Positive-Reinforcement Training: A Better Way
Research shows that dogs who are subjected to dominance-based training methods suffer higher levels of stress and anxiety than dogs who are trained using positive reinforcement methods. The theory behind positive reinforcement is simple: Give your dog a reward (food, praise, or play) when he does something that you like, and he quickly learns that good things happen to him when he repeats that behavior. The key here is that the dog is given a choice: if I do “X” (or stop doing “X”), awesome things will happen. The dog is permitted to make that decision on his own, rather than being forced into doing something, which is far less effective. Setting him up to succeed in this way keeps his trust in you intact and strengthens the bond between you instead of eroding it.
Positive-reinforcement training first came on the scene in the mid 1980’s through the work of a marine mammal trainer named Karen Pryor. Later in the early 1990’s, veterinary behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar founded the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, whose guiding principle was: “We promote the use of reward-based training methods, thereby minimizing the use of aversive techniques.” (The definition of “aversive” is anything that causes someone to want to get away from something because it is unpleasant or painful.)
But here’s the really cool thing about using food rewards during training: it actually works to help rewire the brain by raising levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which regulates emotional response. Research shows that these chemical changes in the brain cause dogs to actually learn more quickly and experience less fear and anxiety. It’s a win for the dog (who loves the treat), and a win for us (when he learns more easily what’s expected of him)!
They May Appear Similar, But Dogs Are Not Wolves
Dominance theory is based on a study conducted in the 1930’s and 1940’s by a Swiss animal behaviorist named Rudolph Schenkel, who studied the behavior of wolves in captivity. From his observations, Schenkel concluded that wolves were in constant competition to see who could outrank the others in the group’s social hierarchy. The “winner” was the alpha wolf, who commanded the most respect and aggressively held everyone else in check.
The problem is, wolves in captivity behave very differently from wolves in the wild. Wild wolf packs usually consist of a mated pair and their offspring; the pack may also include 2 or 3 other wolf families. Rather than being competitive, the pack works together to hunt and care for the offspring, and there is very little aggression within the pack. When young wolves grow up, just like human children they eventually leave the pack to start families of their own.
Wolves in captivity behave very differently. When mature wolves are forced to live together for years at a time, unable to get away from each other, they experience a great deal of stress. The tension and competition over resources causes aggressive fights, and some of the strongest wolves become “bullies” who maintain the group hierarchy through displays of aggression.
Unfortunately, the results of this research were then applied to domesticated dogs. But here’s the thing: dogs are not wolves. They are, in fact, quite different species. Eventually the results of Schenkel’s studies were disproved, but by then, the theory of dominance in dogs had become mainstream.
Dominance-based training is based upon one simple school of thought: dominate your dog before he has the chance to dominate you. Because all dogs spend their entire days just looking for signs of weakness in humans, so they can… do what? Psychologically manipulate us and mess with our heads? Practice telepathic mind control? Steal the keys to the car?
Let’s think this through for a minute. What’s in it for our dogs to dominate us? What more could they take that they don’t already have? We provide them with food; a warm, safe place to live; medical care; toys; playtime, walks outside, and mental stimulation; and (hopefully) all the love they can handle. The reason why humans and dogs get along so swimmingly is because we are not in competition with them for social status, and they know it.
Unfortunately, the misguided behavior modification techniques behind dominance-based training that are supposed to prevent dogs from elevating their status over humans usually consist of using punishment, intimidation, and fear – exactly the opposite of what dogs really need to be happy, healthy, well-behaved and well-adjusted companions.
These “training” techniques include the use of:
Sadly, most behavioral problems in dogs don’t stem from a desire to exert power and rank over us; rather, they come from insecurity, fear, and a need to seek safety and comfort. Muzzle grabs and alpha rolls do nothing to assure our dogs that we are in control. Rather, they just make us appear more aggressive, out of control, and untrustworthy, which only increases our dogs’ stress.
Studies have shown that dogs who are punished by being pinned to the ground on their backs or sides experience a sudden flood of the stress hormone cortisol. When this happens, a structure in the brain called the amygdala activates, preparing the dog for fight or flight. When the amygdala is engaged, the brain becomes focused purely on survival, which immediately shuts down all other rational thought, including the learning process.
When this happens, the dog can become so anxious or fearful that he may literally shut down. Those videos you see of dogs being held on their sides “submitting”, or who appear to be calm, are dogs who are actually anything but calm. In reality, they are so insecure, angry, or frightened that they literally freeze, waiting for the threat to go away. If they are continuously pushed beyond this point, they can lash out and bite, which is why so many trainers and dog owners who try to use this training method end up getting bitten.
We hear it all the time. A dog owner says, “I’ve heard, you need to ‘dominate’ your dog or else he won’t stop being aggressive”, etc. Almost every dog owner will hear this particular piece of unsolicited advice at least once (and probably multiple times) over the course of their dog-owning life.
You may be a seasoned dog owner capable of navigating these kinds of conversations with ease, but most people find it disheartening and stressful to hear about “dominance theory” over and over again. It puts an awful lot of misleading weight on a new dog owner’s shoulders. For a moment, you might actually second-guess yourself and wonder if youre missing some confident might and strength that will impress your dog into behaving well.
When a veterinary behaviorist or ethologist says one dog is the “dominant dog” they are referring to an individual animal that has shown to have primary access to the resources of reproductive rights and food among the other animals within its group. This has nothing to do with how your domesticated dog plays tug-of-war, walks through doors first, or jumps on people.
When the average dog owner (or friend or neighbor) says “my dog is trying to be the dominant dog” or “my dog likes to be dominant,” what they are really saying is that they have seen their dog act in physically invasive ways. Essentially, their dog has poor social skills and is bullying other dogs (and sometimes people). This dog is not technically “dominant”. He may be obnoxious, pushy, or aggressive, but these behaviors are often lumped into the “dominant” category.
It’s not likely a clicker trainer will waste time bringing this word up. Clicker training functions on the basis that we (dog owners) already have control of everything our dogs and need and want. Needing to dominate them is essentially a non issue. Instead, clicker training works quickly to make our dogs cooperative companions right from the beginning. Dogs will try a variety of different behaviors to get things that they want. Instead of waiting for them to make a mistake and focus on punishment, clicker trainers use proactive games to help dogs understand how to better communicate about those things. That way they can make better choices when the time is right. With this mindset, you can set a new tone for your training: that of a guide or educator for your dog instead of a warden doling out punishment. There is a whole community of dog trainers who have moved from dominance theory-based training to clicker training. These trainers are referred to as “crossover” trainers.
The Dominance Myth in Dog Training Explained
Do you have a dominant dog on your hands? Some canines will display dominant behaviors as young puppies while others will not show signs of dominance until they are fully grown. Aggression resulting from dominance can be difficult to correct in some dogs and will require consistency, patience, and time commitment. To find out whether you have a dominant pet, learn more about the most common signs of dominant dog behavior here.