The Dominance Myth
The Dominance Myth
You have probably heard people say things like, “don’t let your dog dominate” or “show him who is the alpha”. The idea of the dominating dog that needs to learn his place is wide spread. But research has shown beyond doubt that dominance in dogs is a myth.
The idea of dominance in dogs comes from a misunderstanding of wolf pack research that was then applied to pet dogs. Because we humans like to organize ourselves in hierarchies the idea seems utterly plausible to us. But using dominance to explain dog behaviour is problematic for many reasons.
First of all, the idea of the alpha dog started when researchers studied wolves in captivity.They found that one wolf became a pack leader, demanding to eat, mate, and meet his needs first. But research has shown that wolves in the wild do not behave in that way. In the wild, a wolf pack is a family, and members act in the interest of the group.
Secondly, dogs are not wolves. Dogs have been bred for centuries as companions to humans. Comparing dogs to wolves makes about as much sense as comparing humans to chimpanzees.
Most importantly, the dominance concept is not helpful.
Calling a dog dominant is just a label, not a solution. What’s more, it sets up a conflict. If I believe my dog to be dominant it follows that I must make him submit to me. This often results in an ongoing battle of will that is unpleasant for both of us.
A much more useful approach is to leave out labels altogether and simply describe what your dog is doing, decide what you want him to do instead, and then make a plan to help him change his behaviour.
What is important is the good relationship between you and your dog, and getting training results that allow you to live harmoniously together. Good training sets the human and the dog up to both get what they want so everyone is happy. For example:
- Reward behaviours you like. That will make them happen more often.
- Ignore or prevent behaviours you don’t like. That will make them happen less often.
- Practice nothing for free. Ask your dog to sit for doors to be opened, balls to be thrown, leashes to come off at the park, etc. This makes asking politely your dog’s main strategy for getting what he wants, instead of using pushy, obnoxious behaviour.
With methods like these, everyone wins. You get a happy, well-behaved dog and your dog gets to chase balls, sniff other dogs, and eat treats, all of which are high on his list of priorities.
