What do you think about "Alpha dog theory"
By miryanag
@miryanag (346)
Bulgaria
February 25, 2013 6:35am CST
You probably watch The dog whisperer. Cesar milan uses this theory to explain dog behavior. The theory is an old one. It comes from the observation over wolf behavior. I like Milan and his show but lately I raed a lot negative reviews on his work from trainers who prefer the positive reinforcment method.
2 people like this
4 responses
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
25 Feb 13
there is always going to a dog that is the leader I have watched the show and have use some of the thing on there some have worked some have not its all up to how you want to control the dog to what you will let them get away with
@anuraa32 (2446)
• India
25 Feb 13
The Alpha dog theory may not always be wrong or it may be partially useful while training a pack of dogs. And when we keep dogs as pets we do need to take on the role of Alpha dog, kind of, so that the dog knows that certain rules are meant to be followed.
1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
25 Feb 13
You already know my opinion of this, miryanag...per your discussion yesterday! And as I related yesterday..I do believe in the Alpha theory and often it is misinterpreted. He suggests YOU become the Alpha dog. I work with a lot of different dogs..of all breeds and bad habits (as I Foster) and I for one find his quidance and tutorials without reproach. And he does use the "positive re-inforcement method"...adapted to better results!
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
25 Feb 13
Like life, there are really NO hard and fast rules...just guidances for one's own perusal and implementation! Every circumstance, has it's own special nuances, and we must adapt what we learn to the situation.
I am from the old school...and if I am shown that things work, and how they work, I can apply them much more appropriately. I had the wonderful experience growing up with a Father whom seemed to be a "be all" to all animals...and could achieve almost anything behaviourly with them...inasmuch..(illegal in this day and age) we had coyotes, wolves, deer, moose..black bears, and even one cougar...and he seemed to speak all their languages. I seem to have been lucky enough to have absorbed his calm and gentle approach...dealing mostly with horses and dogs! Cesar Milan somewhat reminds me of my Father...all the love, and the right assertiveness.
@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
25 Feb 13
Dogs have a lot of instinctive behavior that they have inherited. For example, some dogs will go in a circle before lying down. That comes from dogs having lived in the wild where they needed to trample grass or weeds down before lying down. As part of their heritage, some dogs still do that indoors even though there are no weeds to trample.
Dogs are related to wolves and wolves are pack animals. A wolfpack does have one dominant wolf as is often the case with other wild animals that travel in packs.
