Why Punishing a Growl Is a Bad Idea
Growling is one way dogs express insecurity, and it is often used as a warning. If the growl doesn’t have the intended effect, a bite may follow.
If a dog that growls is then punished with an alpha roll until it is silent, the next time the dog is uncomfortable enough to consider biting, she may suppress her growl to avoid being punished.
If the dog has no warning signal left, she may bite without warning, and the insecurity that caused her to growl in the first place has not been addressed.
Growls are valuable communication tools and are important to acknowledge! We certainly don’t want to encourage a dog to growl, but taking a growling dog seriously is a good idea.
Alpha rolls are ineffective for a variety of reasons. A few of the most important problems with them include:
Alpha Roll FAQs
Alpha-rolling is a topic that creates curiosity and, unfortunately, a lot of confusion. We’ll try to help you understand the technique a bit further by answering some of the most common questions about the subject below.
What Should I Do if I Believe My Pet Was Flipped?
First of all, remember that your pet may still be out there. A missing pet doesnt necessarily mean that it has been flipped or stolen. Keep this in mind if you suspect that your pet has been flipped.
Is it bad to flip dogs?
If you are not familiar with the term, an Alpha Roll is when you physically force your dog onto its side or back into a submissive position and hold it there, supposedly to show them that you are the dominant one in the relationship and they should defer to you.
Advocates of the technique liken dogs to wolves and suggest that to have a successful relationship, you must take charge, or your dog will try to assert its dominance over you.
Science-based, force-free training methods, however, are proven to be more effective and also ensure that you develop a much healthier, happier relationship with your dog.