Myth #2: My dog doesn’t seem to be able to learn anything. He is stupid, dominant or stubborn.
Truth: Dogs are similar to humans in the way that they learn. We all have strengths and weaknesses and some grasp concepts quicker than others. The same is true with dogs. Keep in mind that many dogs were bred for specific purposes and others may have been bred more for “show”. In any case, all dogs can learn, the trick is to meet them at the level that they can handle. We would never ask a child in kindergarten to study calculus, and we shouldn’t expect a young puppy to behave like a 5 year old dog. Dogs need appropriate motivation, consistency and levels of testing in which they can succeed. Something is missing in the teaching method if your dog is having trouble. In other words, the human needs to make the adjustments in order for the dog to succeed.
If a dog refuses to perform a behavior make certain there isn’t a medical problem or causing the dog pain. Check the hips, legs or any area for possible pain. Finally, work in small increments. Catch them doing what you want and reward them for it. They will be more apt to do it again.