The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior released a position statement against the use of dominance theory in behavior modification of animals. The lengthy statement provides good scientifically based talking points you can use if/when you find yourself in a discussion with someone who believes in methods like those espoused by people, who we will NOT name.
Among its recommendations:
“The AVSAB recommends that veterinarians not refer clients to trainers or behavior consultants who coach and advocate dominance hierarchy theory and the subsequent confrontational training that follows.”
The link above also includes serious debunking of myths regarding wolf and dog behavior.
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I also want to point out this great graphic created by Dr. Susan Friedman that shows the Hierarchy of Humane Behavior Practices. Anna Bettina (who tweets as @HappyHealthyPup) posted it in her blog by the same name — Happy Healthy Pup.
I hope she’ll start blogging more because she has great ideas, but for now, I’ll just have to be jealous of her great blog template graphics. I wish ours was that pretty.
Thanks for the links. I’m glad to hear that dominance-based training is falling further out of the mainstream. I remember when it was the prevailing method. I shudder to think how a dog like my K or your Lilly would react to dominance-based training. I think K would retreat into a shell.
Wow – thanks for linking to Dr. Friedman’s blog – she’s got some great stuff there! And I’m glad the AVSAB is taking a stand. We’ve been working B through her noise issues using counter conditioning, and so far have conquered the cars starting, the dust buster, the vacuum cleaner, the lawn mower, and the tractor, and there’s nothing else on the list right now.
Counter conditioning is so easy and effective, but at puppy class, while were in the parking lot I noticed some people getting ready to start their cars, so I used it as an opportunity to reinforce the idea that the sound of a car starting = good treats. Another couple in the class thought I was insane – why didn’t I just do it like the guy on TV and force her to stand right next to the starting cars until she gives up? They really weren’t interested in the fact that I had already solved the problem in a positive manner, and my puppy had not *given up* but rather had changed her mind about cars noises being scary once that sound started to predict good treats coming.