Cesar Millan places a heavy emphasis on dog dominance and pack leadership in his dog training show, The Dog Whisperer. The Dog Whisperer airs on the National Geographic Channel and is currently the most popular dog training program.

Often, there is much confusion and debate surrounding the concept of dog dominance. Some people cannot stop talking about it, and attribute all the ills of their furry friend on the dreaded d-word. Others, ban the mention of the d-word from their forums, claim that there is no such thing as dog dominance, and continually decry that the so-called dominance theory has been debunked.

Here, I want to consider dog dominance – what is fact, and what is fiction.

• Is dog dominance a myth? Has dominance theory been debunked?
• Does dominance cause most bad dog behaviors?
• How do we deal with a dominant dog?
• Who is right and who is wrong in this dog dominance debate?

The Dirty D-Word in Dog Training – Dominance

Is Dog Dominance a Myth?

Is Dog Dominance a Myth?

Some people claim that dog dominance is a myth that is only perpetuated by television trainers to improve ratings.

What is dominance?

There are two meanings that apply when it comes to dogs.

2. Dominance – the state that exists when one person or group has power over another.

4. Dominance – the power or right to give orders or make decisions.

~~[The Free Dictionary]

In a dog pack, for example, the alpha male and female has the power to give orders and make decisions, thus they have dominance over other members of the pack. Dominance however, is not tied to only pack animals.

For example, lions are powerful predators that have dominance over most of the animal kingdom. When they stop at a water hole, all the animals clear out.

We also have dominance over animals, not because we have sharp claws and powerful bodies, but because of our brains. Our dominance comes from building tools and structures, as well as controlling resources and territory, rather than from our physical attributes.

A better way to achieve dominance is through our control of resources.

Does dominance exist between dogs?  Yes, sometimes.

Does dominance exist between dogs and people?  Yes, sometimes.

However, there are multiple ways to achieve dominance. One way to achieve dominance is through threat of punishment or violence. This type of dominance is often referred to as absolutism, despotism, and tyranny.

Another way to achieve dominance is through persuasion and the manipulation of resources. Human institutions today gain supremacy mostly through the control of resources and diplomacy.

In fact, we have laws against using physical punishment and violence to gain power and control over other people, especially those who cannot protect themselves.

Often, it is not about dominance at all. In this picture Husky puppy Shania is on top, but she is only playing a fun wrestling game.

Has “dominance theory” been debunked?

Based on the studies that I have read, what has been debunked is the concept that a group of wolves get together, and have Thunderdome style fights with each other to establish physical dominance. At the end, the last one standing is King or Alpha.

This is a myth.

Rather, it has been discovered that most wolf packs are family groups where the alpha male and female are simply the parents of the family. The alpha pair still has dominance over its members (i.e. they are in a position of authority) but that position is *not* gained through physical aggression.

dom·i·nance
Animal Behavior. high status in a social group, usually acquired as the result of aggression, that involves the tendency to take priority in access to limited resources, as food, mates, or space.

~~[Dictionary.com]

It is this concept of high status through physical aggression, that has been proved to be inaccurate.

It is this concept of high status through physical aggression, that has been proved to be inaccurate.

Does dominance cause most bad dog behaviors?

Recently, it has become popular to attribute almost all bad dog behaviors to dominance. If a dog walks ahead of us, it is because he is trying to dominate us. If a dog growls when we approach his food or his toy, it is because he thinks he is the boss. If a dog jumps on us, it is because he is trying to show us that he is leader of the pack.

Why did the dog pull to get ahead?

Frequently because he is excited and wants to get to the next bush to smell and mark. Dominance has nothing to do with it.

Why did the dog growl when people approached his food?

Because from experience, the dog has learned that when people come near his belongings, he loses it forever. As a result, he starts to protect his stuff before it gets taken away by force.

Why did the dog jump on a total stranger?

Sometimes, dogs jump because they want to lick us on the face which is an appeasement behavior. At other times, dogs jump because they are excited and want to play.

Dogs jump because they want to lick us on the face which is an appeasement behavior.

Dominance can cause bad dog behavior, including aggression. However, most of the time, bad dog behavior is a result of mis-communication between us and our dog. Often, we inadvertently reward our dog for his bad behavior, which encourages him to keep repeating it.

For example, when a dog jumps, our most common reaction is to push back with our hands and arms. From our dog’s point of view, this is a fun wrestling game where he gets a lot of attention. This rewards the dog for jumping, and gets him even more excited.

Does dominance cause most bad dog behaviors?  No.

Most bad dog behaviors occur because we respond incorrectly or with inaccurate timing. As a result, our dog learns the wrong lessons and the bad behavior worsens.

For example, if we keep using force to take things away from our dog he will learn to associate people approaching him or his belongings as a negative event. In the future, he may decide to start protecting himself and his stuff with his teeth.

Dominance can cause bad dog behavior, including aggression. However, most of the time, a bad behavior is a result of mis-communication between us and our dog.

How do we deal with a dominant dog?

How do we deal with a dominant dog? More rules and structure.

Try to make obedience training a part of our dog's home life.

Do not expose our dog to more than he can handle.

When I say a “dominant dog”, I mean a dog that is more likely to show dominant behaviors.

Independent and more primitive dog breeds will generally show more dominant behaviors. The Shiba Inu, for example, is a very independent and primitive dog breed.

My Shiba Inu challenged me a lot when he was young. Even today, he comes up with many new and often humorous behaviors to test his boundaries. A Shiba Inu is also extremely stubborn. If I try to force Sephy to do something, he will dig in and really not do it.

How do we deal with a dominant dog?

• More rules and structure. Providing a consistent routine allows a dominant dog to quickly learn what his pack responsibilities are, which will lead to less stress and frustration.
• Frequent obedience training sessions. Try to make obedience training a part of our dominant dog’s home life. This is easily achieved through the NILIF program. I first ask my dog to do something for me, before I do something for him in return.
• Reward training. Contrary to what some people may say, physical force is a poor way to deal with dominant dogs. A dominant dog will always fight back when faced with a physical threat. The more dominant and stubborn the dog, the more he will fight. In the end, we will need to use a lot of physical force (i.e. pain) to break our dog’s independence and stubbornness. Instead, by using reward training and controlling the dog’s resources, we are teaching our dog that the best way for him to get what he wants, is to do what we want first. This builds a strong bond and keeps our dog’s spirit intact.
• Management and supervision. Do not expose a dominant dog to more than he can handle. A string of failures will not only encourage our dog to practice bad behaviors, but also be demoralizing for everyone involved. It is important to challenge a dog and give him a rich and interesting life. However, do it at a pace that he can handle and enjoy. If we carefully manage our dog and set him up for success, he will be confident, balanced, and ready to meet new challenges.
• Always be calm but firm. Dogs are very good at sensing our emotions. Not only are they good observers, but they can hear and smell changes in our bodies. If we get tense, frustrated, or fearful, our dogs will pick up on those emotions, get stressed, and act out even more. When dealing with bad dog behavior, it is important to remain calm but firm. In this way, our dog will also stay calm and look to us for direction.

Always set our dominant dog up for success.

Who is right and who is wrong in the dog dominance debate?

There are many heated debates about dog dominance on the internet, and often, we let our own egos get in the way.

When I first got my Shiba Inu, I started with aversive training methods. Once I went down this road, I became resistant to any changes in strategy, even though using dominance and physical force techniques was causing greater aggression, more stress, and a low quality of life for everyone.

Through this experience, I learned that it is dangerous to blame everything on dog dominance. However, it is also counter-productive to deny the existence of dominance in dogs.

Ironically, the same people who want to ban the word dominance, from even being mentioned on certain forums, are themselves using their dominant position in the social group, together with negative and dominant language, to silence anyone that does not 100% toe the party line.

What matters most to me are my dogs, and what they think.

Ultimately, I learned that it does not matter who is right and who is wrong on the internet. It does not matter what my neighbors think about me or my dog parenting skills. What matters most are my dogs, and making the best decisions for them. Once I realized this and put my own ego on the back burner, things got a lot better. I was more open to new techniques, I got as much information as I could, and most important of all, I listened to my dogs and let them tell me what works best.

Sometimes, I am the boss. Sephy must go to the vet for yearly check-ups and that’s that. Sometimes, Sephy is the boss and he gets to pick where we go on our walks. Most of the time, we work together; we give and we take.

Dominance is not in black or white, and our dogs are not our enemies. There is little need to carry on an antagonistic “I win or he wins” relationship with our own dog.

“If you love something let it go free. If it doesn’t come back, you never had it. If it comes back, love it forever.”

~~[Doug Horton]

Dominance is not in black or white, and our dogs are not our enemies.

Some people attribute all problem 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 our dog, so that we 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 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 behavior, we want to 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.

Dealing with Dominance in Dogs.

Dog Dominance

Dominance is a fluid concept.

Dog Dominance - Dominance, is a fluid concept.

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 owners are around. Under different circumstances, these same dogs may become less assertive, or may even become submissive.

Observe our dog carefully, and identify when he is more likely to show dominance, and why.

Dogs are not dominant all of the time.

Dominance is a relative concept.

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 whatever she is doing, when I tell her to. She very quickly backs down, and uses submissive body language, when confronted by other dogs.

However, this does not mean that my Husky will always back down, or never show any dominance behavior. She simply prefers to avoid conflict, and has learned that she usually gets more, by seeking a peaceful resolution. I make sure to encourage this behavior, by rewarding calmness and conflict avoidance very well.

Dominance is a relative concept.

What is a Dominant Dog?

What is a Dominant Dog?

My Shiba Inu challenges me more frequently, and is constantly testing his boundaries.

1. A dominant dog will likely respond with aggression when he is frustrated, or when he feels threatened. He may also redirect that aggression onto us, if we try to physically engage him.
2. A dominant dog is more forceful when it comes to fulfilling his own needs and goals. He is not afraid to challenge those around him, and to continually test his boundaries. My Shiba Inu is always testing to see if particular rules, such as the no getting on furniture rule, still hold true.
3. A dominant dog is more likely to fight, and less likely to submit or run away. My Shiba Inu likes playing with other dogs, but he generally does not get along with dogs who try to dominate him. If challenged, he will not back down, and this can result in a dog fight.

More likely to fight when challenged.

Dealing with a Dominant Dog

Calm and decisive pack leader.

1. Calm and decisive pack leader

Being angry and shouting at our dog, will only worsen his behavior. Fear and uncertainty will increase his level of stress, and cause him to behave in a more erratic fashion.

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. Avoid physical corrections

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 our dog, and cause him to get more aggressive.

Instead, stay calm, keep physical interactions to a minimum, and quickly leave the stressful situation. In addition, using physical force against a dog, may end up teaching him the wrong lesson; in particular, use violence against violence.

True alpha dogs lead by controlling the pack’s resources. We can control our dog’s resources by following the NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free) program, and using reward obedience training.

3. Management and supervision

We want to step in and stop any aggressive behaviors, before our dog escalates and loses control. Prevention is key when dealing with a dominant dog. It stops him from practicing aggressive behaviors, and it enforces the important lesson that we are calm and in charge.

Calm and decisive pack leader.

Consistent rules.

Frequent obedience training sessions.

4. Consistent rules

To become a good pack leader, it is important to develop a set of house rules and some structure, for our dog 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. Frequent obedience training sessions

Schedule at least two or more short (10 – 15 minutes) obedience training sessions with our dog, every day. It is a good idea to keep up with obedience exercises, throughout a dog’s life. This keeps him mentally sharp, and makes it clear that we are in charge.

6. Use proper equipment to control our dog

When dealing with aggression, safety should always be a primary concern.

Use whatever equipment is necessary, to keep all the people around our dominant dog safe. A drag lead may also be useful because it gives us good control of our dog, without having to lay hands on him or his collar, and without resorting to chasing games.

If our dog has a bite history, it may be necessary to use a muzzle. I like the basket muzzle because it does not overly constrain a dog’s mouth, and is more comfortable. A basket muzzle will still allow a dog to eat and pant.

Be careful not to aggravate our dog’s aggressive behavior by overly constraining him, and causing barrier frustration. When in doubt, consult a professional trainer.

7. Set our dog up for success

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 our dog to those events, in a controlled fashion.

Always set our dominant dog up for success.

Many dog behavioral issues, including resource guarding, biting people, dog-to-dog aggression, sensitivity to handling, growling at humans, and general 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. In fact, many behavioral issues are the result of stress and fear, and have nothing whatsoever to do with dominance.

When dealing with dog behavioral issues, it is best to keep an open mind.

Observe our dog and his environment carefully. Identify the triggers for his aggressive behavior, and try to understand why he is responding in this way. If his aggression is extreme (e.g. he is breaking skin, and/or causing puncture wounds), hire a professional trainer to help us carefully trouble-shoot the problems.

When dealing with dog behavioral issues, it is best to keep an open mind.

Females are the alpha of this species, not the males. If there are two pregnant females in the pack, they will fight to the death. I think mine really is a cat in dogs clothing. She’s friendly to every animal. She will swim (while I walk) along the breakwater, gladly. …

Alpha Male or Alpha Female?

From talking with my dog-owner friends, it seems that most of them have dog packs that are ruled by an alpha female.

I say mostly because the alpha role is often fluid with dogs and may change depending on environment and activity.

This really made me wonder …

Is it more common to have a male or female in charge most of the time? How is like for your dog pack?

I speculate that it is more common to have an alpha female.

I speculate that it is more common to have an alpha female.

Female dogs are more concerned about controlling resources around the house, given their role as mothers.

Alpha males would be more concerned about leading the hunt, but since there is little of that in a domestic dog’s life, the male feels less of a need to assume the alpha position.

What about human packs?

Is it more common in human households to have an alpha male or an alpha female? This is, of course, very rooted in the culture surrounding the human pack; but I really wonder what the statistics are like …

Many people say that they have a 50/50 household but I think it is difficult to achieve such symmetry.

Many people say that they have a 50/50 household but I think it is difficult to achieve such symmetry.

In general, I think there are areas where the male or female really wants control, and other areas where he/she just stays away from. Occasionally though, there will be situations where everyone wants to make the call – these are the cases where it will be most clear who is the alpha.

What do you think?

What is it like with your dog pack? and your human pack?

What do you think? What is it like with your dog pack? and your human pack?

Here is what Nicco said –

Nothing wrong with being nice to people and dogs. Being the educated dog owner that you are though, I’m sure you’re aware that there are certain things people do that we consider respectful to one another but don’t have the same meaning to dogs. These are things like allowing your dog on the couch or your bed without your permission, letting the dog rush out the door before you, giving in to a dog’s persistent demand for attention, moving out of their way instead of making them move out of YOUR way, etc, I could go on forever.

The dog may not be trying to dominate your household, but what we see as being “nice”, the dog sees as winning small battles. A training book I read called “Training the Hard to Train Dog” describes these battles as small points that the dog wins. The more points he wins, the more control he gains over the house. Again, it may not necessarily be a dominance thing, I think it’s more of a survival thing. If this were nature, he would be exploring all of his resources to maximize his chances of survival.

So the point of my rant is, it’s great to be nice to a dog, so long as it’s fulfilling for a dog and not indulging him. Again, being the responsible owner that you are, I’m sure you’re not letting your dogs run wild around the house, but there are certainly owners who make the mistake of being “nice” in human terms, and they’ve lost control of their dog.

Did You Win or Did Your Dog Win?

I think Nicco brings up some really important and interesting points within dog training.

All dogs need some discipline and structure.

1. All dogs need some discipline and structure

A dog owner should have sufficient control over their dog so that the dog does not become a danger to himself and to the people and animals around him.

2. What rules to institute with your dog?

Some dog owners do not allow their dogs up on furniture. I also have the no-getting-on-furniture rule for both my dogs. One of my dogs is a three-legged dog and I do not want her stressing her joints from furniture jumping.

My other dog, the Shiba Inu, likes getting into mischief, and frequently causes some kind of chaos when he gets onto furniture. Therefore, the no-furniture rule is a good way to curb his inappropriate behaviors.

However, not all dogs need this rule. I have seen dogs who get on furniture and behave like a perfect Lassie. I think the important thing is to tailor your rules to fit your dog’s needs. We should be consistent but flexible.

What rules to institute with your dog?

3. Battles and winning points

Battles and winning points

Personally, I do not see interaction with my dogs as a series of battles. Rather, I see us as working together to achieve a lifestyle that suits us all.

For example, my Shiba Inu likes playing with my other dog inside the house. I let them do this in most areas that are dog safe. However, they are not allowed to play on the stairs for safety reasons.

When they do that, I tell them to stop. If they do, they get rewarded. If they don’t, play stops until they cool down.

With dogs it is almost all about shaping behavior and communicating with them in a consistent manner so that they can understand you.  If play always stops when they rough-house on the stairs, then they will naturally stop playing on the stairs because that gets them bad results.

There are no battles – instead, there is a cooperative learning process. There is no winning and losing, because by working together, everybody wins.

There are no battles – instead, there is a cooperative learning process. There is no winning and losing, because by working together, everybody wins.

When my dogs win and are happy, I win and am happy too.

When my dogs win and are happy, I win and am happy too.

Sometimes, I also indulge my dogs by giving them a lot of tummy rubs and yummy healthy chicken. I don’t think there is anything wrong with indulging a dog – that for me, is part of the fun of dog ownership.

I think problems only arise when dog owners do not communicate with their dogs properly – i.e. they reward the dog for inappropriate behaviors, and do not communicate to the dog what is desirable and what is undesirable.

Mis-communication, I believe is at the root of almost all bad dog behavior. The other part has to do with not fulfilling the dog’s needs.

This whole notion of winning and losing, I believe, is unnecessary and creates an antagonistic relationship with our dogs. Ultimately we create the strongest bonds with our dogs by working cooperatively with them to achieve common goals.

Ultimately we create the strongest bonds with our dogs by working cooperatively with them to achieve common goals.