.

6. It’s safe for dogs to be loose in your yard.

Actually it is dangerous for any owner to allow their dogs to run free in the yard, unless you have a fence to protect them. Although I’m an experienced dog trainer and I have let my dogs run free in my yard (one at a time) while training them, I don’t encourage it. With other dogs and owners walking by, it can cause even the most trained dogs to bolt into the path of danger.  Besides, in many places now, under the new leash laws, dogs must be on a leash at all times. So, make sure you know the laws for your city, state, and area before ever taking your dog off leash or you could be facing a huge fine or even time in jail!

7. As long as the owner says the dog won’t bite, it’s okay for your child to pet it.

Do you have a rule with your children about petting dogs they don’t know? You should. Kids get seriously bitten every day because they were not properly educated on dog safety. If you do allow your child to pet a dog that an owner has on a leash, please tell your children to never put their face in the dogs face. Also, encourage them never to pet a stray dog and to always get your permission before interacting with any dog.

8. Dogs that have been friendly before can be totally trusted.

We’d love to believe that those friendly dogs that we’ve come to know and love could never turn on us. However, any dog can turn on anyone at any time in their life span, due to diseases and other circumstances. Dog’s have teeth and a sloppy tongue. One of two things can happen when humans interact with them; they can lick or they can bite. So again, use extra caution and tell your children to keep their face away from the dog’s face.

9.You can pet a service dog because they’ve been trained to be friendly.

Yes, service dogs are trained or are in training, but they are not pet therapy dogs and should never be petted while working unless you are given permission to pet them by the owner. These dogs when wearing a vest are on the job and should not be bothered, unless the owner gives their okay. Not all service dogs are for petting, some of them can be trained for protection, to keep other people away from this person. So be educated and beware.

10. It’s okay to leave my dog in the car.

As pet owners we want to take our dogs everywhere we go. Many times, they even beg us to take them with us. BUT if you take them along with you in the summer, don’t stop at the store and leave them in the car or truck. Even with the windows cracked it becomes like an oven within just 10 minutes and can cook your dog from the inside out. Besides that, there are strict animal cruelty laws which are heavily enforced throughout the US that could land you with a huge fine or even in jail. So to avoid such a disaster, possible heat stroke for your dog, and the expenses and heartache this could encounter, leave your dog home when you shop. Consider bringing them home a special treat or toy and give them a fun play time when you return.

Wondering how to train a puppy, how to train a dog, or how to get your aggressive dog under control?

Lisa Freeman is an AKC Evaluator, Certified Pet Therapist and Dog Trainer, from Owosso, Michigan, with over ten years experience, who specializes in dog obedience, puppy training and behavior modification. Check out her dog training page and contact her today!

With so many dog owners or doggy parents today, I believe this scripture applies:

“Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6