Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 16, 2008 23:20:17 GMT -4
>> Every dog behaviorist I've heard of says you always have to be the alpha of your dog, the leader, top boss. <<
Specious. And I know many who claim otherwise. Establishing rules is one think; domination, and hierarchy, is another.
A home is not a pack, even if there are no other dogs.
Warren Eckstein is one of a number who totally rejects what you've said and inveighs against such theories every week, along with "crate training". And I have been listening to him for decades with complete confidence in his accepted expertise.
Rules are one thing. Control and domination is another. And don't tell me rules cannot be enforced unless someone is the "alpha".
There are some dogs that need extra training; there are always exceptions.
If your dog is inclined toward leadership or social climbing, you may inadvertently awaken his alpha dog instincts. If you treat your dog as an equal, if you allow him special privileges, or if you consistently allow him to disobey commands, he may begin to consider himself the alpha dog - only an alpha would normally receive these privileges.
The above is the case in some dogs already in places where the human has been failing in establishing rules and giving too many favors and privileges - thus awakening alpha instincts in some dogs already inclined to such.
- - - - - - - - -
The Myth of Alpha Training
>> I saw a documentary about wolves on TV. At one point in the film a papa wolf led his pups out of the den, began to play with them, and then rolled over on his back, supposedly "signifying submission". He then encouraged them to jump on his stomach and chest and even allowed them to nip at his ears and nose. This was enormously fun to watch because it put both papa and progeny in a happy, joyous emotional state. <<
>> After thinking about this for a while I decided-just as an experiment-to do the exact, polar opposite of what Coren had suggested. If the alpha theory were true, I would be creating problems by allowing my dog Freddie—an un-neutered male Dalmatian—to think he was the pack leader, right? But what would happen if the alpha theory were false? I wanted to find out. So I got down on my hands and knees and began wrestling with Fred; growling at him and slapping him lightly (and sometimes not so lightly) on his sides, back, and haunches; getting him riled up. At one point, after he was really into roughhousing with me-jumping and twisting around, batting at me with his front paws, even nipping at my nose and ears, totally happy-I rolled over on my back.
"Oh, no!" I cried, acting submissive. "You got me! I surrender! You got me!"
And, just like the young wolves on TV, Freddie loved this game. It made him even happier.
Later on our evening walk, a funny thing happened: Freddie was twice as attentive and responsive as he had been before. <<
>> It stimulated and reinforced positive social feelings. It was fun. It was a game. It put us on the same level. It made the dogs confident, happy, and emotionally bonded in the most positive way possible. Did any of them suddenly think they were the alpha dog? Of course not. If they had, why would they then be so quick to obey me afterward instead of expecting me to obey them? <<
- - - - - - - - -
The Myth of
Alpha Training, part 2
>> I’ve found that there are three fatal flaws in the alpha theory—three ideas that, when analyzed properly, don't make any sense. <<
>> So we have to ask ourselves this: when one dog acts submissively towards another is he doing it because a) he recognizes the other dog's rank and status? Or because b) he recognizes that the other dog is stronger physically or emotionally? The answer is probably b <<
>> Still, people often tell me, "My dog is alpha," or, "My dog is very dominant." This is simply not the case. The language needs to be more exact: the dog is simply "assertive", not dominant, and definitely not alpha. When you act "dominant" toward a dog, he can only experience what you're doing as aggression. This is a popular training technique (or used to be), but not a good one. <<
>> What really sets dogs and wolves apart from other social animals is not the pack hierarchy but how they hunt. The fact is, the pack instinct only exists to enable canines to hunt large prey by working together as a cooperative social unit. <<
>> The question becomes obvious: is there a direct correlation between sociability and the canine prey drive? The answer should be just as obvious—yes there is.
When you look at the alpha fallacy with these three flaws in mind, it makes no sense. No wonder some ethologists are starting to question it. Now, some alpha theorists are suggesting that there isn't just one alpha wolf, there may be as many as five of or six! How much sense does this make to you? However, if you begin to look at the pack from the point of view of a new scientific discipline called Emergence Theory, which began to develop in the late 1950s, you may begin to understand that the pack is not a top-down hierarchy, but a bottom-up heterarchy. Knowing this may totally change how you relate to and train your dog. <<
- - - - - - -
Those above are just a few highlights of the articles.
A main point is that some dogs may be inclined to being alpha especially if rules are lax by a negligent permissive human. The other main point is that dogs want to be part of a harmonious social network (such as needed for the hunt, as stated above). A third major point is that most dogs are not so inclined and do not need - nor should they be - dominated and in effect bossed around even if that objective is being obtained without harsh measures (which are worst of all).
Being the rule-giver and the controlling person does not mean one has to dominate a dog, which is by nature social. and thus became the "Alpha" boss. The exceptions are stated above.
More. . .
>> The Pet Show - Listen here and now to Warren Eckstein's radio ...
The myth of the Alpha in dog behavior and training. Segment 5 • Is the Cockapoo a good breed of dog for young kids. • Rescue dog is aggressive to other dogs ...
warreneckstein.com/petshowaudio/december08/ - 27k - Cached -
The Pet Show - Listen here and now to Warren Eckstein's radio ...
The nonsense about Alpha dogs and domination. Segment 5 ... The importance of enjoying your pet and training with a hug and a kiss rather than with ...
warreneckstein.com/petshowaudio/october08/ - 56k -
- - - - -
I am going to copy this entire post and add it to the Dog forum.
Specious. And I know many who claim otherwise. Establishing rules is one think; domination, and hierarchy, is another.
A home is not a pack, even if there are no other dogs.
Warren Eckstein is one of a number who totally rejects what you've said and inveighs against such theories every week, along with "crate training". And I have been listening to him for decades with complete confidence in his accepted expertise.
Rules are one thing. Control and domination is another. And don't tell me rules cannot be enforced unless someone is the "alpha".
There are some dogs that need extra training; there are always exceptions.
If your dog is inclined toward leadership or social climbing, you may inadvertently awaken his alpha dog instincts. If you treat your dog as an equal, if you allow him special privileges, or if you consistently allow him to disobey commands, he may begin to consider himself the alpha dog - only an alpha would normally receive these privileges.
The above is the case in some dogs already in places where the human has been failing in establishing rules and giving too many favors and privileges - thus awakening alpha instincts in some dogs already inclined to such.
- - - - - - - - -
The Myth of Alpha Training
>> I saw a documentary about wolves on TV. At one point in the film a papa wolf led his pups out of the den, began to play with them, and then rolled over on his back, supposedly "signifying submission". He then encouraged them to jump on his stomach and chest and even allowed them to nip at his ears and nose. This was enormously fun to watch because it put both papa and progeny in a happy, joyous emotional state. <<
>> After thinking about this for a while I decided-just as an experiment-to do the exact, polar opposite of what Coren had suggested. If the alpha theory were true, I would be creating problems by allowing my dog Freddie—an un-neutered male Dalmatian—to think he was the pack leader, right? But what would happen if the alpha theory were false? I wanted to find out. So I got down on my hands and knees and began wrestling with Fred; growling at him and slapping him lightly (and sometimes not so lightly) on his sides, back, and haunches; getting him riled up. At one point, after he was really into roughhousing with me-jumping and twisting around, batting at me with his front paws, even nipping at my nose and ears, totally happy-I rolled over on my back.
"Oh, no!" I cried, acting submissive. "You got me! I surrender! You got me!"
And, just like the young wolves on TV, Freddie loved this game. It made him even happier.
Later on our evening walk, a funny thing happened: Freddie was twice as attentive and responsive as he had been before. <<
>> It stimulated and reinforced positive social feelings. It was fun. It was a game. It put us on the same level. It made the dogs confident, happy, and emotionally bonded in the most positive way possible. Did any of them suddenly think they were the alpha dog? Of course not. If they had, why would they then be so quick to obey me afterward instead of expecting me to obey them? <<
- - - - - - - - -
The Myth of
Alpha Training, part 2
>> I’ve found that there are three fatal flaws in the alpha theory—three ideas that, when analyzed properly, don't make any sense. <<
>> So we have to ask ourselves this: when one dog acts submissively towards another is he doing it because a) he recognizes the other dog's rank and status? Or because b) he recognizes that the other dog is stronger physically or emotionally? The answer is probably b <<
>> Still, people often tell me, "My dog is alpha," or, "My dog is very dominant." This is simply not the case. The language needs to be more exact: the dog is simply "assertive", not dominant, and definitely not alpha. When you act "dominant" toward a dog, he can only experience what you're doing as aggression. This is a popular training technique (or used to be), but not a good one. <<
>> What really sets dogs and wolves apart from other social animals is not the pack hierarchy but how they hunt. The fact is, the pack instinct only exists to enable canines to hunt large prey by working together as a cooperative social unit. <<
>> The question becomes obvious: is there a direct correlation between sociability and the canine prey drive? The answer should be just as obvious—yes there is.
When you look at the alpha fallacy with these three flaws in mind, it makes no sense. No wonder some ethologists are starting to question it. Now, some alpha theorists are suggesting that there isn't just one alpha wolf, there may be as many as five of or six! How much sense does this make to you? However, if you begin to look at the pack from the point of view of a new scientific discipline called Emergence Theory, which began to develop in the late 1950s, you may begin to understand that the pack is not a top-down hierarchy, but a bottom-up heterarchy. Knowing this may totally change how you relate to and train your dog. <<
- - - - - - -
Those above are just a few highlights of the articles.
A main point is that some dogs may be inclined to being alpha especially if rules are lax by a negligent permissive human. The other main point is that dogs want to be part of a harmonious social network (such as needed for the hunt, as stated above). A third major point is that most dogs are not so inclined and do not need - nor should they be - dominated and in effect bossed around even if that objective is being obtained without harsh measures (which are worst of all).
Being the rule-giver and the controlling person does not mean one has to dominate a dog, which is by nature social. and thus became the "Alpha" boss. The exceptions are stated above.
More. . .
>> The Pet Show - Listen here and now to Warren Eckstein's radio ...
The myth of the Alpha in dog behavior and training. Segment 5 • Is the Cockapoo a good breed of dog for young kids. • Rescue dog is aggressive to other dogs ...
warreneckstein.com/petshowaudio/december08/ - 27k - Cached -
The Pet Show - Listen here and now to Warren Eckstein's radio ...
The nonsense about Alpha dogs and domination. Segment 5 ... The importance of enjoying your pet and training with a hug and a kiss rather than with ...
warreneckstein.com/petshowaudio/october08/ - 56k -
- - - - -
I am going to copy this entire post and add it to the Dog forum.