A Tale of Two Kittens and One Puppy » Pack theory — true, false, or somewhere in between?

There are those people who will tell you that your world, as you know it, will end if your dog goes out the door ahead of you or gets on your bed or couch. The theory being that this puts them in the alpha role, or leader of the pack. They will then view you as a subordinate, and what are subordinates there for, after all, if not to take orders from the leader?

In pack theory, the alpha dog decides where the pack goes. The alpha dog gets to eat first, and they get the best sleeping places. So if you subscribe to pack theory, the couch or bed is a coveted sleeping place (not to mention it puts your dog on level with you), and if you allow your dog on it, they’ll think that they’re now the leader.

And what happens when your dog doesn’t listen to you? I still see lots of people who advise you to do an alpha roll. An alpha roll is when you flip the dog over onto its back and hold it down — gently, but firmly. The idea is that clearly shows your dog their position in your pack.

Ian Dunbar writes in “The History and Misconceptions of Dominance Theory:

For example, alpha rolls. The early researchers saw this behavior and concluded that the higher-ranking wolf was forcibly rolling the subordinate to exert his dominance. Well, not exactly. This is actually an “appeasement ritual” instigated by the SUBORDINATE wolf. The subordinate offers his muzzle, and when the higher-ranking wolf “pins” it, the lower-ranking wolf voluntarily rolls and presents his belly. There is NO force. It is all entirely voluntary.”

Clicker solutions, btw, is chock full of articles like the one I quoted above. Clicker Solutions, not too suprisingly, is all about clicker training. Clicker training is truly awesome. If you’ve never tried it with your dog — or cat — I highly recommend it.

Of course I’m a novice dog owner, and maybe I’ll wake up to find Chester esconced on the couch, growling at me to warn me off it. Maybe I’m going about this all the wrong way. I don’t think the world will end if Chester’s allowed on the couch. It hasn’t so far, anway.

But that doesn’t mean that Chester just gets on the couch whenever he pleases. We’re practicing nilif (nothing in life is free). That means that Chester has to sit before he’s allowed on the couch. Does he sometimes still jump up univited? Yes, but if I tell him to get off, he does. Then he must sit before he’s invited back onto the couch.

Want your food? You must sit (and now stay for at least a couple of seconds). Want to go back inside? You must sit. Want to go greet that person across the street? You must sit. As the trainer in our puppy kindergarten class put it, give your dog a job or he’ll find one (like chewing up your socks).

Technorati Tags: pack, alpha dog, pack theory, alpha roll, clicker training, dog, cat, nilif