PACK Theory

There is a hot debate in the dog training world over which training techniques are the most humane and effective in dealing with behaviour problems in dogs. This controversy has existed for decades but has been recently fuelled by the growing popularity of a well-known dog psychologist’s use of pack theory and dominance and is dividing dog lovers all over the world.

Many dog trainers, Animal Behaviourists and other canine care professionals acknowledge that in spite of the specifics, the attention has been a powerful tool in demonstrating to dog owners that their dog’s behaviour can be changed. However, these same professionals are apprehensive about the methods being shown on television and explained in books, as many of them are known to create and exacerbate existing aggression in dogs.

The Truth About Dominance

Dominance was once the catch-all for dog behaviour. It was believed to be both the cause and the solution for all canine behaviour problems. The theory was born from the observation and study of captive wolves in the 1940's and was brought to the public in the 1978 publication How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend by the Monks of New Skete. This theory, in combination with a general lack of understanding of dog behaviour lead to an evolving fear that our dogs could turn on us, causing us physical injury if we failed to "establish our dominance." Techniques like the “alpha roll” and “leash popping” corrections were recommended as key components of how owners could effectively "establish dominance" over their dogs.

There are grave issues with modeling modern dog training practices after these beliefs:

I. The original 1940’s wolf studies were flawed. They were a study of captive wolves that had been captured from different wolf packs, creating an unnatural and unstable and social pack dynamic. These circumstances combined to provide a skewed and grossly inaccurate view of normal wolf pack behaviour.

II. Dogs are not wolves. Domestic dogs as we know them today are a distinct species that split away from wolves over 14,000 years ago to follow their own evolutionary course.

III. More recent observational studies of wolves in their natural habitats have revealed that a wolf pack is constructed of a dynamic that resembles a family unit: the breeding pair and their offspring, who stay with the pack until 2-3 years of age before separating to start their own family pack. Ultimately, most wolves will become the "alpha" of their pack once they successfully mate and breed.

IV. Naturalistic observation of wild dogs worldwide has confirmed that dogs are social animals complete with ritualized displays of dominance and submission that prevent conflict. It is typically their displays of submission that keep the peace, not displays of dominance.

V. Further study of wild dog populations show that they are more scavengers than predators, living more solitary lives than wolves, rarely forming packs. When they do develop packs, they are loosely structured with animals joining and leaving randomly and frequently, a trait not seen in wolf packs.

VI. We are human not dog or wolf, so when we attempt to copy the behaviour of either species, we are genetically doomed to fail. We do not have the physiology, timing or accuracy necessary to mimic the signals and corrections used by dogs to keep the peace.

VII. Dominance theory is unclear and often contradicts itself. If a dog is labelled dominant because of aggressive behaviour and the solution is to project calm-assertive energy to become the dominant; that would imply that a dominant dog would behave calmly and assertively or that we should behave aggressively to be dominant.

VIII. Researchers that study and work with wolves and wolf-dogs (formerly called wolf hybrids) quickly discovered that wolves will not accept aversive handling from humans. Dominance theory believes in using these methods with dogs because of their root in wolf behaviour and yet these same methods result in aggressive responses from wolves.

IX. We have also learned, through research and observation, that the ONLY time that wolves or dogs in the wild will use the Alpha Roll technique of forcibly rolling another over on its side or back is during a serious fight that usually results in death.

X. The Monks of New Skete, the original supporters of dominance-based pack theory, later expressed great regret over the addition of the Alpha Roll technique in their 1976 book. Although they still felt it was a useful tool they said that most people over used it, as it was only to be used on the very most severe cases and always in conjunction with positive reinforcement.

This evidence combines to strongly discredit the idea that dogs are simply diluted versions of wolves. Dominance-based pack theories and force-based training methods are exhausting to implement, are confusing to understand, can be devastating to our relationships with dogs, and are potentially dangerous to the physical safety of dogs and humans. As stated by Myrna Milani, DVM, author and veterinary ethologist:

"...the mark of a true leader is the ability to control without force. And in fact, wild animals who rely on brute force to maintain their status typically get eliminated from the gene pool because this approach requires so much energy."

There are an abundance of humane ways to establish rules and boundaries for your dog that don't involve force or intimidation tactics. The majority of dogs will not look for control if they are raised with well considered boundaries.