Dog training is a popular topic. With magazines, TV shows, local trainers, and more, there are plenty of ideas on the right way to train your dog. Years ago the “alpha roll” was all the rage. Popularized by the monks of New Skete in their 1976 book How to be your dog’s best friendthere were people everywhere holding their helpless pups to the ground (in an effort to appear more “wolfy”, which may not be the best starting point for people…)

These days, the alpha roll has been debunked and its backers are, as Dr. Dunbar jokes, “dark side trainers.” (The monks of New Skete no longer endorse him.) However, a questionable new training method has been gaining popularity: the flood.

Flooding occurs when a dog reacting to a stimulus is forced to be near an overwhelming amount of that stimulus until he collapses. It’s like a scene from “Fear Factor,” with the confusing and incorrect pop psychology that your dog will outgrow it if he’s exposed enough.

Flooding in dog aggression occurs when a dog, especially a fear-aggressive dog, is forced to be close to what triggers the response. He is not allowed to escape or defend himself. For example, if a dog is afraid of strange men, he might swamp it by putting a muzzle on it and then putting it in a room with three men it doesn’t know. Being unable to fight or flee, he will eventually break down emotionally.

Emotional collapse is confused with rehabilitation. The dog is even more horrified and is likely to bite in the future. But he doesn’t appear that way. So he be careful when choosing a trainer or following advice. Flooding a dog will often provide the superficial appearance of success and can be done quickly, but it is not a long-term solution. Reducing the dog’s aggression requires a commitment to a long-term counterconditioning and desensitization plan that provides positive experiences and associations with the items he has been aggressive toward.

It’s not quick, easy, or convenient. Doesn’t work well on TV either. Be wary of anyone who promises a quick fix to dog aggression – chances are their plan is to swamp your dog, which won’t help in the long run.