As society changes, dogs seem smarter and smarter. If an Old English Sheepdog is trained from a very young age, it may indeed learn all kinds of skills. Some dogs can walk upright, flush the toilet after going, or even open car doors. But there are several kinds of skills that owners should never intentionally teach. In fact, if possible, it is better not to let the dog even observe such actions too closely, because some clever dogs may learn them on their own.
1. Howling back and forth with people
Some owners, out of boredom or amusement, howl together with the dog when the dog starts vocalizing. From the owner's point of view, this may seem like playful interaction. But the dog may interpret it differently. If every time it howls, the owner responds with attention, praise, or some kind of reward, the dog may come to believe that howling is the correct way to get what it wants.
Once that habit forms, the dog may howl frequently. Then, when the owner is not at home, it may use howling to express all kinds of needs, causing serious disturbance to neighbors. For that reason, owners should not encourage habitual howling.
2. Turning switches or taps on
Homes have many kinds of switches and controls: lights, water taps, air conditioners, televisions, gas controls, and more. There are stories of dogs that learned to turn on a tap because the owner had taught them how to get water. The frightening part is that the owner taught the dog how to open the tap but never taught it how to close it. If a dog can turn on water and the owner stays away for a long time, the entire house may flood.
3. Opening doors
This is probably a skill many dogs can learn. If an Old English Sheepdog can open the door by itself, it may go outside alone. If family members are present, that may be manageable, but if nobody is at home, two serious problems may arise. First, the dog may run away and fail to find its way back, and the outside world contains many dangers. Second, if the dog opens the door and leaves it open, the home itself may become vulnerable to theft.
A dog being able to open doors should not automatically be seen as something to celebrate. If the dog really learns that skill, the owner may end up constantly anxious about whether the house is still secure. So when training an Old English Sheepdog, owners should think carefully in advance. If the dog learns the wrong kinds of practical tricks, those clever behaviors may create a great deal of unnecessary trouble in everyday life.