I look at the “settle” as a command the dominant pup must lay flat and to the side but not on its back. It is not a slam or a violent action. If you actually “play’ with your puppy on the floor then you should get plenty of chances for the pup to be accustomed to handling and the settle exercise will go more smoothly.

You NEVER EVER want the puppy to think you are out to harm it. A true Alpha roll is about teaching the dog you can kill it if you want and I mean right now…not what I want right now for sure.

By teaching a puppy it can be touched and handled by “play” wrestling bonds the canine to the family members and help the dog when he or she is older to be tolerant of your handling and I think handling errors too. It seems very natural and progressive to them maybe and carries over into adulthood. You also get a chance to teach them about bite inhibition (I don’t mean grabbing them by the mouth either.)

When the puppy bites too hard just say with a loud “NO” or “Ouch” ( I use no.) and stand straight up fast. Fold your arms to your chest and totally ignore the puppy until it settles down and looks inquisitively back at you. Trust me few puppy do not get the message and no harm done to them.

I believe that teaching the puppy not to bite others or me in the family hard during social play via this method does not diminish future bite work potential. What it does doe is send a clear NON-verbal to the puppy in a very Alpha-Parent kind of way. The whole ‘Alpha dominant’ issue and label always troubles me. Dogs do have social order but it is not without its own rules and flexibility within that order.

I rather think in terms of family order and not get carried away by the whole Pack Dominance theories that have been stigmatized and skewed into some super dictator view of ruling with the iron fist.

By thinking in terms of family order I can balance what is more appropriate for the individual puppy when certain problems become apparent in its behavior.

Dennis,

Thanks for a great description and explanation. I'm working with a 11 wk old puppy now that is pretty good with me handling him, but wants to chew my hands, my sleeves, my pants, anything that's moving when he's playing. I'm going to use your suggestion to work with him on that. Like most people here, I don't want to teach him not to bite, just that there's a time and place!

As for the Alpha Roll, I just can't see a place for a trainer doing that sort of thing to a pup. I've seen enough of the results of that sort of thinking in my short search for a good trainer in Chicago.

David asked,
"Are you saying the pup just submissively rolls onto its back if it believes it has done something wrong or you are upset and then you reward it?"

Absolutely not! 2 things with this. First, I NEVER use this technique when I am upset and it is NOT used as a correction or punishment. I have already stated that. Second, I reward (quietly praise) the dogs so that it is not a force issue and the dogs are never frightened by it--they have no reason to be.

I don't consider what I am doing as forceful and this is why. When I tell my dogs "roll," they roll onto their backs the same as if I told them "sit." I do follow through on the command just as any of us would follow through with "sit." What do you do if your dog does not sit when you tell it to? Chances are you would firmly but gently place the dog in a sit. Same with me for "roll." The dog is firmly but gently pushed over onto its back. I do not consider this force because the dog understands I am not going to harm her. It is not an "I am stronger than you and I'm going to prove it" issue, it is a "hey, what about me?" issue.

"I can teach a dog I am dominant and what is acceptable and not acceptable and that it even has to do somethings even if it doesn't feel like it..."

So can I. This technique is not used for this. I use it only to "reconnect" with my girls. If they are not paying much attention, for instance, I may use it to help to let them know "hey, I'm here too." Unfortunately, I am finding it difficult to explain exactly what I mean by this. Sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

"The whole being on the back thing is not something I am going to do."

I am not trying to convince you or anyone else to do this. I am only trying to explain why I feel it works for ME and MY dogs.

Richard has actually helped to explain what I do quite well. His last post is exactly what I am trying to convey. Thanks, Richard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />