From the book: The 100 Silliest Things People Say About Dogs Copyright 2009 by Alexandra Semyonova — All Rights Reserved
Myth 19: You can use a puppy test to pick the right pup from the litter
This myth was very popular for quite a while. People thought you could test a puppy and find out what her personality would be like when she grew up. The test consists of several parts. Does the puppy approach you without being coaxed, or does she seem…
Myth 23: You housetrain a pup by rubbing his nose in it when he has an accident in the house.
This is an old-fashioned myth that many of us are brought up with. Many people know better at this point, but many well meaning people do still believe in this myth. Since I still run into it very often, I have to mention it in this book — for the sake of puppies…
Myth 25: You can teach puppies to share with each other by making them eat together out of one bowl.
This is a myth that some (lazy?) breeders like to believe in. This myth is not only incorrect, it can also be damaging. One of dogs’ basic social rules is, ‘We enter each other’s personal zone only with permission.’ There is also the subsidiary rule…
Myth 28: Commands are the most important thing my puppy will ever learn.
The truth is, the most important things your puppy will ever learn are impulse control and bite inhibition. We’ve invented all these myths about dogs being wolves and wolves (thus dogs) living in a kind of fascist system, in which everyone has to do…