Interesting Article

KeeperBoy · 08-19-2009, 08:45 AM

I found an interesting article on dominance training. We've never tried it with Keepers (and Boo is scared of her own toots, so I don't imagine it would go over well with her either).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0521112711.htm

daisy'smom · 08-19-2009, 09:28 AM

I totally agree with this article. I see this all the time when I go to the dog park. The problem with the pack leader training as I see it is that WE ARE NOT DOGS! It is just like when people put the dogs on their sides and hold them down (that makes me crazy) I was watching Victoria Stillwell (Its Me Or The Dog) the other day and she addressed that subject. She brought out that in the wild when a dog lays on its side in submission it is done voluntarally.

jmacek07 · 12-03-2009, 10:18 AM

I personally am not a fan of dominance training. I think Dr. Ian Dunbar does a great job of explaining better methods. Search dog friendly training and you should see his videos on the subject.

Doreen · 12-03-2009, 10:42 AM

So do you not think that humping is not a sign of trying to be dominant as I've been told all these years?

KeeperBoy · 12-03-2009, 12:22 PM

I think dog humping dog can be a form of communication between them, playing, dominance, whatever. My issue is with people doing things to assert their dominance over their dog, especially in a physical way. I guess I would have a problem if someone humped their dog, lol, but it's usually the people with a rolled up newspaper or electric collar.

Ron · 12-03-2009, 12:53 PM

interesting read for sure

Dragon · 12-03-2009, 01:05 PM

[QUOTE=KeeperBoy;12218]I guess I would have a problem if someone humped their dog, lol, but it's usually the people with a rolled up newspaper or electric collar.[/QUOT

you have never seen anyone humping their dog before?

Ruby Red · 12-03-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisy'smom

I totally agree with this article. I see this all the time when I go to the dog park. The problem with the pack leader training as I see it is that WE ARE NOT DOGS! It is just like when people put the dogs on their sides and hold them down (that makes me crazy) I was watching Victoria Stillwell (Its Me Or The Dog) the other day and she addressed that subject. She brought out that in the wild when a dog lays on its side in submission it is done voluntarally.

Tanny, in my experience not all dogs voluntarily or willingly submit to a dog that is higher ranking. I have seen it where a dog lacks the knowledge/experience - maybe through a lack of socialisation to understand when and to whom or even how it should submit. In this case the more ‘dominant’ dog will physically bully/push the other dog down and pin it – but never leave a mark. Sometimes a dog will challenge another for the dominant position in which case a fight usually occurs – mostly noise, but it can go to blood - have seen both cases a couple of times.

Ruby Red · 12-03-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeeperBoy

I found an interesting article on dominance training. We've never tried it with Keepers (and Boo is scared of her own toots, so I don't imagine it would go over well with her either).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0521112711.htm

This article whilst interesting has been heavily criticised for focusing on such a small group of just 19 male neutered dogs that were in shelters. The study did not include any bitches – spayed or otherwise, entire dogs, or dogs actually living with owners. This study basically claims that dogs learn through experience rather than through a wish to be dominant.

Have a look at these studies: [they go down the whole page] http://dog-training.suite101.com/art...and_breed_bans

The conclusion of the Cordoba study points to the fact that over 40 per cent of dominant aggression issues were was down to the owners lack of knowledge on what to do and their inconsistency in their training methods or a failure to employ any training methods.

Personally I think many [not all] dog related/dominance issues can be resolved through exercise, discipline and then affection [Cesar Milan]. I use the Nilif system [most of the time] with regard to the discipline: http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm
.
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KeeperBoy · 12-03-2009, 07:21 PM

NILIF is great. Personally, I hate Cesar Milan. He is out of date. Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnel, Victoria Stillwell are all much more my speed. I will not physically punish or dominate my dog. The whole dog journal had a great article about it in the past issue.

While this study was small it was an interesting read it is not the only source or article on positive dog training. Keepers is a huge success story for positive reinforcement. We tried several methods of training with him, including a prong collar and other punishment based methods of training and I can say first hand they didn't work. If he behaved better it was out of fear, that is not the relationship I want to have with my dog. But hey, I'm just one person and Keepers is just one dog, albeit a happy, well adjusted, agility loving, walk in the park going- one. Do whatever floats your boat.