Alpha Rolls

 

Alpha Rolls

When I was out in town yesterday I talked to an older lady about dogs (surprise, I know).

She spoke about growing up with all kinds of dogs and the dogs she currently cares for. She mentioned a few "tips" she learned from her and her father's experience when choosing puppies over the years.

One of these tips was to "roll the puppy onto its back and hold it down by the throat" to "test" the dog's "dominance or submissiveness".

This behavior is known as the "alpha roll". Originally suggested as a way to gain control over another wolf. The Monks of New Skete wrote a classic dog training book that described the alpha roll.

The alpha roll behavior was observed in a study where wolves were kept in very unnatural circumstances. This included being kept in close proximity within a small enclosure. This area contained different packs of wolves. Etc. This, of course, led to many abnormal and intense behaviors.

It’s important to realize:

• Dominance and submission are aspects of behavior, not personality traits. Dogs can show dominant behavior, but they are not “dominant dogs”.
• The act of submission, such as exposing the abdomen, is a VOLUNTARY act. It's not a position that is forced by another.
• What the Alpha Roll WILL accomplish is decreased trust and bond between the dog and the human.