Listen to the wrong myths, and we might go back a few steps. ― N.K. Jemisin
Common Myths and Misconceptions!
- MISPERCEPTION: a false or incorrect perception
- MYTH: a fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology
If we want to form a better bond with our animal companions, we need to know who they really are, and what both they need as a species and as an individual. If we want to create lifelong friendships between everyone in the home, we need to know what's true and what is FALSE. Below are just a few of the many false beliefs about common pets.
MYTH: Dogs Are Pack Animals!
Monster Myth: Dogs are direct descendants of wolves. Wolves live in hierarchical packs in which the aggressive alpha male rules over everyone else. Therefore, humans need to dominate their dogs to get them to behave because dogs are pack animals like wolves. Dogs need to know that we are the "alpha" in the home.
Truth: NONE of that is true. Those statements are harmful myths that continue to be shared and practiced in homes all over the world. These myths are based on outdated, faulty research and misinterpretations. Modern scientific research shows evidence to the contrary.
→ Although dog and wolves share the same Genus, they are NOT the same species. And even if they were, the captive wolf studies that the alpha theory was based upon has since been renounced by the very scientists who performed them and drew their original conclusions.
→ Dogs are NOT pack animals. "Packs" in the true sense of the word do not exist among groups of unrelated domestic dogs. There is no alpha! Even when feral, dogs do not have a pack structure. AND we now have evidence that dogs and wolves are behaviorally very different.
Dogs may well be closely related to wolves but that does not mean they behave like wolves. People are closely related to chimps but that doesn’t make us a subspecies of chimpanzees. Nor does it mean we behave like chimps. - Dr. Raymond Coppinger
→ Wolf packs use a “division of labor” approach – a team effort. Scientific research has concluded that in the wild a true natural pack of wolves is composed of a mother and father and their offspring. This pack survives much like a human family does, in which the parents take the leadership roles and the children follow. In a natural pack, harmony is created because deference behaviors are offered freely by the younger wolves rather than being forced onto them by their parents. Leadership is taught by showing a good example; not through dominance.
Details here:
→ In the life-changing documentary, "Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs", you will learn why the Alpha Theory is a harmful belief based on an incorrect understanding of both wolf and dog behavior. In this short documentary, some of the world's most respected dog experts, scientists, and behaviorists discus the history of the “alpha dog” concept, why it still has power to persuade today, and the damage it can do to our canine companions. Please keep an open mind and take the time to learn what respected canine behavior experts have to say on this very important topic. Your canine companion will thank you!
Truth: NONE of that is true. Those statements are harmful myths that continue to be shared and practiced in homes all over the world. These myths are based on outdated, faulty research and misinterpretations. Modern scientific research shows evidence to the contrary.
→ Although dog and wolves share the same Genus, they are NOT the same species. And even if they were, the captive wolf studies that the alpha theory was based upon has since been renounced by the very scientists who performed them and drew their original conclusions.
→ Dogs are NOT pack animals. "Packs" in the true sense of the word do not exist among groups of unrelated domestic dogs. There is no alpha! Even when feral, dogs do not have a pack structure. AND we now have evidence that dogs and wolves are behaviorally very different.
Dogs may well be closely related to wolves but that does not mean they behave like wolves. People are closely related to chimps but that doesn’t make us a subspecies of chimpanzees. Nor does it mean we behave like chimps. - Dr. Raymond Coppinger
→ Wolf packs use a “division of labor” approach – a team effort. Scientific research has concluded that in the wild a true natural pack of wolves is composed of a mother and father and their offspring. This pack survives much like a human family does, in which the parents take the leadership roles and the children follow. In a natural pack, harmony is created because deference behaviors are offered freely by the younger wolves rather than being forced onto them by their parents. Leadership is taught by showing a good example; not through dominance.
Details here:
- VCA Animal Hospitals
- Victoria Stilwell Academy for Dog Training & Behavior
- The Whole Dog Journal
- Paul Owens
- The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
- Vet Chick
- The Pet Professional Guild
→ In the life-changing documentary, "Tough Love: A Meditation on Dominance and Dogs", you will learn why the Alpha Theory is a harmful belief based on an incorrect understanding of both wolf and dog behavior. In this short documentary, some of the world's most respected dog experts, scientists, and behaviorists discus the history of the “alpha dog” concept, why it still has power to persuade today, and the damage it can do to our canine companions. Please keep an open mind and take the time to learn what respected canine behavior experts have to say on this very important topic. Your canine companion will thank you!
Misperception: "Don’t comfort an animal when he/she is afraid; you’re only reinforcing their fears."
Unfortunately, a lot of people believe this common myth.
Here's my science-based response to that myth:
Always Comfort the animal.
You cannot reinforce Fear.
Learn why here.
Unfortunately, a lot of people believe this common myth.
Here's my science-based response to that myth:
Always Comfort the animal.
You cannot reinforce Fear.
Learn why here.
Myth: Some dogs need a "heavier hand".
TRUTH: The use of fear and pain in dog training is unethical and unnecessary. Watch as experts and dog owners agree that dog's need training and we humans are by and large the main influence on dog behavior. When humans make safe, kind consistent choices dogs learn and we reduce stress for everyone. In order to have sound dogs we need sound and sane training practices.
Featuring Dr. Ian Dunbar -- Jean Donaldson -- Dr. Karen Overall & Dr. Nicholas Dodman.
Featuring Dr. Ian Dunbar -- Jean Donaldson -- Dr. Karen Overall & Dr. Nicholas Dodman.
Myth: Dogs and Cats do things out of spite.
Many animal guardians truly believe that their pets do things “to them” out of spite or malice. This is not true. When we don’t know how or why an animal behavior problem develops, we tend to make it about us; we personalize it.
All behavior serves a purpose, and that purpose is not to be spiteful or upset you! Learn more here.
Many animal guardians truly believe that their pets do things “to them” out of spite or malice. This is not true. When we don’t know how or why an animal behavior problem develops, we tend to make it about us; we personalize it.
All behavior serves a purpose, and that purpose is not to be spiteful or upset you! Learn more here.
The "STUBBORN" Myth
"Hidden in the complex world of behavior science is a simple, often underutilized, fact that there is never just behavior. Behavior never occurs in a vacuum or sprays out of an animal haphazardly like water from a leaky showerhead, independent of conditions. Behavior always depends on the environment in some way."
- Susan Friedman. Ph.D.
Careful with those labels, folks. We could be mistaken.
🔶When we don’t know how or why an animal behavior problem exists, we tend to make it about us; we personalize it. We make it into something that we can relate to. We label the animal.
🔶When we perceive our animal companion's behavior from our limited human perspective (beliefs, intentions, and/or motivations), we miss the mark. We are unable to see what's really happening within and around the animal. We see a behavior, assume it's happening for one reason, then we get frustrated or upset with the animal.
🔶All too often the result from these kinds of misunderstandings and misperceptions is detrimental to the animal: They are the ones who are punished. All because of the belief, projection, or label that the person has placed upon them.
🔷But in the animal's reality - from the animal's perspective- the behavior was performed for an entirely different reason or need. It was necessary.🔷
➡ Details here
🔶When we don’t know how or why an animal behavior problem exists, we tend to make it about us; we personalize it. We make it into something that we can relate to. We label the animal.
🔶When we perceive our animal companion's behavior from our limited human perspective (beliefs, intentions, and/or motivations), we miss the mark. We are unable to see what's really happening within and around the animal. We see a behavior, assume it's happening for one reason, then we get frustrated or upset with the animal.
🔶All too often the result from these kinds of misunderstandings and misperceptions is detrimental to the animal: They are the ones who are punished. All because of the belief, projection, or label that the person has placed upon them.
🔷But in the animal's reality - from the animal's perspective- the behavior was performed for an entirely different reason or need. It was necessary.🔷
➡ Details here
Common Myth: When our pup puts on that doleful, guilty look, they must be guilty of something, right? He/she clearly feels bad for doing something wrong.
TRUTH: Your dog knows you are angry or upset and is using that particular body posture in their attempt of using dog language to get you to calm down and avoid any punishment from you.
Details here!
TRUTH: Your dog knows you are angry or upset and is using that particular body posture in their attempt of using dog language to get you to calm down and avoid any punishment from you.
Details here!
Myth: Animal bites happen out of the blue.
Truth: Animal bites are provoked in some form or another, and can be prevented.
Learn how and why here!
Truth: Animal bites are provoked in some form or another, and can be prevented.
Learn how and why here!
Misconception: House cats are nocturnal.
TRUTH: Cats are actually crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. Most indoor cats follow a very specific trend of dawn and dusk activity, rather than strictly at night. Crepuscular behavior is also one of the reasons why cats wake us up every morning at the Same. Darn. Time.
Learn more here!
TRUTH: Cats are actually crepuscular, which means they are most active at dusk and dawn. Most indoor cats follow a very specific trend of dawn and dusk activity, rather than strictly at night. Crepuscular behavior is also one of the reasons why cats wake us up every morning at the Same. Darn. Time.
Learn more here!
A popular misconception is that cats age seven years (in human years) for each calendar year. In fact, feline aging is much more rapid during the first two years of life.
We have all heard the formula that a year in "dog age" is equal to seven human years of age, but that's not entirely correct. It's more complicated than that!
Learn how to accurately calculate the age of your pets here!
We have all heard the formula that a year in "dog age" is equal to seven human years of age, but that's not entirely correct. It's more complicated than that!
Learn how to accurately calculate the age of your pets here!
Misconception: Dogs are smarter than cats!
Fun Fact: Dogs have bigger brains, but cats have almost twice as many neurons in their cerebral cortex! Neurons are cells that collect and transmit information in animals so they can sense stimuli in their environment and behave accordingly. The number of neurons in an animal’s cerebral cortex is correlated with intelligence. The cerebral cortex is responsible for memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. Cats have 300 million neurons in their cerebral cortex. Dogs only have 160. Having more neurons suggest that cats have a greater information processing capacity than dogs.
Fun Fact: Dogs have bigger brains, but cats have almost twice as many neurons in their cerebral cortex! Neurons are cells that collect and transmit information in animals so they can sense stimuli in their environment and behave accordingly. The number of neurons in an animal’s cerebral cortex is correlated with intelligence. The cerebral cortex is responsible for memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness. Cats have 300 million neurons in their cerebral cortex. Dogs only have 160. Having more neurons suggest that cats have a greater information processing capacity than dogs.
