07/05/2021
Dogs are not pack animals, as much as the myth tries to perpetuates itself through our media.⠀
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It’s important to understand this because this myth of dogs being pack animals sometimes leads to actions that can be harmful for our dogs. ⠀
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For example:⠀
🔹 Making dogs go on large group “pack walks” where dogs are wearing aversive equipment and have no way of creating space from one another, and are therefore being flooded.⠀
🔹 Thinking we need to exert “dominance” or be the “alpha” by using aversive corrections, “alpha rolling”, and being intimidating when that actually just makes us look like a bully to our dog.⠀
🔹 Labels like “alpha” and “dominant” leads us to think that dogs behave the way they do for some higher purpose or to defy us and this causes us to use aversive methods and intimidate them to “put them in their place”.⠀
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So, how should we think about our relationship with our dogs if we’re not a “pack”?⠀
🤝 You and your dog are a team that works together and understands each other the best you can without the need for threats.⠀
🤝 You and your dog are a family and as your family, you’ll help your dog feel safe and feel safe around you.⠀
🤝 You and your dog are sentient beings with your own needs and desires and you can absolutely work together to meet those needs and wants.⠀
🤝 You are a teacher and your dog is your learner and it’s on you to teach your dog what you’d like them to do and reward them for it every step of the way so they really learn what you want.⠀
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It’s time for us to ditch this outdated theory and myth and really work towards a better, more understanding, and more compassionate relationship with our dog. ⠀
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ID: Curved text on top says “Dogs are not pack animals”. In the middle is a cartoon graphic of a woman and a dog on her lap. There are 4 bubbles with text in them that say from right to left: “Dogs form loose associations with one another!”, “There is no fixed hierarchy in dog-dog relationships”, “Your dog knows you’re not a dog.”, and “You don’t have to be the “alpha”/“pack leader”.