#9 Dominance Training Theory Should Be Hulk Smashed Out Of Existence
What is Dominance Training Theory?
Dominance Training Theory is a method of training that places the human in the role of pack leader, or Alpha, and the dog in a submissive role. It is based on the idea that dogs are pack animals like wolves and therefore need a rigid hierarchy to perform well. It often uses intimidation to teach the dog appropriate and consistent behaviors and tends to be punitive by nature. Food rewards are often discouraged, seen as a bribe. The owner is encouraged to show dominance by looking their dog in the eye, rolling them over onto their back, entering and exiting doorways first, and eating first. Shock collars, prong collars, and other punitive training devices are often associated with DTT.
Most DTT users I've met absolutely love their dogs. They want them to be safe and happy and genuinely care for their well being. These are not bad people, simply misinformed people. Advocates of DTT such as Cesar Milan, who I believe truly loves dogs but lacks the proper education to train them, have helped to spread this harmful way of teaching into the mainstream. It's outdated science and no dog trainer who engages in continuing education (that is, keeping up with behavioral and technological research relating to our craft) would recommend it.
The (Faulty) Science Behind It
DTT was based on observations of wolves. Research showed that wolf packs were organized into a very rigid structure, with a dominant male or mating pair and their underlings. Behaviors such as eating first, staring other wolves down, and rolling them over onto their back were all indicative of an alpha male, a pack leader.
There's just one problem...
All of this research was based on wolves in captivity, not natural wolf packs. In the wild, wolf packs actually look a lot more like human families. There's a mom, dad, and their children. Sometimes they'll take in a few other family members, but generally a wolf pack mirrors a nuclear family. The children grow up, find mates, and start their own pack. Dominance and submission is never forced. Deference behaviors are offered freely by the children, and the wolf that eats first is the wolf that needs it. For example, pregnant females and mothers will typically eat first. They may also eat together, as a family.
In captivity, wolves were thrown into a crowded area with multiple strangers. Fights broke out as wolves had to decide how to distribute resources in ways that would never come up in the wild, where each family would have their own territory. For some, it made more sense to fight for food, water, and shelter so that they could better provide for their families. For others, it made more sense to offer deference behaviors. Studying these wolves would be the equivalent of studying an American prison and applying your findings to all of humanity.
Make that two problems...
Dogs are not wolves. Sure, they may have similarities. But many mammals do. Dog training should be based on dog behavior. Dogs are omnivores, scavengers, and they're actually not pack animals. Dogs in the wild often live by themselves, or occasionally with a closely bonded friend. Why? Because when you're a scavenger in an urban environment, you're more likely to survive without competition for your scraps.
That being said, dogs are a genetically engineered species. They are not products of nature. Humans have engineered them to offer deference behaviors to humans. They are easily socialized and adapt quickly to strange environments. We really have created an amazing animal, and they deserve recognition for that. They can learn human body language, vocal language, and often read emotions better than their human counterparts. They learn more about their humans than most humans will ever bother to learn about them.
They are also completely at our mercy. When you take a dog into your home, you are accepting responsibility for its behavior, its health, and its happiness. They will try so hard to figure out what you want from them, but it's YOUR job to foster that relationship.
Trial By Combat
Put a shock collar on a human. Now try and get them to perform an action without telling them what that action is. In fact, you're not allowed to speak or offer any sort of hint at all. Any time they do something wrong, shock them. I guarantee you it won't take long for the human to stop moving, afraid of making a wrong choice. Fear of failure is incompatible with problem solving.
While you can traumatize a person or animal into learning what NOT to do (a severe beating will keep anyone out of the kitchen!), all the subject has learned is to avoid pain. They have not learned what to DO, only what NOT to do. And there's a huge difference! Not to mention, your subject may process your "lesson" in ways you did not intend. Did he gather that the kitchen was scary? Or that YOU are scary? Does he think that you simply don't want to share the kitchen, and that he has to wait his turn (until you're out of sight of the kitchen)? Controlled by fear, the dog will react emotionally rather than logically. His emotional response may not be what you're looking for.
Trial and Error
So what can you do instead? Understand that dogs are companions. They are partners in crime, family members. They are equals. Should you be the leader? Absolutely! Dogs cannot hope to navigate a human world with human rules without guidance. But dominance should never have to be forced. Submission should be freely offered. If it isn't, you need to look at the relationship between you and your dog.
Instead of putting a shock collar on your human friend, let's pretend you used words instead. Just one word, though. "Yes!" It's like a game of hot or cold, without the cold. The closer they get to doing what you want, the more you reinforce it. "Yes, yes, yes!" With that much positive energy, they're going to try all sorts of new things as they mentally work out what you want from them. You can further keep the game fun by giving them a dollar every once in a while, the closer they get to your goal. Then when they hit the goal, give 'em a twenty. Super motivating, right? I'd get on stage for that.
If you have a good bond with your dog, many of them will do things just to make you happy. That being said, they have their own lives. Their own wants and needs. You don't go to work just to not get paid, do you? Hell no. Money is motivation. Money is survival. To most dogs, food is their currency. To others, toys, or praise, or any combination therein. Anything your dog wants in that moment can be a reward.
The point is to encourage your dog to learn. Let them try something new. Let them make mistakes. Let them use their critical thinking skills. Then they will learn skills that will help them in multiple areas of life. For example, my dog Bear has learned that I love it when he sits. How does he know that? I tell him. Every time I see him sit I praise him. I offer him happy energy, body language, and tone of voice. Then when he wants something, he sits automatically because he knows that is a good way to politely communicate with me. He knows that if he barks for attention, I will leave the room. If he puts his head in my lap, I will pet him. If he knocks on the backdoor, I will let him outside.
Positive reinforcement (the introduction of something good in order to ensure a behavior is repeated) has been proven to be more consistent and effective than negative reinforcement (the removal of something bad to ensure a good behavior, for example you stop tugging on a choke chain when the dog stops pulling). The former teaches your dog that walking by you is AWESOME and should be done like, all the time. The latter teaches your dog that walks are stressful and the conclusions they draw after that vary widely and may change over time.
Negative punishment (withdrawing something good to stop a behavior) has likewise been proven to be more consistent and effective than positive punishment (adding something unpleasant to stop a behavior). I mentioned earlier that if Bear barks for attention, I leave the room. He quickly learned that was not the way to get my attention, and switched tactics. Now he comes to my knee and sits politely. Shocking him when he barks may shut him up, but he will have learned to avoid the thing that causes pain whereas Bear learned how to better effectively communicate because he wasn't afraid to fail. Dogs bark for a reason, and if you don't give them an alternative way to communicate a need it will be repressed. That is not mentally healthy and can turn into other behavior issues or even turn your dog into a ticking time bomb, sparking aggression.
When looking online for training advice or seeking an in person trainer, always looks for trainers who believe in choice training and positive methods. These are the methods backed by science and these are the methods that will develop a healthy, strong, and growing bond between you and your dog. And, of course, I am always happy to help out! ^_^
Remember:
You don't have to eat first to show your dog you're in charge. You can eat when and where you please.
You don't have to enter or exit through a doorway first to show you're in charge. Your dog should wait for your cue either way, because you have awesome communication skills.
When a dog pulls on a leash, it's not because they're trying to usurp your authority. They have four legs to your two. You're just slow. With patience and practice, they can learn the self control necessary to slow down to your pace. Prong, choke, or shock collars are NEVER needed.
There is no breed or situation that requires punitive training methods with dogs. Positive training and choice training work well on all breeds, aggressive dogs, service dogs, and even guard and protection dogs. I've done it.
