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Is the dominance theory true? |
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For years, a lot of dog training was based on the idea of dominance. We were taught that dogs try to be dominant over each other and over us, so we had to be dominant over them to get them to do what we want. The dominance theory turned us into a set of bullies and created a whole heap of confused and worried dogs, as well as a whole heap of confused and worried owners. It also led to a relationship between us and our dogs where we felt we needed to be ‘the boss’. What happened to a dog being a man’s best friend?
Where the dominance theory came from
The dominance theory originated back in the 1940s, following studies of captive man-made wolf packs. These packs displayed quite violent conflicts which were interpreted as being their need to establish the ‘alpha’ male and female.
The argument then went that, because dogs are descended from wolves, it follows that dogs also need the ‘alpha’ structure in its pack. As dogs live in our homes with us, sometimes without another canine companion, we must be part of that pack so our dogs will then try to be our pack alpha if we don’t get there first.
It all sounds so terribly logical and, unfortunately, it does tend to work. You can often force a dog to submit to your will and it is only too easy to teach a dog to fear you – do this or else...
As well as turning us into shouting, yanking, hitting bullies, the dominance theory gave us all a set of blinkers. Because we were told that dogs are constantly trying to dominate us, we saw everything they do as being signs of dominance. If your dog jumps up he’s being dominant. If your dog won’t sit he’s being dominant. If you dog ignores you calling him he’s being dominant. And heavens help you if he wants to get on the sofa!
This, of course, meant that we didn’t stop to ask ourselves why he was in fact doing those things. Was he jumping because he was pleased to see you? Was he in fact not sitting because you hadn’t trained him properly and he didn’t understand? Was he ignoring your calls because you’d shouted at him the last time he came back?
Binning the theory – hurrah!
Thankfully for our dogs and for us owners, the dominance theory has been shown to be false, not only for domestic dogs but for wolves as well. Because the early studies had been carried out on captive wolves who had been put together in a strange environment, they did not act as a wild pack would. A wild pack is a family unit. They have grown up together, they know each other inside out, they trust each other and, who knows, maybe they even love each other. It is now blindingly obvious that this isn’t what you’d get with a mishmash of captive animals.
There is a pecking order in wild wolf packs but it is generally not established or maintained by violence. An older, more confident animal will be able to move a younger one away simply by moving him, by a look, by the common knowledge of who he is. Boundaries may get tested and an individual may get a quick reprimand, a snap usually at the head, and then it returns to harmony.
Non-dominance training
Having consigned the dominance theory and dominance based training to a landfill site where it belongs, modern trainers are using positive methods to shift focus away from forcing a dog to do something or else, and towards using his love of food, attention and us to teach him what gets great rewards. These trainers aren’t thinking about ‘making’ a dog sit, they are looking at how to show him what you’d like and getting him to want to do it for you. Treats really are wonderful things – hey, all I have to do is sit and I get food, that’s easy!
If you need to say no, there are ways of doing it that mean something to the dog, that are very effective and are ethical at the same time. Withholding something he wants like food or a toy, doing the opposite of what he’s nagging you for, or just ignoring inappropriate behaviour are all effective training tools. You may still need to say ‘no’, but more often using one of these methods will work much, much better.
So is there no ‘pack structure’ at all?
In the same way that there is a pecking order in wild animals, there can be a pecking order in your house, including other dogs and humans. This isn’t about fighting for dominance. As the excellent American behaviourist and trainer Patricia McConnell puts it, pecking order/status is about who gets first access to resources, so by asking your dog to wait for you to go through the door first, or to wait until you say they can eat their tea you are putting yourself there as being just that notch higher, as is not giving in to every demand for a cuddle/play/food. Getting everyone in the house to do the same is really helpful too. Teaching your dog to walk to heel when you ask is another great way of establishing yourself as leader without resorting to ‘dominance’.
So what it all comes down to is this. Train your dog with positive and fun methods that he will enjoy and understand, and that you will enjoy too.
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A Staffy-bull-terrier Frequently Asked Questions |
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