Bark N Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk

Dog Behavior and Training - Dominance, Alpha, and Pack Leadership - What Does It Really Mean? By Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB & Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM    Behavior Despite the fact that recent studies have reevaluated hierarchy models and have modified our understanding of behavior in the wild wolf, the concept of a hierarchal relationship among dogs and humans continues to be perpetuated. To ensure a well functioning family group, a family needs to know more about canine behavior than outdated strategies focusing on pack structure. In fact recent research has clearly indicated that the longstanding theory which maintained that alpha wolves control through aggression and relentless management is more myth than fact. These theories have been refuted by wolf biologists and if this theory is no longer considered true for wolves, then how can it be considered true for our dogs? New research on canine learning patterns indicates dogs understand us far better than we understand them. How do wolve