My dog is Alpha… Is it true?
I am opening a series of monthly publications in which I will talk about resources on animal-related topics. These resources have been extremely valuable and helpful in my own personal and professional experience and I hope that the more people find them, the more animals will enjoy better relationships with their beloved human families.
Who could benefit from this article?
Anyone who loves dogs and learning about them and animals in general.
Families in which different members have different opinions on how problematic behaviors of a dog should be addressed.
Professionals who work with dogs (trainers/educators/veterinarians etc.)
Dog trainers who have based their work on the concept that dogs, like wolves, build their relationships following a hierarchical structure.
I have found the book Dominance in Dogs, Fact or Fiction, an easy read, based not only on common sense but very well-documented scientific research. Its author Barry Eaton is a recognized dog trainer who lives in the United Kingdom. He has worked extensively with herding dogs and in particular training deaf dogs. He is also the author of the book Hear, hear! A Guide to Training a Deaf Dog. He is a member of COAPE Association of Behaviorists and Trainers.
Why you should read this book?
Because knowing this information will help you:
to understand your dog and prevent you from making wrong assumptions.
to make wiser choices if you need to ask for professional help. There are different approaches on addressing problematic behaviors and some of these popular approaches are based on myths.
to help your clients better if you are a professional.
to save you time, money and the most important, unnecessary suffering to your dog and yourself.
This book was first published in 2008. However, I am still amazed at how many professionals haven't updated their work to this day and are still promoting the idea that dogs will try to impose their 'leadership' unless their humans make very clear who is the boss.
Does it sound familiar to you?
I think almost every human who lives with a dog has seen tv shows in which this model of relationship has been encouraged. It certainly was what I first found when searching for material for learning about dogs, behavior, and training. In my own experience of working with dogs, I can truly appreciate the power that tv shows have in promoting a belief, reaching every home, and how little we tend to question the validity of the delivered content.
Most of my clients have met a trainer who would ask them to apply pack rules such as
Always eat before feeding your dog
Do not allow the dog on the furniture (bed, chair, sofa)
Don't let the dog lay at the top of the stairs
Don't let the dog lay in a hallway or in doorways
Never let your dog through a doorway first
The list is much longer, I am just including a few of the most common ones. You can find more in the book with an explanation of why each of these rules don't work. Even if you don't have the interest to go much further beyond this article, knowing the following information will help.
The first research on wolf pack behavior was done with wolves in captivity and they would not necessarily be part of the original pack in the wild but wolves put together. This research was the one that concluded that wolves impose or earn their authority by aggression and establish some sort of pecking order.
This is the research that has been the foundation of the alpha leader concept. On top of this, it has been assumed that dogs would behave the same way because wolves are their ancestors. And also assume, that the root of every problematic behavior in dogs comes from their nature to seek leadership not only within their species but also in their interaction with humans, so addressing that, and letting the dog know that the human is the boss, would solve the problematic behavior.
BUT
What happened when the study on wolves' social interactions was done observing wild packs?
The conclusions were very different from the study with captive wolves. What the scientists discovered was that the packs of wolves were family units, with one breeding couple, and a younger and older litter. No fighting for the alpha role, and a very cohesive and cooperative coexistence. When the youngsters are mature, they leave the pack to find a partner and start their own families.
Then studies on groups of stray dogs showed substantial differences between them and the packs of wolves which Barry Eaton describes very well in his book. Still, no alpha leader structure was observed in either of them.
So, why after all these years is the myth of the alpha dog still prevalent?
Perhaps, because we humans are projecting our own perceptions of social hierarchy and power issues onto our dogs. Honestly, this has not much to do with the way dogs relate but with how humans do it. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding has played an important part in perpetuating aversive training techniques (using punishment and unpleasant stimuli, for behavior modification). After all, a few decades ago physical punishment of children was accepted and applied at school and at home as something necessary for a correct education. Many of us grew up believing in disciplining and not questioning our authority figures. So, it makes sense to me that this could explain why letting go of the old model of relationship with dogs is taking longer than what we would expect, even after having all the research and knowledge showing that this is not the way to go.
The good news is that there are more effective ways of addressing problematic behaviors which are not fear-based but gentle, such as positive reinforcement and Trust-Technique. These methods are enjoyable for the human and the dog and support the development of a happier relationship.
Prevention also has a place and we can prevent problematic behaviors, for instance :
making wise choices when choosing the dog we'll bring to our home, paying attention to the breed characteristics, their needs, and how compatible those needs are with our own habits and style of life. This also applies to mixed-breed dogs. It is not uncommon; the case of the dog chosen by his/her look, or the breeds that become trendy but not much research on the needs for physical activity, mental stimulation, favorable climate conditions, etc are brought to the table when making the decision to bring the dog home.
Socialization at an early age will also contribute to more harmonious interactions with other dogs, and other species including cats and humans.
Educating ourselves on these subjects plays a very important part on overcoming critical situations in less damaging / more constructive ways. The better we understand each other the better chances we have to enjoy a good relationship, the rewards for making the effort are enormous...and we'll still make a few mistakes, but what counts is the willingness to learn from them and the love we share day by day, feeling at peace with ourselves for doing our best to be the best dog parents we can be.