By Heidi Clayton
Numerous studies have proven that positive-based dog training works better than confrontational techniques. One confrontational method that has lost credibility is the “alpha roll,” made popular by the Monks of New Skete dog training book published in 1978 called “How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend”. Thankfully for dogs and puppies everywhere, many studies show that the monks got this one wrong.
Alpha rolling is physically rolling a dog onto their back and holding them in that position until they submit to you being in charge. It is based on the monks’ theory that in wolf packs the “alpha” often exerts dominance by taking the other party by the neck, flipping them onto their back and holding them there until submission. This technique supposedly exerted their dominance in the pack.
One of the major flaws with this premise is that even if this did occur in wolf packs, they are of the same species as each other. We are not dogs. Dogs know we are not dogs, and we do not speak the same language. As humans, we walk upright and not on four feet. We do not greet our dogs by smelling their rear ends. Our relationships with dogs are more of a hierarchy, not as members of the same pack.
Establishing a hierarchical relationship is when we teach them things like waiting for us to put the food dish down before eating or asking for them to wait before running through an open door.
Wolf experts also point out that packs are not randomly gathered together collections of wolves but are family units with matriarchs or patriarchs. Harmony within the pack is not maintained by individuals exerting dominance but by the other pack members showing deference to the leaders. This is shown by pack members approaching the leader and voluntarily rolling onto their backs as opposed to the monks’ suggestion that the leader shows displeasure by putting other members of the pack on their backs. Wolf experts say that leaders keep the peace by calmly controlling resources, which is similar to reward-based training.
The alpha roll will force your dog to choose fight or flight. Of the two, I suppose one hopes that the dog will experience the flight feeling and not the fight. Flight would be the dog squirming and struggling to get upright and away. The fight will be the dog feeling they need to defend themselves from this attack and try to bite the offender. Held down long enough, the dog appears to submit to being physically overpowered. You may think that you have succeeded in teaching your dog who is boss when all you have done is manhandle them.
One of the biggest reasons you should not alpha roll your dog is doing so can get you bit. Job Michael Evans is a former New Skete monk who no longer advocates the alpha roll because too many owners have been bitten by their dogs doing it. Cesar Millan, albeit unwittingly I am sure, also makes it clear on his show that alpha rolling is dangerous. He first said that this should not be tried at home, then he actually was bitten on national television. I don’t agree with Milan on just about everything, but I highly suggest you follow his sage advice: do not alpha roll your dogs!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
