Misconception #1: Training lasts for a period of time and then your puppy is fully trained.
“Once our puppy gets trained, I know she’s going to be a great companion.”
“I just need to finish training him and then things will be easier.”
“I’m thinking about sending my puppy off to be trained.”
These are some common things I hear from people with new puppies. They all come from the idea that training is a phase that lasts a set amount of time. And then the puppy knows everything they need to know and will be able to respond reliably to you in any environment for the rest of their life.
If only it were so simple!
Reality: Training can absolutely start when your puppy is young, and it will be an ongoing process throughout the life of your dog.
Not quite as attractive as the misconception, right? But this is the reality of how puppies and training work.
So why can’t puppies be fully trained within a period of time? There are multiple answers, but I’m going to just focus on one: the brain! Your puppy’s brain is still developing. They’re simply not capable of doing everything you want them to do.
Think of it like this: Would you at age five be able to sit down at Disneyland and learn how to solve algebra equations? Even if you were promised whatever your little heart most wanted at that age? (That would have been a pony for me!)
NO WAY!
At that age, your brain simply is not capable of learning how to do something that complicated. Even just sitting at a table in Disneyland for ten minutes would be incredibly hard for many five-year-olds.
The same is true for your puppy. You may envision your puppy laying on a mat while you enjoy coffee with a friend outside a cafe. This is a great goal! And it’s going to take time for your puppy to be able to achieve that skill. Because their brains are still developing.
Training is an ongoing process because your puppy’s brain takes a long time (like, years!) to develop. Expecting your puppy to be fully trained within a time period will only set you up for frustration and disappointment.
Misconception #2: Puppy class is all you need to train your puppy.
“We took him to puppy class, but he’s still so wild.”
“I did puppy class with her, but she didn’t seem to learn much.”
This is something I hear from people with teenage or adult dogs. They took their pup to class for a few weeks and perhaps expected that would be enough for their puppy to grow into a well-behaved dog. I don’t blame people for thinking this because puppy class is often suggested as a solution for many puppy issues.
Reality: Puppy class can be a great resource as you raise your puppy, but it’s not enough on its own.
A well-run puppy class can absolutely be a valuable thing for a lot of puppies and their humans. They can offer a nice socialization opportunity for your pup. A good puppy class will expose your puppy to other puppies, new people, sounds, surfaces, and objects in a positive way.
It’s also a nice way for owners to learn about important puppy raising and training information. Getting advice from a certified, professional trainer can be very helpful.
But it’s important to understand that classes aren’t enough on their own. Only doing classes isn’t going to give you the awesome adventure companion you dream of.
Why is this?
Your puppy has a lot to learn in order to live harmoniously in our modern world. And you have a lot to learn about raising a puppy that can be the companion you dream of. There is just no way you can both learn all you need to know in four, one-hour classes.
Also, puppy class isn’t an ideal learning environment. When teaching your puppy a new skill, you want to start in a low distraction environment. Puppy classes are full of distractions that make learning very hard for your pup.
And while class can be a nice way to socialize your pup, it’s a single opportunity once a week. Class can absolutely be part of your puppy’s socialization, but they should also be exposed to other environments and experiences while they are young.
Misconception #3: Puppy behavior is personal.
“She ripped up my book because she was mad at me for not paying attention to her.”
“He pooped on my favorite rug again. Why is he doing this to me?”
“I think this puppy is trying to drive me insane.”
Sometimes it can feel like your puppy is doing things TO you. Like their behavior is personal and directed at making you feel a certain way. Or like they’re trying to make your life difficult.
Bringing home a puppy is a big transition for both of you. This wild creature is destroying your stuff, keeping you up at night, and biting your skin and clothes. They aren’t listening to your instructions.
You feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Maybe you’ve been surprised by how emotional this experience has been for you. Perhaps there have been tears. (I’ve been there!) I can absolutely understand why their behavior may feel personal. I have felt this way myself.
The good thing is that your puppy doesn’t have a vendetta against you. They’re not an evil mastermind thinking up ways to make you suffer.
Reality: Puppy behavior is not personal, rather your puppy is doing what works to meet their needs.
Your puppy’s behavior is actually not about you at all. It’s about them. It’s the reverse of that “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. All puppies have needs. And they do things to meet those needs. Sometimes those things might frustrate you, but it’s still not about you.
Puppy has a need to pee and poop. Your rug just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when your puppy could no longer wait to meet their potty need.
Puppy has a need to chew. Your shoe satisfies that need.
Puppy has a need to expend energy. Tearing up your notebook while you’re on an important Zoom call meets that need.
In all these scenarios, the puppy is simply doing what works for them to meet their needs. Their behavior is not directed at you. It’s not personal.
Misconception #4: It’s all how you raise them.
This concept hinges on the idea that a dog’s temperament and behavior are a result of how their owner treats and trains them. The message is that if you’re a caring, responsible dog owner, your pup will grow up to be a delightful canine citizen. Bad dogs are the result of a bad owner.
This is actually a big oversimplification of how dog behavior works.
Reality: A dog’s behavior is the result of their genetics, environment, and training.
How a puppy is raised – their training and socialization – is absolutely very important! Early learning can significantly help prevent future behavior issues and positively affect a dog’s behavior. But there is more to a dog’s behavior than just how they’re raised.
Genetics do more than just influence how your puppy looks. They don’t just affect your pup’s size, color, coat, and health. Genetics also impacts your dog’s behavior. Your dog may have certain genetic instincts due to their breed, such as herding, chasing small critters, barking at strangers, holding objects in their mouth, or digging in the ground.
Genes also affect things like how friendly your dog is with people and other dogs, and how independent or attached to you they are. Things like fear issues, sensitivity to sound, and aggression can all have a genetic component.
Your puppy’s environment can also play an important part in their behavior. The same is true for humans. Our behavior changes depending on our environment.
I can tell you I’m much more confident and personable in small group settings. I love to tell stories and laugh at jokes. I’m pretty expressive and energized. I feel at ease and my behavior shows that. Put me at a formal event with 200 people, and now I’m quiet. I’m likely hanging out in a corner, people watching. This setting makes me feel out of place and uncomfortable, and my behavior reflects that. Now put me in an international airport. Suddenly I’m sighing a lot. My words have an edge to them when I talk to my husband. I sit in a chair with my headphones on and close my eyes. I’m stressed out, and my behavior shows it.
The environment affects the behavior of dogs in much the same way. Depending on their environment, they can be at their very best, or their very worst.
Can you see how this is a LOT more complicated than “it’s all how you raise them.” These three things – genetics, environment, and training – all interact with each other in complex ways to produce a dog’s behavior.
This is why my puppy program is tailored to each specific puppy and owner. It’s not a one-size-fits-all checklist. Here’s what my program is about:
Understanding your puppy’s unique genetics. You cannot change your puppy’s genetics, but the more you understand their particular instincts and quirks, the better you can handle them. I’ll help you identify ways you can channel those instincts and behaviors into outlets that both you and your puppy like, instead of feeling caught off guard or frustrated.
Setting up your puppy’s environment for success. I help you arrange your home environment to bring out the best in your puppy. You’ll learn how to set your puppy up for success in settings outside of the home too.
Socializing your puppy with their genetics and environment in mind. By exposing your puppy to the world in positive ways, we make the most of their genetics and prepare them for the various environments they’ll encounter. I help your puppy have positive, educational experiences during this critical age, to avoid potential behavior issues and raise a well-adjusted dog.
Training your puppy important life skills. Your puppy will learn foundational basics, that will grow into more advanced skills. These are things that help you and your puppy enjoy an active life together.
Misconception #5: Puppy training is important.
This last misconception is a little bit complicated. Yes, puppy training is important, but there is an even more important priority for young puppies.
Reality: Puppy socialization is more important than training. (But training is important too!)
I did a short Facebook live to explain what this means in more depth. Give it watch here:
Private, in-home training and socialization is offered to puppy owners in the Chicago suburbs. Virtual training is available worldwide.
If you’re interested in giving your puppy the best start for a fun, adventurous life together, book a free consultation with me HERE.
