What is a dominant dog?
Some people attribute all problem dog behaviors to “dominance”, while others do not want to use the “dominant dog” label at all. The truth, as always, is somewhere in-between.
It is useful to recognize dominant behaviors in your dog so that you can better manage him, keep him safe, and set him up for success. Refusing to use the word dominance, or denying its existence in dogs is unhelpful.
Any pack animal, including humans and dogs, have to deal with dominance issues because it is a part of pack dynamics.
Similarly, trying to explain everything away by using the dominant dog label or excuse is also unhelpful. To really fix a problem, we must fully understand it, and correctly identify its source. For example, a dog may show aggression, because of dominance. However, dog aggression can also be the result of fear, stress, play, curiosity, boredom, or something else.

Dominant Dog - Dealing with Dominance in Dogs.
Dog Dominance

Dog Dominance - Dominance, is a fluid concept.
Dominance, is a fluid concept
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Dogs are not dominant all of the time.
For example, many dogs will show greater dominance when they are on home turf, or when their owner is around. Under different circumstances, these same dogs will act in a less dominant fashion, or may even become submissive.
Observe your dog carefully, and identify when he is more likely to show dominance, and why.

Dominant Dog - Dogs are not dominant all of the time.
Dominance is a relative concept
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My Shiba Inu, for example, is more dominant than most dogs I have owned. He challenges me more frequently, and is constantly testing his boundaries. He has a dominant body posture, and he will not back down when challenged by other dogs.
My Siberian Husky, is a more submissive dog. She usually stops doing whatever she is doing when I tell her to. She very quickly backs down, and uses submissive body language, when challenged by other dogs.

Dominant Dog - Dominance is a relative concept.
What is a Dominant Dog?

What is a Dominant Dog?

A dominant dog challenges me more frequently, and is constantly testing his boundaries.
- A dominant dog challenges you more frequently and is constantly testing his boundaries. My Shiba Inu is always testing to see if particular rules (no getting on furniture, no humping other dogs) still hold true.
- A dominant dog is more likely to fight when challenged. My Shiba Inu likes playing with other dogs, but he generally does not get along with dogs who try to dominate him. When challenged, he will not back down, and this can result in a dog fight.
- A dominant dog will frequently respond with aggression when frustrated; and will likely redirect that aggression onto you if you try and stop him.

A dominant dog is more likely to fight when challenged.
Dealing with a Dominant Dog

Dealing with a Dominant Dog.
1. A dominant dog needs a calm and assertive pack leader.
Anger and shouting at your dog will only worsen his behavior. Fear and uncertainty will cause him to become even more dominant.
The best way to deal with a dominant dog is to remain calm, and firmly remove him from the environment or object that is causing him to act out.
2. Contrary to common belief, physical force or physical corrections is NOT a good way to deal with dominant dogs.
If not perfectly executed (with perfect timing, force, and technique), a physical correction may further frustrate your dominant dog, and cause him to get even more aggressive.
Instead, stay calm, keep physical interactions to a minimum, and quickly leave the stressful situation. Using physical force against a dominant dog may end up teaching him the wrong lesson, i.e. use violence against violence.
True alpha dogs lead by controlling the pack’s resources, for example through the NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free) program.
3. A dominant dog should be carefully managed and supervised.
You want to step in and stop any aggressive behaviors before your dog escalates. Prevention is key when dealing with a dominant dog because it stops your dog from practicing his dominant behaviors, and it enforces the important lesson that you are calm and in charge.

A dominant dog needs a calm and assertive pack leader.

A dominant dog should have more rules.

A dominant dog should have frequent obedience training sessions.
4. A dominant dog should have more rules.
To become a good pack leader to a dominant dog it is important to develop a comprehensive set of house rules for him to follow. Always be consistent with enforcing all of those rules.
My Shiba Inu’s most important house rules include – no getting on furniture, no biting on people. no leash biting, and no food aggression or resource guarding.
5. A dominant dog should have frequent obedience training sessions.
Schedule at least two or more short (10 – 15 minutes) dog obedience training sessions with your dominant dog every day. It is a good idea to keep up with obedience training exercises throughout a dominant dog’s life, so that it is clear that you are in charge.
6. Use proper equipment to control a dominant dog.
When dealing with a dominant dog, safety should always be a primary concern.
Use whatever equipment is necessary to keep all the people around your dominant dog safe. It may be useful to leave a drag lead on your dominant dog, so that you can easily control him without physically laying hands on him or his collar; and without resorting to chasing games.
If your dominant dog bites at people, it may be necessary to use a muzzle. Use a basket muzzle so that his mouth is not overly constrained and he is not too uncomfortable. A basket muzzle will still allow your dog to eat and pant.
Be careful not to aggravate your dominant dog’s aggressive behavior by overly constraining him, and causing barrier frustration. When in doubt, consult a professional trainer.
7. Always set your dominant dog up for success.
Always try to minimize the number of dominant displays. Identify objects (e.g. other dogs, cats) and environmental conditions (e.g. loud noise) that trigger dominant behaviors, and avoid those triggers.
Then, gradually desensitize your dog to those triggers, in a controlled fashion.
Always set your dominant dog up for success.
Many dog behavioral issues including resource guarding, biting humans, dog-to-dog aggression, sensitivity to handling, growling at humans, and disobedience, are often attributed to “the dominant dog“.
However, each of these problems are unique, and complex. They are usually the result of many factors; one of which may be dominance. Many behavioral issues may also be the result of stress and fear, and not be related to dominance at all.
When dealing with dog behavioral issues, it is best to keep an open mind.
Observe your dog and his environment carefully, identify the triggers for his aggressive behavior, and try to understand why he is responding in this way. If your dog’s aggression is extreme (e.g. he is breaking skin, and/or causing puncture wounds) hire a professional trainer to help you carefully trouble-shoot the problems.
Dominant Dog - When dealing with dog behavioral issues, it is best to keep an open mind.
Hmmm – it is difficult to tell. It will depend on whether he showed other signs of dominance. For example, how did he act with your friend’s dogs?
If the pee-ing is the only thing, then it could just be a matter of smell. Maybe that was an area that your friend’s dogs have gone before, or which particularly smells like them, which will be very tempting for another dog to want to leave their own scent. Dogs have a very strong instinct to pee where other dogs have peed before. Kindda like leaving their calling card.
When Sephy is at the training facility (in a daycare center) the first thing he will do is usually go around and explore everything in the environment, then sometimes he will mark a bit here and there where it strongly smells like other dogs. I think it is normal canine behavior.
In terms of stopping it – you would pretty much do the same thing as you would with potty training in your own house. Dogs don’t usually generalize across different locations, so while Shiba may have learned potty rules in your house, he does not understand that the same rules apply in your friend’s house and possibly does not understand how that is different from when he is walking outside. Maybe after training him on multiple houses, he may generalize to certain types of houses.
We keep a drag leash on him at all times too. That definitely helps keep him under control when he acts up. We’ve been diligent about correcting him and not letting him control us, but he still occasionally bites at our feet. I think it will just take some time on our part to break him of this.
Also, he marked for the first time at a friend’s house that has dogs. he’s never ever gone in our house before. is this part of his dominant dog behavior? and how do you stop it!
Thank you for this site. It’s nice to know that it’s not just me.