Canine Capers Dog Training

06/14/2025

DOGS DO NOT NEED A 'PACK LEADER!'

This is me with a wolf in 2009. The photo was taken at Wolf Park in Indiana when I attended a dog behavior seminar presented by the late Dr. Ray Coppinger. I have also attended educational programs and volunteered at the International Wolf Center (IWC) in Ely, Minnesota.

The IWC was founded by wildlife biologist and wolf researcher, Dr. L. David Mech. I completed a graduate level course in wolf ethology at St. Thomas University in Minnesota with a practicum at the IWC, so have had experience with wolves as well as formal and information education about their behavior.

For the past 15 years, since being on Facebook, I have been trying to educate people about the difference between wolf and dog behavior. Finally, it seems the outdated idea that dogs are 'pack animals' that need an 'alpha' and a 'pack leader' is fading.

But, not entirely! Recently, I have heard several people refer to that old myth as if it were truth. So disappointing. We live in the Information Age, and yet there seems to be a problem with getting people updated.

I get weary of revisiting this, but here goes. Dogs are not 'pack animals.' They are scavengers, foragers, and opportunists. Although dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, dogs are ethologically different from their wolf cousins.

Only wolves can be described as true 'pack animals.' There is more that goes into the definition of 'pack' than simply hanging out in a group. For example, adult male wolves regurgitate for pups that are part of their pack, and the whole pack of wolves works as a team - in hunting and survival in general.

So, while it's true that wolves are pack animals, they do not have an 'alpha,' except in captive, unrelated groups of wolves. Non-captive wolves are comprised of a family unit with the parent wolves being what we call the breeding or mating pair. They are not 'alphas.'

In captive packs of wolves, which are usually comprised of unrelated wolves, a hierarchy needs to be worked out, so an alpha female and an alpha male will emerge.

The idea of dogs being pack animals originated with studies on captive wolves in a Swiss Zoo. Rudolph Schenkel studied wolves in a zoo in the 1930s and 1940s - almost 100 years ago, in an attempt to define the social behavior of wolves.

In 1947, he published a paper, “Expressions Studies on Wolves," in which he drew parallels between dogs and wolves, in discussions about how wolves vie for dominance within the pack.

The problem is, he was observing CAPTIVE wolves, an entirely different scenario than a non-captive pack.

I have seen this behavior firsthand, how captive wolves work out a pack structure, and how that structure can change any time there is a change in the pack membership or the health status of any one member.

The problem with parroting this old meme, that dogs are 'pack animals' who need a 'pack leader,' and to train a dog you need to be the 'alpha,' is that it is all based on bad science. The best we had at the time, but we know better now.

In the name of being the 'alpha' or 'pack leader,' horrendous methods and tools have been used to train and modify behavior in dogs. For example, the infamous, 'alpha roll.' People still do this! If I had a nickel for every dog with aggression someone has told me they alpha rolled to gain dominance, I could retire today!

When wolves and dogs roll on their back they are displaying deference to the animal in front of them or standing over them. The animal is not being actively rolled! We can get ourselves into a lot of trouble when we try to act like canines! Dogs are smarter than that, and all we do when trying to act like the 'alpha' is frighten and confuse the animal. Worse case scenario, the dog becomes more aggressive.

Let me be clear, I do not deny the existence of dominance in the animal world. Dominance exists. It can appropriately be used to describe the relationship between any two animals. The animal that maintains ownership of preferred resources is said to be dominant over the one who does not.

For example, my late dog Ginger, was definitely dominant over my larger dog, Opal.

It is improper to describe any dog as dominant because dominance is only correctly used to describe a relationship, not a personality. A dog who is dominant over another may not be dominant in another dog-dog relationship.

Dog training is based on science, and science is important because it requires that we continually re-evaluate our beliefs to see if what we think we know and understand, is still valid. Science asks questions, and as dog owners and trainers, we should do the same.

Please let go of the outdated idea that dogs are pack animals that need to be dominated. Training based in behavior science gets far better results without harming your dog or your relationship with your dog.

Cindy Ludwig, Canine Connection LLC
Voted Best Springfield Missouri Dog Trainer

06/11/2025

Your Dog’s Behaviour Isn’t Broken, But the Puzzle Might Be

Training a dog isn’t about fixing a problem, it’s about solving a puzzle. Not one of those quick five-minute ones with 12 giant pieces and a picture of a cartoon duck, either. No, dog training is more like piecing together a 5,000-piece jigsaw of the Scottish Highlands in a snowstorm. Tricky, layered, and deeply satisfying when done right.

Every dog is a puzzle made up of unique, interlocking pieces, genetics, lifestyle, history, health, environment, and mental wellbeing. And when one or more of those pieces doesn’t quite fit, it often shows up as what we humans like to call “problem behaviour”.

Chewing the sofa, barking at shadows, lunging at squirrels, pulling on the lead like it’s towing a caravan, all of these are signals that the picture isn’t quite coming together.

🧩 Piece 1: Genetics – It’s in the Dog’s DNA

You can’t train a Collie to ignore movement any more than you can train a Labrador to dislike food. Breed matters. If your dog was born to herd, guard, hunt, or chase, it’s not being naughty when it does just that, it’s being a dog. The key is learning how to channel those instincts in a way that works with you, not against you.

🧩 Piece 2: Biological Needs – Food, Sleep, and the Loo

A hungry dog is a distracted dog. A tired dog is often a grumpy one. And a dog that hasn’t had a proper wee? Best of luck with your training session. Basic needs must be met before you can expect focus or calm behaviour. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, and regular toilet breaks aren’t extras, they’re essentials.

🧩 Piece 3: The Environment – Home Life and Hustle

Dogs are shaped by the world they live in. Chaotic households, inconsistent routines, under-stimulating environments, or overstimulating ones, all have an impact. Think of your dog’s daily surroundings as either puzzle glue or a sledgehammer. Set them up for success with structure, routine, and opportunities for calm exploration.

🧩 Piece 4: The Mind – Past Training and Present Emotions

Anxious, overstimulated, or confused dogs often behave “badly” not because they’re misbehaving, but because they don’t know what else to do. Many dogs are reacting, not misbehaving. Their brain says “I don’t feel safe or settled” so they bark, bolt, or bite. Address the emotion, not just the behaviour.

So, What’s the Solution?

Stop yanking at the corner pieces hoping they’ll magically fit. Instead, step back and look at the whole picture. Ask yourself:
• Am I meeting my dog’s biological and psychological needs?
• Do I understand what my dog was bred to do?
• Am I providing clear boundaries and meaningful outlets?
• Am I reinforcing the behaviours I want or just reacting to the ones I don’t?

Dog training isn’t a quick fix, nor should it be. It’s about aligning instinct with instruction, nature with nurture, and behaviour with balance. And yes, sometimes it’s about realising that the dog chewing your slipper isn’t broken, he’s just trying to tell you he needs something more than another “No!”

Training should be a journey of teamwork, not a power struggle. When all the pieces fit, you don’t just get a well-behaved dog, you get a calm, confident, content companion.

And who doesn’t want that?
www.k9manhuntscotland.co.uk

05/31/2025

There's something truly special about watching a dog light up when they catch a scent.

Scent detection has been at the heart of my dog training journey, and it's been an incredible ride. Seeing dogs grow in confidence and have fun using their noses keeps me inspired every day.

It's not just about the training—it's about the bond we build with our dogs, the trust we share, and the joy we find together.

Beccy Evans is the scent detection expert in Medicine Hat, helping dogs find their true sniffing superpower.

05/29/2025

05/20/2025

I’ve always believed dog training is really about building a strong relationship—and like any good relationship, it starts with trust.

I pay close attention to what the dog is telling me through their body language and behaviour. How they feel matters, and when they feel safe and understood, they’re more open to learning.

I like to start in a quiet, relaxed space so both the dog and the person can learn without pressure. Once that foundation’s there, I take it into the real world—at a pace that works for me and my dog.

At the core of it all is something I call the Magic Triangle:
Trust. Confidence. Motivation.
When those come together, that’s when you start to see real progress—and joy.

Just something I’ve learned over the years that’s really shaped how I work with dogs.

05/10/2025

Does well trained = not aggressive?

NOPE!

If you have owned a dog who barks / growls or otherwise displays space creating behaviours towards other dogs or humans, you've probably heard someone shout something along the lines of " get that thing trained!!"

Dog behaviour is massively misunderstood by the general public, unfortunately hugely due to the popularity of hocus pocus dog training TV programmes.

Here's the thing, the most obedient dogs in the world can still dislike other dogs.

Training tricks, obedience and sports for the most part is pretty easy. It might take time, and it might depend on the natural drives of your dog, but most dogs can reach a high level of obedience with time.

Behaviour ' problems' ( I use that word loosely, as actually these behaviours are completely normal for dogs, and only an inconvenience to humans) are not the same as behaviour such as sit, stay, lead walking.. When a dog struggles to cope on the presence of other dogs/ people/ traffic, this is often a conditioned emotional response. Similar to how you react when a spider falls from a ceiling and lands on you. Conditioned emotional responses are survival techniques, hard wired in the brain to keep us safe. They ensure when we see a certain stimulus (for example, spider) we react with space creating behaviours ( screaming & running) in order to avoid being hurt. They are often learned from a negative experience.

CER's are very difficult to overcome and take lots of time, patience, love and understanding. Working with a trainer will help you to know how to do this safely & effectively, but it will not make the behaviour go away in a few weeks. In fact, when reactivity is caused by isolation or trauma during the critical learning period (0-4 months of age) the dog is likely to suffer with reactivity in some way or another for life, due to the way their brain has developed.

Did you know that physiologically, a reaction in a dog ( barking, lunging) is similar to a panic attack in a human. It you've ever experienced these or seen them happen, does that make you feel differently?

I personally know some insanely well trained sport dogs, who are dog/human aggressive ( but you wouldn't realise, because they are managed very well). On the flip side, I know plenty of dogs who have not had a day of training in their life, who don't struggle with aggression.

As long as the owner Is keeping others safe to the best of their ability, and doing their best to help their dog, they do not deserve any abuse!

So please don't be that person who shouts "get that dog trained!" Be the person who shouts " Dont worry, I'll cross over !" Or " That's okay, I'll wait here while you pass!".

There are a few problems with that statement.

1. Training a reactive / aggressive dog takes months or even years. Some never fully recover. It's not as easy as " just get them trained".

2. That person probably has a much higher level of obedience training than you do, and has worked a hell of a lot harder with their dog than you ever have had to.

3. Well trained doesn't always mean emotionally sound! Dogs can be expertly trained and still be scared!

4. There is a big difference between training and behaviour. Just like there is a big difference between being bad at maths & having agoraphobia.