When we know better, we need to do better

[Sierra Newfs]

A post from the AVSAB's (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) blog worth passing along.

http://avsabonline.org/blog/view/when-we-know-better-we-need-to-do-better1

DECEMBER 10, 2012
by Miranda Bourque
Category: Dog Behavior
When we know better, we need to do better

These articles force the reader to think critically. We are inundated with information in the popular media that when there is a behavioural issue, we need to dominate the dog. We also need to act as the alpha wolf would in the wild. Not going to lie, I want to tear my hair my hair out strand by strand when I hear this. Not only are the parental wolves in the wild now referred to as the breeding male (father) and breeding female (mother), they are considered to live in family groups where the offspring defer to their parents. Plus, the term dominance is a description of an interaction, not a diagnosis.

We need to learn to be more respectful and humane with our interactions with the canine species. Only then can we have a mutually beneficial relationship.

Dr. Karen Overall's articles:

Dumbed down by dominance, Part 1
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dv...minance/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/762103

Dumbed down by dominance, Part 2: Change your dominant thinking
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=767068&pageID=1&sk=&date=

 

[NewfMom]

Good articles - thanks for sharing them

 

[wrknnwf]

Brilliant. I only wish this message would get through.

 

[AubreyMo]

The sad truth of it is, a lot of these "bad behaviors" that people use dominance for could easily be solved with consistency on the human's part. No need to lord over the dog. Treat it with respect and give it consistency and you'll have a totally different animal. Loved the articles, thanks for sharing!

 

[R Taft]

Brilliant. I only wish this message would get through.

Maybe one day...if we all keep pushing the cart uphill, one day we will get to the downhill :lol:

I think dominance is what wrecked both Annabelle and Lukey...it made Annabelle aggressive and Lukey timid. It has taken me so much time to reverse these two problems. Funnily enough I think it is easier to re-train a aggressive dog, compared to reversing a timid dog. i seem to have got Annabelle (and a few other dogs) out of the aggression caused by bad training, but timidity returns often when something just happens out of the blue. I think, because Annabelle did not have fear aggression and is still confident. Poor old Lukey was mentally destroyed and still has moments when he gets timid moments when people are loud or aggressive.

Mind you I think the alpha term when used correctly as an passive leader is still OK, but Alpha now has so many BAD connotations, that I can only call it Good Leadership now. Because when people hear Alpha they think "push him down" and "dominate". Which is sad for what should be a good term.
So I train people to have relationship of good Leadership where the dog/s is/are happy to follow and interact and do things for them. Which in nature is still Alpha, but a gentle Leader to a group/single animal/s......

 

[wrknnwf]

Well put, Ronnie!