Dogs & Dog Training... Myths, Fallacies & Misconceptions

A long walk on a leash is sufficient exercise for my dog…Your dog needs so much more than this! One hour of leash walking hardly gets most dogs warmed up; save yourself time and try 15 minutes of retrieving a ball! Don’s System will show you how to get there. Also consider adding the Fun Fetch Ball to your order; you’ll be able to trust your dog off leash, and he’ll be bringing the ball back every time, in no time! (Refer to Q4 (Exercise: Retrieving) and Q80, under FAQs).

Without constant repetition, dogs will forget their training after a while…No, they won’t! It’s not about memory; it’s about respect. (Refer to Q51 under FAQs).

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks…Yes, you can, and much more, using Don’s System! (Refer to Q8 under FAQs).

You cannot change a dog’s name…Yes, you can! (Refer to Q67 under FAQs).

You can’t correct your dog after the fact; he won’t understand what you are correcting him for…Dogs have an amazing memory! (Refer to Q74 under FAQs).

A dog is classified as a puppy up to two years of age…He might be goofy but, intellectually (even at 9 weeks of age), he is capable of far more than you think! (Refer to Q8 under FAQs).

You can expect your dog to go through the “terrible two’s” stage…Not if you use Don Sullivan’s training methods! (Refer to Q3 under FAQs).

A puppy has a very short attention span…Not true! He has the potential to focus for long periods, if he wants to. Expect more from him and he will rise to the occasion!  PS. Put a puppy in front of a gerbil cage and see how long he’ll stay focused...doesn’t this tell you something? (Refer to Q8 & Q74 under FAQs).

My dog is just a puppy; it is to be expected that he will be a little mischievous and unruly. He will eventually grow out of it…You are most likely setting yourself up for a very chaotic and problematic life with your dog! Even puppies as young as 9 weeks old can be trained to be mature and respectful, regarding the rules and boundaries that you set, without taking away from their goofy, playful “puppiness.” (Refer to Q28 under FAQs)

If I give my dog treats often, he will love me and come back to me when I call him…A very destructive misconception! In a dog’s world, the dog that relinquishes his food to another is always the submissive one. By giving your dog food from your hand you are teaching him that you are his subordinate! Also, he might come back, when he wants to, but he will only come back for the treat, not because he is being respectfully obedient; and what happens if you run out of treats, or if he sees something that he wants more than that piece of food? If you rely on treats, you will be risking your dog’s safety. (Refer to Q58 and Q59 under FAQs).

Dogs need to be allowed to express themselves by barking, growling and even fighting…No they don’t. This is a very dangerous misconception! (Refer to Q4: “Aggression” segment heading, under FAQs).

Dogs will be possessive over their food, so just don’t go near them when they are eating…Some dogs are, or at least have the potential to be, food possessive, but avoidance is just a “Band-Aid” solution! (Refer to Q4: “Aggression” segment heading, under FAQs).

You can never trust a dog off his leash, no matter how much you train him…Yes you can, if you use Don Sullivan’s System! (Refer to Q63 and Q4 (Commands: Moving Off-Leash), under FAQs).

Teaching your dog to sit at every street corner will teach him not to run out onto the road…This is a very unreliable method! Don Sullivan has a great System for teaching boundary line safety. (Refer to Q4 (Perimeters & Boundaries: Staying off the Road), under FAQs).

My dog sits when I tell him to, therefore he is an obedient dog…True obedience is so much more than this! (Refer to the “How it Works” page).

If you are unable to walk your dog then the next best thing is to buy him a treadmill…Don’s System offers you a much better (and cheaper) solution! (Refer to Q80 under FAQs).

A Gentle leader, Martingale collar, harness or similar type of device will help my dog to walk well on the leash…These are “pseudo” training tools. Dogs wearing these devices still pull and strain, often just as much as they did when they were wearing an ordinary flat collar. This constant pressure against a dog’s body, day after day, can do some serious damage; let alone what it does to the arms and shoulders of the wearied dog walker! (Refer to the “How it Works” page).

Never let your dog enter/exit the door before you…Not necessarily!  Don’s System helps you gain a clear perspective on this issue. (Refer to Q4 (Perimeters & Boundaries: Bolting out the Door), under FAQs).

It is only the “dangerous” breeds that bite and attack…A dangerous assumption! It is obvious that, in general, the more powerful the physical structure of the dog, the more damage it can potentially cause. This is why certain breeds have appeared more prominently in the news over the years. However, this gives society a false impression that it is only these types of dogs that are potentially aggressive. There are more than 4.7 million reported dog bites annually in the United States, however the majority of dog bites are never reported to local authorities. Many of the bites are caused by smaller dog breeds and are not reported because the damage they cause is less significant. (Although, this in no way diminishes the importance of training smaller dogs to control their behavior). Read the story about the Pomeranian mauling at the end of the article under “How it Works.”

Getting your dog to pull you along on a skateboard or on roller blades is a great way to exercise and train him at the same time…Careful; this could be detrimental to the overall training process! (Refer to Q57 under FAQs).

You should always make your dog walk behind you to show him that you’re the leader…Wrong approach to establishing leadership! (Refer to Q4 (Commands: Pulling on the Leash & Moving Off-Leash), under FAQs).

You should always make your dog walk beside you at a “heel” position…No. This is unfair to your dog. There are better ways to maintain control of your dog. Don’s System shows you how. (Refer to Q4 (Commands: Heel Command & Moving Off-Leash), under FAQs).

Walking your dog with a “tight leash” is the best way to train him to walk properly...Wrong! Don’s System shows you how to get your dog walking “nicely” within minutes, without stealing his freedom! (Refer to Q4 (Commands: Pulling on the Leash & Moving Off-Leash), under FAQs).

I feel guilty if I don’t give my dog treats. He needs them to feel satisfied and happy with his life…No, he doesn’t. In the world of the dog pack, the rewards of compliance are acceptance, harmony, order, physical love, affection and the freedom to live safely, confidently and contentedly within the established boundaries. The dogs’ lives are fully satisfying and complete. It is the innate, natural process within the created animal, and it works beautifully. Using Don Sullivan’s training methods, you can successfully imitate this reward system. (Refer to “How it Works” page).

A flat collar is a suitable tool to use for leash walking…No! A dog will generally pull and strain against a flat collar, and the owner, attempting to maintain control of his dog, will pull back on the leash. This constant pressure against the dog’s throat can cause damage to his trachea! Don’s Command Collar™ is a safe training tool. Within minutes you can teach your dog to never to pull on the leash again, and within weeks you can have your dog walking with you of his own accord without a leash or collar! (Refer to “How it Works” page).

An old stubborn dog, well set in his ways, will not respond to training…Yes he will, if it is the right training! Using Don’s System, you’ll be amazed at the changes you see! (Refer to Q8 under FAQs).

Dogs are always eager to please…Not necessarily! Well, actually, yes, they do often desire to please…themselves! (Refer to “How it Works” page).

Neutering an aggressive dog will fix an aggression problem…Not necessarily! Whilst neutering can sometimes help, it is not a consistent, reliable solution. (Refer to Q4 (Miscellaneous: Thoughts on Neutering), under FAQs).

Small dogs are easier to handle and train…Incorrect assumption! Some little dogs can be much more of a handful! Yet, Don’s System shows you how to get amazing results with even the most difficult dogs, regardless of size. (Refer to Q3 under FAQs).

An “aggressive” dog is a dog that displays vicious behavior…A fallacy! Many dogs show signs of aggression that go unnoticed or are even deliberately ignored. Don Sullivan’s System shows you how to recognize these signs and deal with them effectively. (Refer to Q4: Aggression heading, under FAQs).

To teach a dog to swim you just toss him in the water…No! This can be a traumatic experience and can cause the dog to have a life-long fear of water. Don’s System shows you how to safely, effectively and quickly teach your dog to become a confident swimmer. (Refer to Q4 (Exercise: Swimming), under FAQs).

By using the “Alpha Roll” or “Alpha Hold” technique, which some trainers use, I will make my dog think that I am his pack leader…This alone will not gain control over your dog or change his problem behavior. In fact, this can be a very dangerous technique to use on certain dogs. Don Sullivan has a unique System which shows you how to safely and effectively gain the respect of your dog. (Refer to “How it Works” page).

My dog will never bite me as long as I always give him lots of affection…A very dangerous myth! Many children and adults alike have been scarred for life and even killed by dogs they thought “loved” them. Love does not equate to respect. A dog can love the person he attacks, but he loves them as a follower, not a leader. (Refer to “How it Works” page).

Dogs become aggressive because they have been abused…Incorrect assumption! We can be as loving and caring as possible and still end up with an aggressive dog, if we don’t use an effective training method. (Refer to “How it Works” page).

You can’t train a timid dog to be confident…Yes you can, if you use Don’s System! (Refer to Q24 under FAQs).

A dog that growls will not bite…Not necessarily! Growling is a form of dominance. A growling dog is most often warning another dog or a human being to “back off.” If he doesn’t get his way then he will resort to the next step, which is using his teeth! Don’s System shows you how to train your dog to deal with situations without resorting to dominance or aggression. (Refer to “How it Works” page).

My dog is justified in fighting back if he is attacked…No, he is not. It is better to teach your dog to submit in all situations as a “safety mechanism” against dominant minded dogs. Don’s System shows you how to do this. (Refer to Q4: Aggression heading, under FAQs).

My dog will eventually grow out of his behavioral problems…A very unreliable assumption! Most likely he will grow into them; the problems will just get worse as he gets older and bolder! (Refer to Q3 under FAQs).

Repetition will eventually get my dog to respond under distraction…Not true. As long as your dog regards his own desire above yours, he will keep doing what he wants. Don’s System shows you how to reverse this. (Refer to Q61 under FAQs).

Successful dog training is all about consistency…Not necessarily. You can be consistent all you like, but if you consistently deal with your dog at a level that he does not respect then you will never see the change in his behavior that you are looking for! (Refer to Q61 under FAQs).

I think my dog is slightly deaf because he often seems to be unaware when I call him or ask him to do something…Highly unlikely! Have you ever heard of selective hearing? This is most likely a classic case! (Refer to Q3 under FAQs).

Dogs won’t bite the hand that feeds them…A very dangerous myth! Food is one of the main elements of life that dogs are willing to fight for, and unless you establish yourself as your dog’s respected leader, you could be putting yourself and your family at risk! (Refer to “How it Works” page).

You can never trust a Beagle off of a leash; once he is on a scent, he will never come back…Not true, if you use an effective training System such as Don’s. People also say, “Sight dogs will always chase after prey,” and “Pointers cannot be trusted around birds.” A dog can be trained to override his natural born instincts and happily redirect his attention to more desirable activities. (Refer to Q21 and Q22 under FAQs).

Dog training is a long, progressive process…False. If the training you are doing is tedious and you are taking a long time to see results, then that training method is failing you and your dog! With Don’s System, you will witness amazing results, quickly, often within a matter of minutes! (Refer to Q27 under FAQs).