Have you heard about alpha rolling a dog? If you haven’t, you should know that it is one of those dog training methods that has been considered controversial.
Alpha rolling means pinning down or forcibly rolling a dog on its back and holding it in position, usually on its throat. It is one of the methods used when a dog misbehaves.
The purpose of this is to assert dominance over your dog. In other words, you (as the owner or trainer) are the alpha or pack leader.
Those who believe in this training technique suggest using this should they want a successful relationship with their dogs. They believe in the dominance theory that every owner should take charge, or else your dogs will assert dominance over you.
Dog’s behavior vs. Wolf’s behavior
The theory behind this controversial alpha roll is the flawed study conducted among randomly captive wolves held at various stages of their lives in the 1940s. As subjects, scientists confined unrelated wild wolves in a small area.
Imagine them placed in an enclosure with other wolves not belonging to the same wolf pack. The sure thing to happen is to fight among them as these poor creatures fear for their safety and find the others as threats. Mind you, they do not belong to the same group.
Behavioral problems, which include biting, develop among the captives. Aggression is very much present, which leads to chaos as they struggle for hierarchy within the group. These tensions are atypical wolf behavior among wolf packs.
The scientists back then observed what they termed alpha rolls. But these alpha rolls were only a result of the situation to which these wolves were subjected and the insecurities they felt against the other confined companions.
David Merch and other wolf behavior experts disproved the “Alpha” concept or the dominance theory by stating that wolf packs are composed of related wolves. One wolf belonging to a specific pack, is, in other words, a family, whom the other members have known most of their lives.
You would rarely witness a wolf pinning down other pack members with the intention of dominating. Whenever there is tension within a pack, a member rolls over voluntarily as a gesture of submission.
In dogs, you can also witness this kind of behavior by which a dog manifests his peaceful intentions. That one is not a threat. While voluntary rolling manifests calm submission among wolves and dogs, the alpha roll is not at all a natural behavior amongst these species.
It has long been proven that the scientists had a flawed understanding of the behaviors of those wolves held captive. In terms of behavior, dogs vastly differ from wolves despite the fact that the former descended from the latter. Also, applying the said results across all wolf and canine species is obviously inappropriate.
How do you alpha roll a puppy?
As mentioned, alpha roll means pinning a dog or puppy down on either its back or side and then holding it in that submissive position by applying pressure on its neck. This is done with the use of physical force and aims to show the dog that you are the alpha or leader and that your dog should defer to you.
Is alpha rolling good for dogs?
The answer is negative. An alpha roll has long been proven to be an unnatural behavior amongst wolves and dogs. Just because the studies in the 1940s were conducted on wolves (considered dogs’ ancestors), applying the same principles to canines is very inappropriate.
Why should dog owners avoid the alpha roll training technique?
The alpha roll tops the list of the many dog training methods discouraged and considered dangerous. It does not have any concrete scientific basis. Worse, it can result in many negative consequences. In other words, these aversive methods can lead to more harm than good to a dog and its owner.
A trainer or owner, for that matter, puts his life into danger by executing the alpha roll during dog training. As one seemingly attacks the dog, he makes himself vulnerable to a face bite, leading to the development of problem behavior.
Hitting your domestic dogs or using physical force to discourage bad behaviors is a no-no. Negative techniques such as this alpha roll technique may not only harm your dog accidentally.
The way you treat your dog also causes this poor animal to become afraid of you and lowers the trust it has for you. Thus, this dominance training technique can increase a dog’s anxiety and fear. Worse, it can result in aggressive behavior.
If you are looking for ways to build a sound and healthy relationship with your pup, applying the dominance theory or the alpha roll method is not one of them. The main reason why this technique has to be avoided is that it is dangerous both to the dog and trainer, much more than an average dog owner.
Responsible dog trainers and owners should use techniques that use clear communication. A dog’s cognitive abilities and natural behavior must also be recognized and respected.
How do you tell if a dog is an alpha?
Perhaps you have heard some say that his pooch is an alpha dog. What does that mean?
Every pack has an “alpha”. That means it is the dominant dog among the members; in short, the leader.
At home, your dog can be a little demanding, whether intentional or not, but if it is, then that can be a warning signal for you to watch. From that very cute and calm pup, your dog might have changed drastically into an aggressive dog.
So what are the other indicators that your dog is showing dominance over you? Here are some of the signs:
- Growling – Your dog growls at you whenever you get near his bowl or even some of his possessions. He is trying to control you by keeping you away from his belongings. There can be times also when your dog growls whenever you try to correct him. That is also an assertion of dominance.
- Intimidating stare – This is a dog’s way of showing his position as a leader. This act is considered rude.
- Challenging or daring you – An example of this would be when your dog takes over your spot on your bed, and he does not do anything to surrender it to you.
- Gets into the door first – In a pack, the leader always enters the door ahead of the others. So, your dog is manifesting that he is the leader.
- Your dog walks you instead on a leash – While you may be taking your dog for a stroll on a leash, notice who walks first or takes the lead. Your dog should not be ahead of you and appear as if it is the dog who takes you for a walk. Teach your dog who is the leader. You, as the master, should walk your dog (beside or following you, or just slightly ahead).
- Marking – Mine, mine, mine! What if your dog marks every spot in your home? But you must also be aware that marking is sometimes not a sign of dominance but some health problems, so be sure to have him checked with the vet to address possible health issues.
- So hard to teach as he does not obey your commands – This only shows that he does not want to follow you because he is the boss.
- Aggression – This is probably the worse of all the manifestations of a dog’s dominant behavior. Once a dog exhibits any aggressive behavior and becomes aggressive towards you, be sure to seek professional help. Your life can be in danger should you tolerate that kind of behavior.
What can I use instead of alpha rolling?
The scientific community, consisting of veterinary medicine and veterinary behavior professionals and organizations, has discredited the dominance theory, which has been adhered to in traditional dog training.
There are many constructive ways of dog training. Early socialization, including human interaction and an introduction to other dogs and animals, can work wonders on young pups.
Exposing a pup to various situations is crucial during their development or formative period. Enrolling them in dog socialization classes will help them learn to adapt quickly to any changes they may encounter later in life.
Here are some of the training alternatives you can use instead of the alpha roll:
1. Obedience training methods
This training method knows no age — whether you have a young puppy or an adult dog. It aims to teach your dog good manners and behavior so that you will have a well-behaved pet.
Start with the basics like sit, stay, and come. Obedience training does aim to assert your dominance over your dog but helps you bond and communicate well with your pet. In other words, it helps strengthen your relationship.
Not all dogs learn at the same rate — some are fast learners, while other dogs are sort of stubborn. The key here is patience coupled with continuity or consistency.
Dogs need to be trained in a positive environment. You need to earn their trust so they would be happy to follow your commands.
2. Clicker training method
If you want your dog to learn the fastest and easiest way, you should give this clicker training method a try. This has effectively replaced some traditional training methods, which were all based on praise and punishment.
The clicker training method has eliminated punishment and what is left are praises. But how is that done?
From the name itself, it suggests that this training technique utilizes a clicker to reward your pet for good behavior. Whenever they hear the clicker sound, your dogs would think that something great is happening that calls for a reward. Surely, a tasty treat follows.
Since dogs love to be rewarded and praised, it is most likely for them to repeat that good behavior. Also, as a consequence, those problem behaviors that were disregarded will be dropped or discontinued by your dog as they do not get rewarded for it.
This is very much effective, especially for puppies. In clicker training, soon as you have completely instilled in your dog’s mind that a click is followed by a reward, you can eliminate these soon after constant repetition and use verbal commands instead.
The wonders of positive reinforcement
Like kids who feel extremely happy whenever their parents would give them rewards for doing good in class, dogs become overjoyed also to receive rewards — be it in the form of a treat, toy, or praise. And all these rewards inspire these kids and dogs to perform even better. That is what you call positive reinforcement!
This concept may sound simple, but you must have the perfect timing for your dog to associate it with positive behavior. So, when do you give rewards? The answer is immediately thereafter, or just within seconds after performing the positive act.
If you direct your dog to sit (for example), reward him while he is still sitting, not when standing. There might be a tendency that your dog would think that what was being rewarded was his act of standing.
Aside from timing, dog owners should note consistency and continuity. Should you have other household members, they should also teach and use the same sign or cue to avoid confusion with the commands your dog is learning.
Another equally important thing to remember is to reward your dog only for the desired act or behavior that is worthy of praise. Never reward your dog for any aggressive behavior, dominance, or when it tries to bite. If the animal performs well during training, stays calm, and exhibits submissive behavior, it is truly worthy of praise.
Behavior modification techniques for some signs of aggression
There are some dog behaviors that are thought of as aggressive, although not completely like jumping, taking over the couch, or even being off with strangers.
1. Jumping
What does it mean when your dog jumps whenever he sees you? Perhaps the dog is overjoyed or excited. There are some who linked this behavior to dominance.
But have you trained your dog to jump and praised him for that? When he was still a puppy, your dog must have been used to jumping to get your attention, and he thought this act was just alright.
So, what should you do instead? Reward your dog whenever he is on has his paws on the floor, standing. Inform others to ignore him whenever he jumps to seek everyone’s attention so he would think of it as an undesirable act.
2. Taking over the couch
You can not equate this to aggression, although some thought it is. Whenever your dog growls because it wants to stay on the couch, it must be because it enjoys the comfort it feels while lying on it.
To keep your dog from staying on the couch, your need to invest in a cozy doggie bed instead. Animals love the softness and warmth of a comfortable bed. Whenever your dog goes to its bed, reward it for that.
3. Being off with strangers
Growling at strangers can be very common for dogs, especially when they feel uncomfortable with someone they have not seen before. That is a natural reaction; there is no need to force them to face visitors.
Aside from socialization training, you can give your dog a room or crate where he can feel safe. Slowly train your dog to bond with guests and when doing this, never forget to reward him.
Conclusion
Now you know what an alpha roll is and why it is considered an outdated behavioral training technique in dogs. You have also learned that alpha rolls are not at all very effective. Instead, it has led to aggression in dogs and other animals such as wolves.
Not only has the scientific community debunked this myth, but the very proponents of this study themselves. Not only are alpha rolls dangerous but also a form of cruelty to every animal subjected to them.
When you think of dogs, you only think of that cute furry animal and its sweet gesture. Imagine how adorable they are, and you sure have no intention as a loving owner to hurt them; what more turning them into little monsters because of one flawed theory.
Go for obedience training or the clicker method instead. You sure will have an obedient canine citizen as a result.
Related topic: Can Dogs Get Pimples?
*photo by ms-grafixx – depositphotos