Catmantoo: Robert Dollwet reveals mistakes Aussies keep making with dog training

He's known to his 1.6 million online followers as Catmantoo, but Robert Dollwet got his start training dogs in the US military and still has plenty of tricks for dog owners up his sleeves.

Ahead of his appearance at the Sydney Cat Lovers Festival this weekend, the renowned animal trainer and behaviourist revealed to 9honey pets the mistakes many Australians make when trying to train their dogs.

And the number one blunder is not dedicating enough time to actually training them.

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“Every dog requires time and energy and commitment, and I don't think people put in that time,” he says.

“I think people have high expectations, and then when they don't reach those expectations, they just give up and think their animal's not teachable. That's not how training works.”

The best way to actually train any animal is by breaking it down into small pieces and building up to a bigger goal with consistent, daily training.

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That means setting aside time every day to work with your dog on commands like ‘sit' or ‘stay', even if it's only for 10 minutes at a time.

Another big mistake is waiting too long to start training, especially if you've just brought a puppy home.

“From the moment that puppy opens their eyes, they can be learning something,” Dollwet says. 

“They may not retain that for very long, but they're going to be learning. And if you get them while you're young, you can imprint certain behaviours that will stick with them for life.”

As for specific breeds that can cause training issues, dogs “a little more on the wild side” used to give Dollwet a hard time when he worked as a film, TV and celebrity dog trainer in the US.

Those breeds included Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, and American Eskimo dogs, but surprisingly the most common breed clients brough to him for training were labradors.

“People find labs, or at least they did in America, to be very difficult. They're always grabbing things, mouthing things, jumping on people, not listening,” he explains.

“But to me, they were the easiest breed to train.”

Most dogs can be trained with the right time and dedication, regardless of breed, but Dollwet warns Aussies not to make the mistake of buying or adopting a dog without properly researching the breeds' requirements. 

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Working breeds like Kelpies and Border Collies thrive in high energy environments and on farms, while Bulldogs and Pugs need much less exercise and are content lounging at home.

So if you're looking for a dog to take out on daily 5km runs, don't bring home a French Bulldog.

“You have to know the breed, their traits, and know what you're getting into,” Dollwet says, “or you're going to just be at wits end with them.”

Likewise, certain dog breeds are known for their intelligence and being easy to train and mixed breeds top Dollwet’s list of most trainable dogs.

“That's your best bet for anybody thinking about a pet, because they don't usually come with certain breed traits and genetic defects,” he says.

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The best part is that there are always plenty of mixed breeds in shelters and animal rescues around Australia just waiting to be adopted, so owners don't have to worry about hunting down a fancy breed just for ease of training.

Finally, Dollwet debunked the old myth that dogs only respond to an ‘alpha', explaining that owners don't need to assert some outdated idea of authority over their pets to train them.

“Dogs are like a two-year-old child. If a two-year-old child walks ahead of you, are they trying to show you who's boss? No, they're just curious,” he explains.

Instead of trying to force training on a dog, focus on consistent commands and rewarding them with treats and positive reinforcement whenever they listen.

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And yes, you absolutely can teach an old dog new tricks – it might just take a little longer, and watching some tutorials on Dollwet's social media or Patreon.

Sydney locals can get more tips at the Sydney Dog Lovers Festival on August 24 and 25 at the Sydney Showground, right next door to the Cat Lovers Festival.

More information and tickets available here.

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