Volume 11, Issue 1

Animal Hospital of Dunedin January 2020

P wsitive Press

There are No Alphas captivity and the applied his theory to domestic dogs. We in the Dog World INSIDE THIS have since learned the risk of ISSUE: By: Elaina Franklin making generalizations off the behaviors of small groups of Alpha, pack leader, individuals kept captive under There are No Alphas 1 dominant, submissive are the forced conditions that would Alphas Cont’d 2 most common words that I not occur in the wild. hear misused every single Coupons 3 Research conducted in 2010 day when it comes to our studied a group of 27 free- dog’s behavior and training. behaviorists repeated his ranging wild dogs and

So many of us believe that study and confirmed that determined that not one dog once you bring your dog unrelated wolves living in was ever the leader. The role home, you have to show captivity fight often in social of the leader changed between Related them who is “boss” by being struggles. From those the dogs depending on the Webpages: alpha or their pack leader. To dominance theory emerged. situation they were in. establish this, some people Trainers and pet owners Usually the older more will walk through doorways used it and veterinarians experienced dogs took on the

before their dog, growl at, recommended it. It made leadership role but at least and even bite their dog, or sense because our dogs are half of the dogs were the they make sure that they eat closely related to wolves, leader at some point. before their dog. Others will and if they are fighting for Are there dominant dogs? grab their dog and roll them rank then our dog must learn It is important to understand onto their side in a that we are the alpha in our the meaning of dominance as submissive position when pack. It seemed to work, but it relates to our canines. The

Position Statement on their dog behaves with what consequences? It dog humping your leg, pulling inappropriately. I mean that wasn’t until 2000 when the Use of Dominance you down the street, or Theory in Behavior is what you are supposed to another scientist named rushing out the front door is Modification of Animals do when you have a David Mech was studying not being a dominant dog. dominant dog, right? I am wild wolves and determined Most likely the dog humping here to tell you that there are that what Schenkel is displaying an over-aroused no alphas in the dog world concluded was not actually or stressed behavior and the

and to give you a true how wild wolves behave at dog pulling you down the all. Mech concluded that a understanding of dominance. street or rushing out the front wild wolf pack consists of a door is likely just displaying Debunking the Alpha breeding pair, the parents, excited behaviors. These Theory and their offspring. As the behaviors have been Back in the 1930s, Rudolph offspring grow and become inadvertently reinforced and Schenkel, an animal independent they will leave that is why they are repeated. behaviorist, studied captive the family and the only two Dominance on the other hand that remain in the group long wolves and determined that “is defined as a relationship wolves have a hierarchy and term are the parents. There between individual animals thus are in constant were no violent, bloody that is established by social struggles in wild wolf competition for a higher force/aggression and rank. He “concluded that packs or fights to be top submission, to determine who wolves in a pack fight to gain wolf. Schenkel’s error was has priority access to multiple dominance, and the winner is that he studied unrelated resources such as food, the alpha wolf.” Other wolves that were living in preferred resting

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Alpha Cont’d positive training and felt that it spots, and mates (Bernstein 1981; didn’t work, and you feel you Drews 1993).” In our dog’s have to use force, fear or any form world, there is usually no issue of dominance training, then it’s time to call a professional who is with gaining access to resources, certified or has a degree in the as we feed them on a regular field. Positive training is so much basis, they have plenty of places more than giving your dog a treat to rest, and mating is often either for a trick. Positive training is taken out of the equation, about patience, consistency, accidental, or intentional with a relationship building, keeping breeding pair arranged. your dog under threshold, finding the right motivator, timing and Where do I go from here? building the appropriate reinforcement history. If you need If you have been using help with your dog’s behavior, I dominance theory with your dog, hope you will contact me as I will there is a really good chance that have a positive solution as to how you have been unknowingly to modify their behavior! producing unwanted side effects *************************** such as increased fear, Elaina Franklin has a B.S in aggression, escape, and/or Animal Studies and Biology and avoidance behaviors. You do has been training animals for over want to be a leader for your dog, 15 years! She has trained but not in a dictating, everything from dogs, dolphins, commanding style, but more so cats, river otters, and nurse sharks. as the caring teacher with Her motto is every species can be trained positively so every species patience and good should be trained positively! For communication. The American more information go to: Veterinary Society of Animal www.PositiveSolutionsTraining.com Behavior “emphasizes that *************************** animal training, behavior Sources prevention strategies, and American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. 2018. AVSAB behavior modification programs Position Statement on the Use of should follow the scientifically Dominance Theory in Behavior based guidelines of positive Modification of Animals. Retrieved reinforcement, operant from https://avsab.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/03/Dominance_ conditioning, classical Position_Statement_download-10-3- conditioning, desensitization, and 14.pdf counter conditioning.” This starts Miller, Pat. “Debunking the Alpha with developing a strong bond Theory.” The Whole Dog Journal, Nov 2011. Retrieved with your dog based on more fromhttps://www.whole-dog- than just affection and food. It is journal.com/behavior/debunking-the- important to figure out their alpha-dog-theory/ personality, their likes and Coren, Stanley. “Canine Dominance: dislikes, and what activities Is the Concept of the Alpha Dog Valid?” Psychology Today, Jul 2010. really motivate them. This Retrieved from information can then be used to https://www.psychologytoday.com/us help modify behavior by /blog/canine-corner/201007/canine- applying it to reinforcement dominance-is-the-concept-the-alpha- schedules. If you have tried dog-valid

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