"Alpha" = "Archaic" = "Abuse"

By Catherine M. Zehner, CDT

When wolf research David Mech coined the term “alpha wolf” decades ago to refer to the major breeding male in a social group of wolves, he could not know the fallout it would eventually cause for the family pet dog. Abuse. Behavioral problems. Surrender to shelters. Euthanization.


Dr. Mech has since pleaded for pet dog owners to abandon the term and the cottage industry of popular training techniques that have sprung up around it. You can watch his video here: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNtFgdwTsbU)

Unfortunately, the term is wildly popular with pet dog owners unfamiliar with the research and science at the very base of all behavioral theory and learning.

The Association of Pet Dog trainers has now come out with a position statement on the resurgance of the use of “dominance” doctrines in pet dog training.

You can view it here: http://www.apdt.com/about/ps/dominance.aspx

Please spread the word. Stop unecessary abuse and damage to your human relationships with pet dogs.