To Roll, or Not to Roll
By Joe Anderson
The Alpha Roll. It's something we've all heard of. It's probably something we've all seen. It's also probably something some of us have done. Do we all know what the Alpha Roll is? I've seen quite a few Alpha Rolls at the Roundup in our history, and want to take an opportunity to discuss the Alpha Roll.
Let's start with the reasons why people recommend Alpha Rolling your dog.
The following website offers a how-to on how and when to Alpha Roll your dog:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2321893_alpha-roll-aggressive-dog.html
This video demonstrates how to Alpha Roll your dog, and discusses appropriate times to do so.
Using Corrections in Dog Training : Using Dog Roll Corrections
Here are the most common pro-Alpha Roll arguments I've heard:
It's what happens in a wolf pack/It's a natural behavior. There are several arguments against these statements. They're just plain incorrect, honestly. First of all, we have dogs. They are not wolves. They are in-arguably related to wolves, but the same could be said about us and chimpanzees. Does that mean we work the same way? Something I think people sometimes forget, is that we are neither wolves nor dogs. Even if this was a natural behavior for dogs or wolves, we are not dogs or wolves. We don't look like them, smell like them, act like them, or fluently speak their language. The biggest thing we do not have in common with them is the ability to react appropriately, or as quickly. It is impossible for us to deliver the exact same correction that another dog or wolf would, for the right reason at the right time. If I know anything about dog training it's that timing is everything. Also, watch your dog sometime. I haven't ever seen a dog force another dog into a submissive posture. What I have seen are dogs offering submissive postures simply based on the attitude and other body language of the other dog.
It should only be used in extreme cases of serious aggression/when your dog is in the "red zone". Again, there are several things wrong with this mind frame. Firstly, it's an amazing way to get bitten by your own dog. When your dog is in the "red zone", it in essence means they are so upset/over-stimulated that they are completely beside themselves and out of control. The key words here are OUT OF CONTROL, meaning your dog is no longer thinking, they are acting on impulse. Add acting in an aggressive manner on top of that. If your dog is acting that way, and you are suddenly laying on them forcing them to the ground, what can you see happening next? I can see a trip to the emergency room. Personal safety aside, how do you suppose throwing your dog on the ground and/or laying on top of them teaches the right way to behave? I think it's more likely just given them even more negative ammunition to associate with whatever has set them off in the first place.
It teaches your dog that their behavior is inappropriate because you're the pack alpha, not them. I wholeheartedly agree that your dog needs to understand that you are the leader. Quality leadership is a topic of it's own, and while I'd love to discuss it, it'll have to wait for it's own blog post. Being a good leader will boost your dog's confidence and keep things much more peaceful. However, I do not agree that being physically forceful with your dog is the way to achieve this result. You know what really teaches your dog that their behavior is unacceptable? Other dogs. Our dogs best teachers are other dogs. When your dog starts playing too roughly, the other dogs will correct their behavior way better than we ever could. Before we are even able to react the correction has been issued, the apology stated, and the play continues. While I strongly recommend the "leave them to it" technique, I do so with caution. If you do not know your dog well enough, or are seriously concerned with someone's safety, absolutely do intervene.
The following videos discuss why NOT to Alpha Roll:
This first one demonstrates a dog offering submissive body language, brought on by the person's dominant body language. While her body language seems a little over-bearing for how the situation is described, and you can see she's using an electronic collar (which I personally do not recommend), it does give a great picture of a realistic "natural" Alpha Roll.
This video, while taking a comic stance, demonstrates some good cons to Alpha Rolling.
Dog Knows - How to establish the alpha role with your dog
This last video I really like. I've never heard of this guy before, but will definitely have to do some more looking into him. He discusses the same things I have here. Why people recommend the Alpha Roll, and why those things are incorrect.
Dog Training - The Alpha Rollover
What do I think you should do in place of an Alpha Roll? Several things.
- Be a good leader. Techniques for this will be discussed in a future post.
- Know your dog, and their warning signs. The best way to not have to severely correct a behavior is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
- Training, training, training. Teach your dogs as many things you want them to do as possible. This will help you get them out of negative situations, give you an arsenal of positive things they can do to earn a reward instead of the negative behavior, increase your bond, and help you and your dog to know and trust each other. If you don't want your dog to jump on people, teach them sitting gets them all of the attention in the world, and jumping gets them ignored. This will work 1,000 times better than punishing, hitting, or Alpha Rolling your dog.
- A little time out never hurt anyone. When my dogs are getting to that point of out of control and are not acting right, they take a time out. I call them over to me, and ask them for a sit and/or down. Everybody gets a little too worked up sometimes, there is nothing wrong with having your dog take a cool down. Do I physically force my dogs to lay down? No. Do I flop on them and pin them down or shake them around? No. Why? It's unnecessary. I firmly tell them they need to lay down and they do. End of story. They stay with me until I feel they've chilled out and the moment is over and they're off on their merry way.
In the end, it's up to you to decide what's best for you and your dog, but why take the negative and potentially dangerous route, when so many positive options are available?