The Aussies 2019 - Members version

Where does the concept originate?
The idea is based on wolf packs having strict dominance
hierarchies, where the wolves compete for dominance, but
are held in check by the alpha male and female. Since dogs
evolved from wolves, the training encourages you to act like
the alpha wolf.
Cesar Millan’s concept as interpreted by animal
behaviourists is that he creates an arDficial wolfpack.
Re-examining the wolf behaviour
In wolves, with the excepDon of unusually large packs, a
single breeding pair is dominant to everyone else. This pair
uses their dominance to suppress the breeding of other
pack members. Dominant female wolves are aggressive all
year round, and use unprovoked a2acks to prevent other
females from maDng. Male wolves become most aggressive
during the maDng season. Younger and subordinate pack
members are usually the offspring of the breeding pair from
previous years. Juveniles are forced to stay with their
parents, because meeDng another wolf pack before they
become fully grown is dangerous.
What is established is a ‘family’ with parents acDng as
guides for their offspring. Yes there are rules to follow and
the alpha male and female ensure that these are enforced.
But they protect, teach and provide the right environment
for their young unDl the Dme arrives and they can leave the
nest - so to speak.
Alpha or parent?
Dog’s evolved to live with humans, but what does that
mean? Did they evolve to live with families and if they did,
does that mean dog’s living with human families follow the
equivalent of wolf parents? In which case, there is no need
for the strong alpha. The other opDon is that dog’s living in a
family are part of a forced wolf pack, which needs an alpha.
The latest theories are that dogs are like wolf cubs living
with parents. The raDonale - quite simply, geneDcally dogs
are juvenile wolves and young wolves live with parents and
siblings.
Pedomorphosis
During the evoluDon, dogs went through a process called
pedomorphosis, which means dog puppies stop developing
earlier than wolf cubs. That’s why dogs, especially pedigree
dogs - look less wolfylike. Baby animals have baby faces and
that is what appealed to us as humans.
Re-examining the wolf behaviour
In wolves, with the excepDon of unusually large packs, a
single breeding pair is dominant to everyone else. This pair
uses their dominance to suppress the breeding of other
pack members. Dominant female wolves are aggressive all
year round, and use unprovoked a2acks to prevent other
females from maDng. Male wolves become most aggressive
during the maDng season.
Younger and subordinate pack members are usually the
offspring of the breeding pair from previous years. Juveniles are
forced to stay with their parents, because meeDng another wolf
pack before they become fully grown is dangerous.
What is established is a ‘family’ with parents acDng as guides for
their offspring. Yes there are rules to follow and the alpha male
and female ensure that these are enforced. But they protect,
teach and provide the right environment for their young unDl
the Dme arrives and they can leave the nest - so to speak.
BriBsh Research
Dr Deborah Goodwin and her team undertook research and
concluded that the more naturally wolflike a breed looked, the
more adult wolf behaviour could be shown within the breed.
The study took 15 key behaviours used by wolves to
communicate with each other. These ranged from submission to
aggression. Based on the results, the Siberian Husky, which most
resembled a wolf, displayed all 15 traits. Whilst the Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel - the least wolf like only demonstrated 2.
No Australian Terriers were featured, although the Norfolk
Terrier was included in the research and it scored only 3 of the
wolf traits.
However, there were 2 interesDng factors that emerged from
the study. Firstly, if a breed was man-made to look like a wolf,
(German Shepherds being an obvious choice) It did not posses a
high number of the wolf traits. In fact it was shown once the
traits had been bred out of a strain of dogs, it did not make the
wolf characterisDcs return. Even if you were trying to recreate a
wolf-like dog.
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