The �dog Pack� Myth (train With Rewards, Not With Pain)

The full article:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/should-dangerous-dog-breeds-be-banned/14915115/The-dogs-are-pack-animals-myth

I also don’t mind dogs walking first through doorways. I do like to teach them to wait first just so I can make sure there is nothing on the other side that could startle the dog and cause them to react. But once I deem it safe then, sure they can walk ahead. Unless they are an avid puller which then doesn’t allow the walk to be enjoyable for me. Then I would like to teach them to walk nicely on a leash – and not with a slip lead, choke chain or prong collar. I like to teach dogs, not abuse them.

So where does this idea that dogs are pack animals come from? If most people and a lot of trainers promote this then it must have some basis in science, right? Wrong. We used to think they were until we actually studied feral dogs. We even got it wrong about wolves too.

The initial study which David Mech conducted on captive wolves suggested packs were formed through aggressive displays. The alpha would simply be the most aggressive and therefore had won that position as the alpha wolf. But when wild wolves were studied the results were completely different. There was very little aggression and the ‘wolf pack’ was very similar to a human family unit we see in us today.  Mum, dad and the kids. Mum and dad raise the kids through cooperation, not intimidation.

More…

Along with dogs being pack animals you will usually hear people/trainers talk about how dogs interact with each other and therefore we should take this on board and start acting like a dog too. What? We are one of the most intellectually developed species with huge brains and yet all we can think of to train dogs is to act like them? It’s absurd. I’ve heard trainers suggest using your hand to create a dog bite whenever your dog misbehaves because that’s how the mother dog does it. Right, okay, shall we start eating their poop too then?

Here’s the dangerous part if you start using your hand to physically ‘correct’ your dog. Hands start becoming associated with bad things. The one person your dog should be able to trust – you – is now hitting or ‘biting’ with their hands. Is there really any wonder why so many dogs are scared of strangers and biting them? If on occasion the owner causes negative things to happen with their hands who knows what strangers are capable of?

If you think your dog is a pack animal it also leads you down the slippery slope of wanting them to enjoy being with other dogs when they perhaps don’t. Some dogs love other dogs and some just don’t. They are typically very social so will usually like to seek out companionship with other dogs, people and it’s not unheard of for dogs to befriend chickens, goats and even rats – now if I was a pack-oriented species the only way a rat would be my friend is if they were in my belly.

Dogs are much more likely to cooperate not dominate. They just do what works for them. Aggression usually stems from fear not because they think they’re the boss. If they growl when you come near their food, it’s because they are scared of losing it and they are just doing what is natural to them.

If they like to sit on the sofa it’s for the same reason you do – it’s comfy. If they react to other dogs it could be a sign they are nervous and do not know how to behave or they have not been given a better option to walk away. Most of the behaviours dogs display are simply learned. If it works it will be repeated and this applies from aggression to jumping up at the dinner table.

So do we really need to be a pack leader for our dogs if they aren’t that way inclined? I’m definitely not a pack leader and yet I can teach dogs to behave how I want them to using force free methods.

I got rid of my choke chain years ago and will never use one ever again. I use rewards like food and toys and I’m happy to admit that. I’d rather my dog come back to me because they are expecting a piece of chicken as opposed to them coming back to me because they think I will get mad if they don’t.

Rewards are so much more powerful than punishments within any species. Use your brain and don’t train with pain.

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2016/06/04/the-dog-pack-myth-train-..

Tweet

AnimalCare

AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

More Articles   |   Pets For Adoption   |   Website