Dominance controversy

ARTICLE: Dominance
Virtually everyone who started as a dog trainer (in the past) was taught and learned traditional dog training; techniques similar to those used by Cesar Millan (National Geographic's, The Dog Whisperer). It's how most dogs were trained.

Because of this background, many seasoned trainers have first hand experience as to why and when punishment-based techniques might work, the pitfalls, and why and when other techniques work better.

Traditional training techniques are based on the idea that humans must become the dominant leader and rule their pets the way a wolf might rule a pack. Note, traditional training assumes most misbehavior in dogs is due to the dog trying to be dominant. Traditional training employs techniques a wolf (since dogs are seen as having a social structure similar to wolves) might perform in a wolf pack.

To evaluate if this reasoning is valid, you must first understand what dominance is. --read the whole article

Then download chapter 2 from the book, Low Stress Handling and Restraint of Dogs and Cats. --link

Read the BOOK: Dominance in Dogs? Fact or Fiction, by Barry Eaton
Have you read books or watched TV shows that say your dog will seek to dominate you, your family members and other pets unless you become the alpha and put him in his place. This theory says that since dogs evolved from wolves and wolves form packs with strict pecking orders and battle each other to become the pack leader, your dog may do the same within your household.

Author Barry Eaton separates the facts from the fiction regarding alpha and dominance in pet dogs. He presents the reader with details from recent research into the behavior of wolves and the impacts of selective breeding on the behavior of dogs. The results may surprise you and will surely inform you. --link