The Alpha Myth

[Caryll]

Just thought I'd share this - it gave me food for thought...

Dogs and the Alpha Myth a New Training Method

[kita]

This is from the man who actually created the 'Alpha' terminology in the first place, saying how he was wrong and how long he thinks it will take people to catch up (approx. 20 years!):

http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf


Sue

[tiger135]

Originally Posted by kita

This is from the man who actually created the 'Alpha' terminology in the first place, saying how he was wrong and how long he thinks it will take people to catch up (approx. 20 years!):

http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf


Sue

it wont let me view that link hun

[Caryll]

Very interesting read!

[nisbreagha]

Certainly food for thought!

[Sammy2011]

Very interesting read

[Stuart]

Now that I have had time to read these

Dogs and the Alpha Myth a New Training Method

Where the artical refers to the dog training and how the human fits into his group of dogs,... I agree

----------------------------------------------------

http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf

Although this is a good artical, I found it a bit confusing,..o.k. so the author doesnt like the word `Alpha`,.. he prefers `breeder`,... but its just a word, what he says about breeders, people used to say about Alphas,.. as far as I see he has just changed the name

I agree that Wolf packs are formed just like any other family group, but just like you call the parents of a human family hushband and wife, you still need to call the `main` top two wolfs something,.. be it `breeder` or `Alpha`,...I prefer Alpha
.... but I liked the artical

[LindaM]

Is this the basis of the 'dog listener' type of dog training? I have very mixed feelings about this type of 'exclusive training'. What I mean by 'exclusive' is that if you use this method you use all of it.

As a first time shepherd owner (and sadly for the moment with a husband who cannot take a leading role) I am trying to be the leader. This situation in my house is a bit difficult because I am the only one Lukey can really challenge and I think because my OH is for the momeht a 'weak leader' (I don't mean this as an insult, poor man it is fact and not something I/we couldn't have anticipated when we got Lukey) I am the one who seems to have to make sure someone is in charge of this dog of ours. I think because of this situation Lukey 'pushes' me more. What do you think?

In the end Lukey is a sweet natured GSD so it's not too bad.

In the end it is what it is and I do my best but I would be interested in your thoughts.

[Stuart]

The idea of a `Pack Leader` is very old hat,..and I for one do not believe it to be right,... yes we need to be in charge, and give our dogs direction,... but we will never be the `Pack leader`.... as the first artical said

I am not sure what the `dog listener` method is, but I think if we hold to the belief that no matter how much our dogs love us,.. they do nothing for us out of love,..they only do things for us, because of what they can get in return,.... and thats fine by me

[kita]

Originally Posted by Stuart

http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf

Although this is a good artical, I found it a bit confusing,..o.k. so the author doesnt like the word `Alpha`,.. he prefers `breeder`,... but its just a word, what he says about breeders, people used to say about Alphas,.. as far as I see he has just changed the name

I agree that Wolf packs are formed just like any other family group, but just like you call the parents of a human family hushband and wife, you still need to call the `main` top two wolfs something,.. be it `breeder` or `Alpha`,...I prefer Alpha
.... but I liked the artical

The author is the one that coined the term 'Alpha' in the first place, in this article he is saying he (and many others who followed him) actually got it all wrong.

He originally used the term to describe wolves that ruled by force and took over packs by force and aggression. When he later lived with and studied free packs of wolves he realised that the 'leaders/breeders' did not actually use force to establish their position, they were natural/benevolent 'leaders' - similar to any parents in a family group. They did not 'Alpha' roll other wolves and pin them down.

Of course, many dog trainers picked up on the original 'Alpha' theory and decided to train dogs that same way (with force) - hence things like 'you must eat before your dog' and 'roll the dog on its back and hold it down' to enforce your Alpha place. This encouraged people to be in constant conflict with their dogs - after all if you think your dog is constantly planning to take over leadership of your 'pack' you have to be constantly on your guard to prevent it. The more the dog 'challenges' you the harder you have to be to ensure the dog never 'wins'. It all becomes a battle and there is no time to actually just enjoy your relationship with the dog.

Whilst I agree that the owner should be in charge, there is a limit to how much we should control our dogs, if we control every aspect of our dogs lives what do they do when we are not there (everyone has to leave their dog alone at some time)?

Plus how do you live with a dog that is stronger than you physically? There was no way I could have trained my Anatolian by force and if I had tried to 'show him who is boss' as was suggested to me by some people, well there would have only been one outcome - me in hospital, if I was lucky!

Sue