Dominance in Dogs

In this post, we’ll explore the much misunderstood subject of dominance in dogs. The dominance theory of dog behaviour started with a study by R. Schenkel in 1947 on captive wolves. Schenkel concluded that wolves form packs and individuals within the pack would fight to gain dominance and become the alpha pair of an alpha female and alpha male. As the domestic dog is a descendant of the wolf, authors assumed that dog behaviour, particularly relating to aggression, could be studied, explained and resolved in similar ways to that of the wolf (Sherman, Reisner, Taliaferro & Houpt, 1996). 

Dogs are not trying to be the ‘alpha’

Since 1947, much research has been done on wolf behaviour and importantly, scientists have observed how wolves interact with each other in the wild. Mech (1999) concluded after his 13 year study that wolves form social, family groups typically based on adult parents and their young. Displays of dominant or hostile behaviour were rare, aside from when competing for food. Scientific research on dogs has also concluded dogs are not seeking to be the ‘alpha’, particularly in regards to their relationships with humans (Hedges, 2017). 

Why the dominance in dogs theory hurts dogs

There are numerous potential risks associated with using the dominance theory to manage or change dog behaviour. Firstly, they may fail to address the behaviour at all. A 2011 study by Wells on the effectiveness of a citronella spray collar in reducing barking found that most dogs got used to the spray collar. Further, in some contexts the barking even increased. Spray collars and other punishment based training methods are typically advocated by trainers favouring the outdated model of dominance theory. More importantly, these methods can have a negative impact on the dog’s welfare. Schalke, Stichnoth, Ott & Jones-Baade (2007) found that the use of electronic collars in training posed a high risk of causing dogs severe and persistent stress symptoms. Therefore, such training methods have the potential to cause damage to the physical and mental health of the dog (Ziv, 2019). 

The risks of using aversive methods

Dominance theory can have a negative effect on the communication and relationship between a dog and their guardian. Guardians that believe their dog is behaving a certain way because they are ‘being dominant’ may be more inclined to use punishment based methods to get the dog to ‘submit’ to their will. These might include the ‘alpha roll’ or ‘dominance down’, as suggested by the Monks of New Skete (1998) whose book on dog training is still popular today. In 2009, Herron, Shofer & Reisner found that dogs exposed to such methods were significantly more likely to respond in an aggressive manner themselves, compared to dogs exposed to reward based methods. Aggressive responses from the dog may lead to injury for the guardian as well as the increased likelihood that the dog will be rehomed or even euthanised, often before the dog is even 3 years old (O’Neill et al, 2013). 

The real meaning of dominance in dogs

It is now understood that dogs are not seeking to be dominant over humans. A dog’s response to any given interaction with their guardian, including an aggressive response, is likely to do with context and their prior experience of these interactions (Bradshaw, 2011). Bradshaw, Blackwell & Casey (2009) concluded that dominance is a descriptive term for relationships between pairs of individuals within dogs. Dogs may be dominant of another dog in certain contexts, but this changes depending on the other dog and the context. There is no evidence that ‘dominant’ is a character trait. 

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References

Schenkel, R. (1947). Expression studies of wolves. Behaviour, 1, 81-129.

Sherman, C. K., Reisner, I. R., Taliaferro, L. A., & Houpt, K. A. (1996). Characteristics, treatment, and outcome of 99 cases of aggression between dogs. Applied animal behaviour science, 47(1-2), 91-108.

Mech, L. David. 1999. Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1196-1203.

Hedges, S. (2017). Unravelling dominance in dogs. The Veterinary Nurse, 8(3), 132-138.

Wells, D. L. (2001). The effectiveness of a citronella spray collar in reducing certain forms of barking in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 73(4), 299-309.

Schalke, E., Stichnoth, J., Ott, S., & Jones-Baade, R. (2007). Clinical signs caused by the use of electric training collars on dogs in everyday life situations. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 105(4), 369-380.

Ziv, G. (2017). The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—A review. Journal of veterinary behavior, 19, 50-60.

Monks of New Skete. (1998). How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners. Little, Brown.

Herron, M. E., Shofer, F. S., & Reisner, I. R. (2009). Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(1-2), 47-54.

O’neill, D. G., Church, D. B., McGreevy, P. D., Thomson, P. C., & Brodbelt, D. C. (2013). Longevity and mortality of owned dogs in England. The Veterinary Journal, 198(3), 638-643.

Bradshaw, J. (2011). In defence of dogs. Penguin UK.

Bradshaw, J. W., Blackwell, E. J., & Casey, R. A. (2009). Dominance in domestic dogs—useful construct or bad habit?. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4(3), 135-144.