PACK LEADER dog training - By David The Dog Trainer

I am going to explore the popular notion of "leadership" or "pack leader" training. I am not an expert on this topic, but I know enough to be useful in the debate, and can, hopefully, help you find the best resources to help you understand how to have the best relationship with your dog.


Proponents of this kind of "training" seem to advocate that the best way to have a well behaved dog and the best way to have a healthy relationship with your dog is to BE THE ALPHA.

Pack leader training seems to be rooted in dominance theory. Dominance theory is a misunderstood and controversial topic, especially when it comes to its application in the dog training world. There is a ton of writing on the topic. Here is a book by Dr. James O'Heare that you might want to look into on the subject. I have read him before, and have appreciated his work.

What dominance theory seems to imply is that within a social group there exists a hierarchy in relation to resources. The most dominant member of the group, by definition, gets first pick of the resources.

My understanding of why organisms would adopt a hierarchical structure is to reduce conflict amongst the group. If I am not mistaken, the idea of linear dominance actually comes from the study of chickens who seem to establish a pecking order. Here is some info on chickens from someone who, I am sure, knows more about the topic than I.

One reason so many people seem attracted to the idea of pack leader training is that it is mistakenly assumed that wild wolves live by a similar practice, and since wolves are ancestral dogs, then it makes sense that we should do as the wolves do. There is a ton of new research on the topic, and I am going to provide you with a few links below:

International Wolf Center

Science Daily's "Using 'Dominance' to Explain Dog Behavior is Old Hat."

Welfare in Dog Training's "What's Wrong with Using 'Dominance' to Explain the Behaviour of Dogs?"

I also have come to understand that there are different theories about what exactly dominance theory is exactly.

We have:

contextual dominance theory - A has dominance (first choice of resource) over B in relation to the couch but dominance in relation to the pet owner.

alpha type-ology - Dogs are either Alpha types, Beta types, or status seekers (always looking to achieve a higher status through conflict).

linear dominance theory - There is a clear top dog at all times who gets first choice off all the resources.

Etc.

Here is where pack leader training gets problematic for dogs and their people:

Maintaining Alpha status often requires confrontation, physical punishment, intimidation, or force.

Pack leader training seems to be masking plain old positive punishment training. It usually comes with a lot of collar corrections and physical punishment. If people are going to advocate "pack leader training," and are getting their desired results through the application of punishment, I think it would be more helpful to call it what it really is, and look at learning theory as the cause of the behavior change.

If "pack leader training" is only a fancy way of labeling punishment training, then the consumer should know punishment's potential side effects and just how tricky it is to give timely and consistent "corrections." Here is an article on the subject - too many ads on the page, but sound advice, IMO.

Here is Wikipedia's definition of social dominance theory.

Here is the ASVAB position on the use of dominance theory in the behavior modification of animals.

Here are some words on training from the Humane Society of the United States.

This blog is by no means an exhaustive examination. I hope it promotes discussion and commentary.

As always, thanks for reading, and I encourage your comments.

Posted by David the Dog Trainer
http://www.davidthedogtrainer.com/

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