Suspect Science: Issues with the Study Subjects Well, that’s what happened with the alpha theory. We’ll explain a few of the most notable problems with the theory below. You know the saying “making an assumption makes an ass out of me and u” (because ass-u-me)? What Are Some of the Problems with Alpha Theory? Somewhere along the line, trainers and owners began implementing these behaviors and doing things like rolling their dogs, grabbing them by the scruff, making intense stern eye contact, and so on and so forth.Įssentially, they strived to become the alpha. This was a sign that they were submitting to the alpha. Schenkel also observed that wolves who were subservient to the alpha would roll over and show their belly and genitals. Well, if you’re a wolf in a captured environment, you do so by fighting, grabbing the other wolves by the neck or throat, and in general becoming “dominant.” Thinking their dogs were trying to become “alphas”, people started wanting to ensure that they led the pack rather than Fido. And since domesticated dogs were living in homes with humans, their packs weren’t comprised of other dogs, but the people they lived with. With that in mind, it was assumed that since domesticated dogs are closely related to wolves, they too must only have one alpha. By observing the wolves fighting for resources, privileges, and “status,” it was assumed that there is only one alpha in a pack, and he rules all the other dogs. “Alpha dog” theory is based around Schenkel’s initial study. Strategies based around positive-reinforcement are some of the most popular training alternatives, resulting in great success as well as building a better dog-human bond. There are a number of alpha-dog alternatives that will help you train your dog without damaging your relationship.Sensitive dogs, for example, may become traumatized by these approaches, while tougher dogs may retaliate against the people subjecting them to harsh treatments. Alpha-based training approaches often fail to achieve the desired results, and can even result in aggressive behaviors.This means that the entire foundation of these training approaches were flawed. These wolves had not formed relationships the way typical wolf packs do, so they exhibited some unusual behaviors. “Alpha dog theory” and dominance-based training methods were initially inspired by observations of an unusual group of captive wolves.Debunking the Alpha Dog Myth: Key Takeaways What people probably didn’t realize was that “alpha dog approaches” and “dominance training” had serious repercussions to the dog’s emotional, mental, and even physical health - let alone the damage it caused to the special bond between these humans and their canines.īelow, we’ll dive into dominance training and alpha theory, point out the shortcomings in these approaches, and talk about alternatives that are better for you, your dog, and your shared relationship. “Only one can be alpha,” they thought, “and by golly it’ll be me.”īy dominating the dogs and being an “alpha,” they were able to find ways to stop their dogs from misbehaving. With this new theory in hand, people started training their dogs as if they were working with these zoo-dwelling wolves. And because domestic dogs originated from the ancestors of grey wolves, people believed that wolf social structure was the same as that of domesticated dogs. While watching this unnatural grouping of captive wolves, Schenkel developed a theory about wolf social structure and behavior. This led to fighting, aggression, and a general struggle to form and maintain a harmonious hierarchy. They were placed in sterile zoo environments and forced to interact with each other. These wolves were captured from different portions of the wild, so they all came from different packs and families. Back in the 1930s, behaviorist Rudolph Schenkel studied captive wolves in zoo settings.
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