Dominance is DUMBinance
I have a confession to make I have been on a long journey to where I am now on dog training methods.
When I got my first dog as an adult (a golden retriever) I didn't see the value in puppy classes. And I got away with it with her! Using a TV program made by dog trainer Ian Dunbar I watched and learned and applied techniques that were kind and effective and my lovely docile happy golden retriever was eager to please and basically an easy dog to live with!
When it came to my second dog... A cockapoo... It all went a bit different!!
I still didn't understand the value of puppy classes - after all I had done such a good job on my own with the easiest breed on the planet!! - I used the TV the first time to help me - so this time I turned to the TV again. But at the time that Jazz (my first cockapoo) joined the family the TV personality training dogs was Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer).
His methods involved becoming the "pack leader" of your home. His methods were based on observing wolf packs and were based on a hierarchy that had been identified in the wolf packs. The premise of his teaching was you have to show the dog who is boss... if you are in charge then your dog will obey you.
I have to admit that I liked his teaching so much that I bought several of his books and really tried to use his methods on my cockapoo puppy...
If Jazz pulled on the lead I yanked it sharply sideways to try to stop the pulling and so walk next to me... If Jazz barked / growled and lunged at a passing dog my response was to pin him by his neck to the ground. (I absolutely hate that now! - because I know so much more than i did then! - this is a stupid and dangerous way to deal with something that is most likely not a show of aggression but a show of fear!!)
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW!!!
Cockapoos have a natural bent towards nervousness. Dominant / Pack leader techniques just made my dog worse... and the worst part of it was that I had NO IDEA that i was making him worse... I thought i was applying the best techniques in dog training - after all, at that time, Cesar Milan was all over the TV - surely you can trust the experts on TV?!
I am so grateful for the puppy school owner that I took my next dog to (my breeding bitch, Grace the cocker Spaniel). She taught me that Cesar's ways were cruel. Until then I truly had no idea!!. I still thought they had some value in dog training. And I have to admit it took me a while to really unpick this wrong thinking that i had filled my mind with.
The greatest shame of all this is that the dominant approach to dog training is hard to shake from our culture... This is why I have written this article and ask you to look into reward based, or better still; games based training for your dogs... There is no need to intimidate or frighten a dog into submission. Dogs WANT to please us... let's help them learn how!
Jazz is a very forgiving Cockapoo and our relationship is great… if you want to see him in action he is one of my helpers in my puppy socialisation in isolation course… https://www.avonside.academy/courses/socialisation-in-isolation
DOMINANCE is DUMBinance!
Dominance Theory in Dog Training is outdated.
And many of the originators of the Alpha / Pack leader / Dominance teachings have changed their mind about its effectiveness. YET it has become a part of common thought and dominance is sadly still often considered as an important thing to achieve with a dog.
In short trying to take the upper hand and become the pack leader can cause more harm than good... therefore - it is just plain dumb!
Here are just SOME of the reasons I say this:
It causes conflict between dog and owner, destroys the TRUST relationship
Thinking we need to be dominant over our dog means we feel we have to stop behaviours that we actually like! (cuddles on the sofa, letting dog win tug games...)
Outdated method of training – MOST dog trainers agree – yet MANY dog owners still think this is something they are aiming for!!!
Many methods of gaining dominance over a dog are unkind!
Being Dominant or becoming the pack leader might boost an insecure human ego but it does nothing for the dog except subdue it.
It destroys the dog’s personality
Can cause aggression in the dog
It’s not natural
It’s not scientific
It’s not effective
So please don’t try to be the boss... instead try to be the partnership that will naturally bring both dog and owner so much satisfaction.
Our Games-based dog training will give you the tools to do just that!
Find out more: https://www.faithfulfriends.online
And feel free to contact me for advice.
If you want to read more on the truth of dominance here’s an article by Victoria Stilwell: https://positively.com/dog-training/myths-truths/the-truth-about-dominance/
These days, there are 3 different styles of dog trainers –
Dominance, Pack leader, using aversive techniques
Reward based... Obedience, very much a "carrot", rather than a "stick" approach
Games based Concept trainer, building relationship, building concepts for life, encouraging dog to make good choices for themselves!
(I’m a trainer 3) - So How does it work?
We teach you to play short games with your dog! – Every game has a purpose, but the dog has fun and doesn’t realise it is developing essential life skills!
The Games teach concepts that enable your dog to make good choices every time,
Concepts such as Calmness, Optimism, Confidence, Focus set you up for a happy peaceful dog ownership experience.
Games are FUN for you and your dog
Games only take 3 minutes to play so training can be fitted in around your day.
Games give your relationship a boost and keep both dog and owner motivated.
Games work because... The games we play with the dogs reshape their brain!
Open neural pathways, waking up shut off parts of their brain and creating positive connections that enable the dog to have more choices available within their behaviour.
The desirable choice of behaviours become so rewarding that the dog will naturally make these choices... No aversive or punishments necessary.
The Games are from Absolute Dogs; Devised by a Vet Behaviourist and a Dog Agility Champion.
Playing with your dog helps develop a stronger relationship between you.
We think of it as a Relationship bank account:
Happy experiences pay in to the relationship account Negative ones make withdrawals
Like any bank account - You want to stay in the green!!
We use the dog’s daily food allowance for training.
This is mainly because dogs are contra-freeloading (they prefer to WORK for their food)
See your bowl of food as a huge pot of value... It would be a waste to just throw it in a bowl for nothing... use it to train your dog... You can reward and reward and reward without giving any more than their daily food allowance!!! – this isn’t spoiling your dog!! – It’s just FEEDING YOUR DOG!
If you want to get involved in this style of training a great way to start with a dog of any age is the sexier than a squirrel training programme. £27 for 30 games that will supercharge all areas of your training.
Join in here: www.faithfulfriends.online/squirrel
YOU don't know what you don't know!
But When you do know... WOW!
I feel like I am a completely different person now. Dog training is a journey and you are never "done". I love learning more and more which is why i attend conferences and seminars on dog training my learning is always topped up.
I want you to know there really is NO dog problem that requires cruel methods to solve it. And worse still cruel methods can make it worse. If you have a dog training issue that you are struggling with please feel free to email me for advice and i will help if i can or i will point you towards a solution that might help.
Games based training is so effective but until you try it you wont know!
www.faithfulfriends.online/squirrel
Remember when it comes to dog training ... Keep it fun Keep it quick and Keep playing!
All the best
Lydia