Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals
"AVSAB is concerned with the recent re-emergence of dominance theory and forcing dogs and other animals into submission as a means of preventing and correcting behavior problems. For decades, some traditional animal training has relied on dominance theory and has assumed that animals misbehave primarily because they are striving for higher rank. This idea often leads trainers to believe that force or coercion must be used to modify these undesirable behaviors."
"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 from it."
"A recent study of dogs (Herron et al. 2008) found that confrontational techniques such as hitting or kicking the dog for undesirable behavior, growling at the dog, performing an “alpha roll,” staring the dog down, and enforcing a “dominance down” frequently elicited an aggressive response from the dog."
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Excerpted from a 2008 PDF leaflet by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior that debunks dominance theory and dog-as-wolf theory.
See the rest here:
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/dominance%20statement.pdf
"AVSAB is concerned with the recent re-emergence of dominance theory and forcing dogs and other animals into submission as a means of preventing and correcting behavior problems. For decades, some traditional animal training has relied on dominance theory and has assumed that animals misbehave primarily because they are striving for higher rank. This idea often leads trainers to believe that force or coercion must be used to modify these undesirable behaviors."
"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 from it."
"A recent study of dogs (Herron et al. 2008) found that confrontational techniques such as hitting or kicking the dog for undesirable behavior, growling at the dog, performing an “alpha roll,” staring the dog down, and enforcing a “dominance down” frequently elicited an aggressive response from the dog."
-----------------------------------------
Excerpted from a 2008 PDF leaflet by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior that debunks dominance theory and dog-as-wolf theory.
See the rest here:
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/dominance%20statement.pdf
