Alpha Rolls

[Giselle]

Oh, no no! It wasn't the trainer who alpha rolled the dog; it was the handler. Just wanted to clear that up. Interesting responses. Keep 'em coming!

[Glacier]

Oh, no no! It wasn't the trainer who alpha rolled the dog; it was the handler. Just wanted to clear that up. Interesting responses. Keep 'em coming!

I should have been more clear. I was just commenting that I wouldnt' use a trainer that did this technique, not that it was the trainer in this case. I have actually walked out of a class with a trainer who used negative reinforcement methods. I was trying to rehab Kayleigh, back before I had much experience with dogs in general and none with aggressive dogs. That trainer's methods would have killed Kayleigh. She needed firm boundaries; she did not need to be manhandled anymore!

[BC_MoM]

My flyball trainer thinks she's some kind of dog whisperer, and is totally into Milan's methods. The alpha roll worked for a dog that attacked Molly one night, and he never so much as looked in her direction ever again.

But I think these methods are extremely detrimental to a dog's mental health.

[BC_MoM]

Just read the first post. She alpha rolled because of barking out of excitement?!? GIVE ME THIS PERSONS PHONE NUMBER. What a.....

Molly barks almost all the time at flyball, so I've started redirecting her attention while we are waiting for our turn at it. I make sure I have lots of cookies and just make her sit, look at me, tell her good girl.... and it's starting to work.

Ugh. Alpha rolling for excitement is COMPLETELY unacceptable!!!!!!

[k9krazee]

I voted other as well. I used this on Jack a couple times when he went after another dog, because everything happened so fast and it was my first reaction. I don't make a habit of doing it though, and do see how it could be doing more harm than good.

I don't know if it's considered an alpha roll, but when Jack humps another dog I usually pull him off and make him lay down then push him on his side. I don't hold him but I make him stay like that for a couple minutes as a time out. I don't know what else to do, and nothing else seems to be working to get him to stop humping.