Ever had someone tell you that your rescue dog is "too old to train"? Or that your bouncy pup "needs to learn who's boss"? These are just a couple of the common myths members of our Facebook Group say they’ve have heard about training or dogs generally. Here at Potter Paws, we hear these old chestnuts all the time. Let's separate fact from fiction, shall we?
"You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks" (Or Even a Young One Apparently)
Someone was told their one-year-old rescue dog was "too old for training". Excuse me, what? One year old is practically puppyhood! Then, another owner was advised their 16-week-old puppy was "too young" for training classes. So when is this magical training window supposed to be exactly?
Dogs are little learning machines their entire lives. Sure, a rescue dog might need a different approach or take things at their own pace but too old? No. And as for those tiny young pups, they're like little sponges, soaking up information from the moment they open their eyes. Most good breeders have already started teaching them bits and bobs before they even leave the nest.
"Everything Must be Taught by 12 Weeks!"
Talk about putting the pressure on. This myth suggests you've got about four weeks to teach your puppy everything they'll ever need to know. You wouldn’t tell a parent they've got just one month to teach their toddler everything about life. So why suggest it for a puppy?
It’s true that those early weeks are brilliant for building confidence and positive experiences but they're not your only shot at success. It’s a time for laying the groundwork - helping your pup feel safe, teaching them basic life skills and showing them that learning is fun.
Your puppy will keep learning and developing way beyond 12 weeks. Actually, some skills can't even be properly taught until they're older. Loose lead walking, for example, when they're still just getting used to having a lead on at all.
We see owners coming in stressed because they feel they've "missed the boat" with their 16-week-old puppy. Trust me, you haven't. Your puppy's brain is still developing, they're still learning about the world and they have plenty of time to master new skills. Training is a journey, not a race - one that continues throughout your dog's life.
Resource Guarding
One myth that really gets to me is that resource guarding means your dog is aggressive and needs to be rehomed or worse. I recently worked with someone whose previous trainer had given them this shocking advice about their 6-month-old pup.
In fact, resource guarding is actually a natural behaviour. We all do it. If someone randomly grabs your phone or nicks a chip off your plate in the pub, you’d be like, no, that’s mine - right?
The difference is, we understand ownership and can use our words. Our dogs are working with what they've got. When Fred (my own resource guarder) first came home, he let my mum know pretty quickly that poking around in his dinner bowl wasn't appreciated. Did that make him a bad dog? Of course not! It meant we needed to work on building trust and teaching him that humans around his food meant good things, not theft.
The "Alpha" Nonsense
"You've got to be the alpha, you know!" Actually, no, you don't. This theory is so outdated that even the researcher who originally proposed it later said it was rubbish. Yet somehow, people are still banging on about eating before your dog and never letting them on the furniture.
My dogs sleep on my bed, lounge on the sofa but haven't yet staged a coup to take over the household. They respect me because we have a relationship built on trust and clear communication, not because I've asserted my "dominance" by making them wait for dinner.
Breaking the Breed Barrier
"Only gun dog breeds can do gun dog activities." Really? You should see the pug in our scent detection class absolutely smashing it! While certain breeds might have natural inclinations towards specific tasks, any dog can learn and excel at various activities if they're motivated and given the chance.
Here at Potter Paws, we're proud to be properly inclusive. No breed snobbery here! The only thing we ask is that if your dog's reactive, have a chat with us first so we can make sure they're set up for success. Other than that, everyone's welcome to try anything. Even if you're not brilliant at it, if you and your dog are having fun, that's what matters.
The long and short of it is that these myths don’t work because every dog is unique, not robots off a production line. Don’t let myths hold you and your dog back from reaching your full potential together.
If you've heard any other bizarre training myths, do drop us a message. We might feature them in our next myth-busting blog!
If you fancy chatting more about this or anything else dog-related, pop over to our
Potter Paws Community Facebook Group. Our trainers and community of like-minded dog lovers are always around to answer questions, provide advice or just have a natter.
And keep your eyes peeled for Pawcademy, our online training hub launching in 2025 where we'll be exploring all sorts of training topics. Be one of the first to know when it launches by signing up to the
Pawcademy Waitlist.
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