Dominance is one of the most misunderstood and erroneously applied concepts in dog training.
Some dog behavior can certainly look like a dog is striving to get the "upper hand" - by jumping on us, pushing past us to dash out the door, or snatching a sandwich right from our hands - but that's not actually his goal. Dogs behave to meet their own needs - whether that's trying to influence others (jumping gets your attention), responding to their environment (the open door reveals the fascinating outdoors), or getting possession of resources (dogs are hard-wired to eat). They are not, however, trying to dominate us.
The whole concept of dominance in domestic dogs has long been dismissed by trainers, veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and modern behavioral science. Unfortunately, some people, including professional trainers, still adhere to the idea that the desire for dominance explains certain types of dog behavior.
Early history of dominance theory
It is important to understand how the word "dominance" became so prevalent in describing dog/dog and human/dog social relationships.
Captive-wolf studies
The dangerous but common misunderstanding about the concept of dominance and pack theory in dog training is based in large part on research studies of a group of unrelated, captive wolves in the 1970s. The interpretation results of those early studies were that there was a rigid hierarchy in which "alphas" (leaders) had priority access to resources and forcefully maintained the group structure through displays of aggression toward others. This has since been shown to be wrong, even by those who conducted the original studies.
Problems with the wolf pack studies
The original study’s results were misunderstood because the researchers were observing animals who were under severe stress. The wolves they used in the study were forced to live as captives with other unrelated wolves in an unnatural environment. In a natural environment, wolves live in family packs and these packs rarely interact. The captive wolves from different packs were forced to live together and the resulting stress caused many of them to behave aggressively toward one another.
In essence, the researchers were observing a dysfunctional group of wolves that were using threat and deference displays in order to seek safety and survive within their unnatural captive group. This is not an accurate view of pack behavior that occurs in a familial pack of wolves, or as it turns out, also in dogs.
How a wild wolf pack actually works
More recent scientific research has concluded that, in the wild, a natural wolf pack is actually composed of a mother and father and their offspring. This pack survives much like a human family, in which the parents take the leadership roles and the children follow. In a natural pack, harmony is created because deference behaviors are offered freely by the younger wolves rather than being violently forced onto them by their parents.
Social hierarchies in animal groups
More advanced studies on social hierarchies have been conducted on many other species. Researchers have since discovered that, although some members of certain animal groups are more likely than others to display threatening or aggressive behavior, they usually assert their influence without the use of force. Other members of the group appease their peers by offering deference, or what looks like submissive behaviors to the more "dominant’" members. This type of interaction actually reduces the potential for conflict.
In other words, dominant relationships among animals are usually exerted without the use of force or threat of aggression.
"Dominance" theory problems
The dog-owning public has been misled into thinking that dominance is the key to solving most dog behavior problems. The reality is quite different. Social hierarchies in animals are predominantly of peaceful nature and generally serve to prevent conflict.
Dogs defer and cooperate rather than dominate
Although social hierarchies do exist among dogs, studies have shown that power dynamics are not fixed at all; in fact they are constantly changing.
Domestic dogs do not follow a strict hierarchy of social dominance or engage in a constant struggle to establish rank over each other or the people they live with, despite what some old school theorists still claim. The idea of a rigid social hierarchy among dogs and people is a misunderstanding and false.
In a multi-dog household, for example, one dog might place more value on a food resource at feeding time, whereas another might want and get priority to a preferred sleeping location. One dog doesn’t necessarily control access to every single resource but will control only those that she deems to be of the highest value to her. The dogs will usually defer to one another depending on the situation, with offered deference and not forced submission.
This is a critical component to truly understanding how dogs interact: a dog’s higher status in a given situation is usually freely acknowledged by the other dog and usually without issue. A dog deferring, or submitting, to a higher-status dog is doing so voluntarily - submission is offered and rarely forced. All of this helps avoid conflict and is a far cry from the idea that one dog or human forces an "alpha" status onto others.
Disagreements can still occur among dogs who have formed healthy relationships with each other, and some act aggressively around resources. This is likely due to a dog’s insecurity rather than trying to establish rank. She might have learned socially inappropriate behaviors, but she is not a quest for dominance.
Dominance theory misses the underlying issue
Relying on dominance theory usually misses the underlying cause of a dog’s behavior. As with human medical problems, if you don’t know the root cause, you can’t find an effective treatment. Dominance theory will see a dog’s behavior not as a symptom, which it is, but as a power-seeking motivation, which it isn’t.
The diagnosis and treatment process becomes clouded when too much emphasis is placed exclusively on symptoms rather than finding and treating the root causes.
Obviously, if you misdiagnose a condition, you will usually end up applying the wrong treatment. In a best-case scenario, the worst you’ve done is delay the patient’s recovery. In the worst case, however, an inappropriate treatment plan based on the misdiagnosis actually worsens the symptoms, making it even more difficult to solve if and when you realize your mistake.
Unfortunately for dogs, a misdiagnosis of their behavior problems as dominance-related usually leads to the worst-case scenario. Behavior modification techniques designed to prevent dogs from "raising status" over their owners usually include punishment, intimidation, and fear— precisely the opposite of what dogs really need in order to overcome most behavioral issues.
Most canine behavior problems stem from insecurity or the need for safety and comfort, not from a desire to establish a higher rank. Teaching dogs "who’s the boss" by forcing them into "submission" is precisely the opposite of what they actually need in order to learn effectively and overcome behavioral issues.
Dominance-based training is associated with worse outcomes
"Dominance" theory in dog training usually involves some type of physical punishment and intimidation, which can include pushing, yelling, grabbing, hitting, jerking with a leash, or shocking a dog. These types of aversive training methods are not only outdated but have been shown to be associated with increased anxiety and stress for the dog. They also increase the likelihood of a dog showing aggressive behaviors. Intimidation and physical force can stop a behavior in the moment, but a scared dog is more likely to defend herself aggressively in the future. Dominance-based training ends up being worse for the dog and for their family.
Positive reinforcement training more effective than dominance
Studies have shown that rewards-based training is more effective and doesn’t increase the likelihood of aggressive behaviors. Dogs show fewer stress signals, develop a stronger bond with their guardians, and are more motivated to listen and respond because doing so makes them feel good.
Positive training looks at the underlying cause, motivations, and environmental influences for a dog’s behavior. Once this is known, training plans are developed to reduce a dog’s anxiety, provide more routine, teach new behaviors, and change a dog’s emotional reaction to a situation.
Bottom line about "dominance"
The human concept of dominance, based on accumulating power, establishing higher rank, and exerting control in a forceful and sometimes violent way, often muddles our interpretation of canine relationships and social hierarchies. The actual social hierarchies in the animal world seldom involve force or violence to maintain relationships.
Scientific research into animal social structures has shown us that forced submission is not representative of how animals, including dogs, establish healthy functional relationships between themselves or with us.
Dogs are not on a quest for world domination. They are not socialized wolves who are constantly striving to be "top dog" over us, and they are not hardwired to try and control every situation. They are animals looking for safety and comfort and rely on us to guide and teach them.
