Three Dogs Training. Teaching Manners, Behaviors, and Relationships.
One of the most misused terms in all of dog training is the term Alpha. I hear this term used over and over again.
Alpha is a scientific term that allows researchers to identify the animal in a social situation who has the most access to the most resources from food to safe sleeping places to reproduction.
Alpha is not about force, aversives, bullying, or dominance.
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Most social organizations have levels of hierarchy to make them run smoothly. When we emphasize humans as “Leader of the Pack” vis-à-vis their dogs this does not involve force or physical control. Traditionally, in most canine and human societies the leader is the one who controls all goods and services – food, play, toys, outside, social activities, etc. And the leader is the one who takes care of the family/pack.
It comes up frequently during my behavioral consultations and I’ve mentioned it before here on the blog, but I can’t say enough good things about D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone). I won’t say that it’s the Holy Grail of resolving commonplace behavior problems but it’s no sippy cup, either.
