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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

What are dogs myths that just will not die?

183 replies

IngGenius · 12/12/2023 19:36

What dog myths are you told that are a load of rubbish:

Can not teach an old dog new tricks

Picking up a dog when it is frightened makes it more anxious

My dog peed on the floor to annoy me

Small dog syndrome

My dog looked quilty - he knew he had done wrong

OP posts:
Original poster
IngGenius · 12/12/2023 20:19

My bitch needs to have a litter to be happy before we spay her

OP posts:
margotrose · 12/12/2023 20:20

All male dogs should be neutered unless you're a breeder.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 12/12/2023 20:21

Dominance theory

”it’s how you raise them” yes that’s true but an idiot owning a bichon is far less likely to result in disaster than an idiot owning a malinois. Genetics matter

GrouchyKiwi · 12/12/2023 20:22

The whole Nanny Dog concept.

margotrose · 12/12/2023 20:25

That humping will always be solved by neutering.
That anxious/fearful dogs should be neutered.
That muzzles are always used because a dog is aggressive.
That fear/reactivity = aggression.
That a dog that is dog reactive will inevitably go on to bite a child/person.

Original poster
IngGenius · 12/12/2023 20:26

Oh @margotrose that set me off again

Entire dogs are aggressive
Castrating will calm my dog down

OP posts:
margotrose · 12/12/2023 20:27

@IngGenius sorry Grin

Frequency · 12/12/2023 20:39

Working breeds need hours upon hours of off-lead exercise.

No, that is just gonna give you one very fit dog. What they need is mental stimulation.

Off-lead exercise is the only proper way to tire any breed.

Again, no. You just get a very fit dog. Slow, sniffy walks are actually far more tiring and some breeds might never be able to go off-lead safely.

Puppies are blank slates and will guarantee you don't have any issues with them living with kids/cats/chickens...

Breed traits exist, as do lived experiences. All of these shape a dog's behaviour. A puppy is not a blank slate ready to be molded into anything you desire. It is an unknown quantity yet to develop a personality. If you need certain traits you are much better off getting an adult rescue dog whose personality is already developed and known.

Newpeep · 12/12/2023 20:45

You can train or socialise prey drive out of a dog

Please recommend a dog breed with no prey drive

Just go out and leave them to cry. They’ll get over it.

muchalover · 12/12/2023 20:45

Dogs need exercise daily.

Any kind of pack theory.

Cats should sort out dogs behaviours themselves.

We should ban fireworks because of dogs.

Riverlee · 12/12/2023 20:47

On mn, you often see people asking to recommend a calm breed/that walks o the lead well / etc and don’t realise that that calms about through training etc.

Original poster
IngGenius · 12/12/2023 20:47

Oh the puppy blank slate one is said so often and is soooo misunderstood.

Such a large percentage of the dogs personality and temperament and health is already set by the time they are 8 weeks old (or even before they are born)

OP posts:
nottaotter · 12/12/2023 20:48

@ActDottie are you and family naturally laid back and calm people? Im imagining how you raised her as a puppy helped create this?

Original poster
IngGenius · 12/12/2023 20:51

Riverlee · 12/12/2023 20:47

On mn, you often see people asking to recommend a calm breed/that walks o the lead well / etc and don’t realise that that calms about through training etc.

and breeding so do your research on individual dogs

OP posts:
vjg13 · 12/12/2023 20:57

That there is a breed of dog that doesn't shed fur, doesn't require very much walking and likes being left on its own for significant periods of time.

FinallyFinalGirl · 12/12/2023 21:00

Springer spaniels always are good with children and mellow as a warm September evening in an orchard.

Springer dogs and especially bitches can be so utterly loyal to one person they want to climb into her skin and keep everyone else at bay, so I WISH people would stop encouraging their little children to come to pet mine when we are walking because she's a cute little spaniel so therefore 'harmless'.

FinallyFinalGirl · 12/12/2023 21:04

Oh and don't get me started on the 'Golden Retrievers are the best dogs' people. No....they can be extremely dangerous.

Foxblue · 12/12/2023 21:05

Frequency · 12/12/2023 20:39

Working breeds need hours upon hours of off-lead exercise.

No, that is just gonna give you one very fit dog. What they need is mental stimulation.

Off-lead exercise is the only proper way to tire any breed.

Again, no. You just get a very fit dog. Slow, sniffy walks are actually far more tiring and some breeds might never be able to go off-lead safely.

Puppies are blank slates and will guarantee you don't have any issues with them living with kids/cats/chickens...

Breed traits exist, as do lived experiences. All of these shape a dog's behaviour. A puppy is not a blank slate ready to be molded into anything you desire. It is an unknown quantity yet to develop a personality. If you need certain traits you are much better off getting an adult rescue dog whose personality is already developed and known.

Owner of a working line spaniel here, and it's amazing how many people tell me they HAVE to have two hours running a day or they are miserable and it's CRUEL.
Lots of the people telling me this have overweight dogs.

Shadowsindarkplaces · 12/12/2023 21:05

You have to dominate your dog so he knows his place in the family pack..

ZeusandClio · 12/12/2023 21:15

NoTouch · 12/12/2023 20:18

It was an accidental mating

Dont blame the breed blame the owner (even after all we have seen with xl bullies)

My Frenchie/pug is so cute when he snores

This one breaks my heart, those poor dogs struggling to breathe and suffering, and absolute ignoramuses thinking it's cute. 😔

nameychangio675 · 12/12/2023 21:16

FinallyFinalGirl · 12/12/2023 21:04

Oh and don't get me started on the 'Golden Retrievers are the best dogs' people. No....they can be extremely dangerous.

Can golden retrievers be extremely dangerous?!

User13579367337 · 12/12/2023 21:21

Whoever made up the 5-10 minute per month walking rule. We’re a large rural family with working dogs, including a border collie, a whole pack of springers, a beagle and a ridgeback, and a few mixed breed ratters. They were working a few hours a day from 7-8 months plus. I can’t even remember what thread I commented on, but I took a pasting on here for advising someone their springer puppy with behavioural issues may need more exercise, because mine had far more than that. Apparently mine should only be getting a slow 25 minute walk a day and shut in a cage the rest of the time. Absolute bollocks. Funny how I can keep and raise a minimum of 11 (at any one time) perfectly behaved and healthy dogs, but dozens of people on mn who can’t raise a single dog without it being a complete twat want to tell me I’m doing it wrong 😂

AllyBugs · 12/12/2023 21:25

All labs are greedy and will do anything for food. My lab didn't get the memo, she's a fussy madam!

FinallyFinalGirl · 12/12/2023 21:58

Can golden retrievers be extremely dangerous?!

Yes! I bought into the myth around 20 years ago...the Golden Retriever was the perfect dog. A perfect catalogue dog.

He was the smartest dog I ever knew but he almost took the hand off my two year old niece. He just bit her when she was stroking him with NO signs of irritability beforehand.

I will NEVER have a Golden Retriever in my home again.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 12/12/2023 22:09

I'm really interested in this thread as considering (for 5 yrs) another dog. Is the dominance theory pack mentality not true?!!