Dog Training: Animal Experts Debunk the Alpha-Dog Myth

Comments

• Sangmort

  July 2010 edited July 2010

  I really liked this article, & thought it was well written...I especially like the points outlined in the first few paragraphs.
  
  Where it got sort of...I don't know, "off" to me was this bit:
  
  "Of course, letting Manny's whims rule the roost was one of the couple's big mistakes. The question is to what extent they, or any dog owner, should put him in his place. With Stilwell gearing up for her third American TV season and Millan in the middle of his sixth, the answer may be a lot simpler and less dramatic than producers would have us think. "All I have to be is one position higher than that dog," says Beaver. "I raise him to see me as a leader. Not an alpha, a leader."'
  
  The article is constantly debunking Caesar Millan [ which I have no problem with lol ] but Caesar's very well-known slogan is, "Be the Pack Leader" So I'm not sure where the difference really is, leader or pack leader...the article doesn't really elaborate except to say "not alpha." KWIM?
  
  Also, the whole "be one position higher than that dog" still sounds like Alpha theories to me...
  
  I don't know, I feel like I'm missing something. lol ~
• BradA1878

  July 2010 edited November -1

  Yea, that quote is kinda stupid IMHO. I agree with you. I read that as well, but then realized it was a quote from that person, so I just assumed that person was a dbag. LOL
  
  I did really like their point on the over-use of the term "aggression" tho, I thought it was great they made that point.
  
  ----
• shibamistress

  July 2010 edited November -1

  Ugh, I read the comments. Why do I do that? Obviously people just love the idea of the alpha, and also love making opinionated comments that make no sense.
  
  Yeah, I didn't get the point of "one position higher than that dog" either....
• BradA1878

  July 2010 edited November -1

  Yes, the comments made my blood boil.
• the_november_rain

  July 2010 edited November -1

  I think one aspect of the whole alpha thing that some people don't think about is that many people want to dominate their dog and be their alpha leader. You know what I mean? In a way it feeds their ego or need to have power/control over something. So even if lots of articles or books are written debunking the alpha myth or you have trainers telling you to use +R, people still want to be alpha and beat down on the dog.
• Calia

  July 2010 edited November -1

  LoL, I love this comment:
  
  " I asked God if dogs really descended from wolves, the reply was
  "Does Paris Hilton's Chihuahua look like a wolf to you?" "
• renae

  July 2010 edited November -1

  I thought this article was a joke. I had to laugh while reading it. Loved most of the comment, especially the liberal ones. lol