There’s a technique in dog training known as the “alpha roll” in which the handler forces the dog into a “submissive” posture, rolling the dog onto his back and pinning him there until he ceases struggling. The idea is to show the dog “who’s boss” and thereby make the dog more “obedient.” It’s all too often recommended (by misguided trainers and veterinarians) as a way to deal with dog aggression.

This technique is not a part of “positive training” and causes more problems that it could ever “cure.” The “alpha roll” is based on a misunderstanding of some observations of wolf culture. The people who promote the “alpha roll” as a “natural” means of gaining a dog’s compliance completely miss the fact that in wolves (and in dogs) the submissive posture is one that’s willingly adopted by the animal signalling submission. (more…)