Take it with a Big Grain of Kibble

As a dog trainer, I chat with owners on a daily basis. But with the recent addition of a new dog to our family, I’m now in contact with more folks at local parks, pet supply stores, and other places. And everyone’s got stories, advice, and opinions.

A recent standout is the man I spoke with about wolves. Turns out his friend who lives in Oregon has a pure wolf. The friend “has to get down on all fours and bite the wolf on the ear every day, just to remind him who’s boss.” Wow. Sounds like a lot of work, not to mention that it’s pure baloney! As someone who lived with a pure wolf (and two wolfdogs) for ten years, I can tell you that would be the last thing I’d do. My guys knew who was in charge, and that status certainly wasn’t achieved by physically asserting my “dominance.”

Dominance theory lives on at the dog park. I see people subdue their dogs when they’re getting too feisty with other dogs by rolling them on their backs, and all I can say is they’ve been watching the wrong television shows. Some seem to think that the bigger the dog, the stronger a correction is necessary. Again, as the mom of a 120-pound German Shepherd/Rottie/Malamute mix (who recently passed away), I can tell you it just ain’t so; leadership is psychological, not physical. Let’s face it, if it were a matter of asserting leadership through physical strength, a lot of us would be in deep dog doo. Fortunately, there are better ways that also happen to be more effective, such as establishing a bond, creating trust, training, controlling the resources, using clear communication, and using one’s own body language and behavior to that end.

I wonder about the sort of education the average dog owner gets when they visit a dog park or pet store. I have had clients who were sold shock collars by well-meaning pet store clerks, when that’s the last thing their dog needed. I’ve personally heard the pack theory and alpha stuff spouted way too often by people who wholly believe it themselves and want to educate others.

As a dog owner, you should be informed. But filter the information coming at you, whether it’s from television, other dog owners, or even books. Keep up with the latest information and techniques. And regardless of where the information comes from, if there is something you feel at a gut level is just wrong or you don’t want to do that to your dog, don’t. You are your dog’s guardian, the one he looks to as a safe harbor. So the next time you hear the suggestion to roll your dog on his back, or something else that doesn’t feel right, take it with a big grain of kibble and move on.