We are not Alpha dogs (Pack Leaders) we are just awesome role models.

DEBUNKING THE DOMINANCE THEORY

In the early 1970's Dr David Mech made the claims that Wolves and therefore dogs live in a heirachical world where the Alpha dog is the leader of the pack. His work was based on previous studies in the 30's and 40's by a Swiss Behaviourist called Rudolph Schenkel who worked with captive wolves. Mech even published a book titled The Wolf: The ecology and behaviour of an endangered species, explaining all the Dominant behaviours he had noticed while studying wild wovles in North America.

His research was picked up by many dog trainers and has been absorbed into modern day dog training by the lay public. People like Cesar Milan have popularised this notion of Alpha dominance in domesticated and pet dogs. Which has lead to the promotion of the Alpha roll or pinning your dog down on to the ground to show him who is boss!

BUT IT IS COMPLETELY INCORRECT AND ALWAYS WAS AND SHOULD NEVER BE USED WITH DOGS.

Listen to my podcast on the history of this dog training myth: