Dominance vs. Leadership
Dominance vs. Leadership: Rethinking Our Approach to Dog Training
The dog training industry remains divided over the validity of the pack and dominance theory. While some trainers emphasize a dog’s need for a “pack leader,” the evidence suggests that dogs differ from wolves in significant ways. Around 75% of the world’s 900 million dogs are free-range, and only about 2.5% of them are truly feral. Research suggests that only feral dogs generally form packs and even these, only form packs for short periods, typically lasting less than three weeks. These temporary groups may show some dominance behaviors, with the largest dog often taking the lead, but most dogs do not live in stable packs. Given this, domestic dogs are unlikely to thrive under constant “domination” by a human, as it places all parties under chronic stress.
In the dominance model, the “alpha” is always on guard to maintain their position, while others must tread carefully to avoid confrontation. This kind of environment can create a cycle of constant anxiety and stress for both the dog and the owner. Instead of trying to dominate our dogs we can take a healthier, Leadership approach to our household.
The Leadership Approach
Leadership is fundamentally different from dominance because it involves mutual trust and a willingness to follow, rather than forcing compliance to avoid conflict. A leader sets clear boundaries, anticipates potential situations, and structures interactions to prevent issues from arising in the first place. Unlike the dominance model, which often relies on responding to unwanted behavior after it occurs, leadership emphasizes prevention.
Think of a dog who rushes through the door to get outside. A reactive approach is to correct the dog’s behaviour or to command a sit/stay. Most likely, this dog is still a loaded spring and the moment it is released from the sit/stay is bolts forward.
A preventative approach is to wait the dog out at the door, until there is a calm state of mind or better yet, invite the dog to the door when it is in this calm state of mind. A leader builds up a positive association between the calm state of mind and being rewarded with being let out the door.
Common Misconceptions
1. Dog Following their handler = Dominance
Does your dog follow you everywhere so you can’t even go to the bathroom in peace? This is not an indication that your dog is dominating you by tracking where you, their resources is at all times. This could stem from anxiety and insecurities. Commanding your dog to sit/stay to wait for you, will not alleviate their anxieties nor will basic obedience alone ensure your dog feels safe and views you as their leader.
The dog may be following you because they view you as their leader and they want to be close to you, or they are waiting for their work orders (especially if it is a working breed used to working closely with humans).
There are many reasons for the dog to follow us, including breed specifics. This is why one size fits all approach is not viable in behaviour modifications.
2. Resource Guarding = Dominance
Does your dog feel safe with you? If your dog is resource guarding, this may be an indication it feels insecure with its possessions. Maybe it is a rescue dog who had experienced resource scarcity before, or maybe your dog learned that you always take high value items away from them and they don’t get them back. There are many reasons why the dog may be resource guarding, but dominance is not one of them. The most frequent issue is insecurity and your dog does not trust you to have their best interests in mind.
3. Separation Anxiety = Dominance
Separation Anxiety is a medical condition, which often needs a veterinary intervention before any behaviour modifications can take place. This is not your fault! You did not coddle your dog into a medical separation anxiety, nor is your dog trying to dominate you by making you stay home. This is a complex issue, which cannot be boiled down to the dominance theory. It is mostly rescue dogs with traumatic history that develop this condition; and it is much less prevalent in dogs growing up as pets.
Labeling our dogs as “Dominant” is reductive and implies we can simply dominate them in turn and command them into better behaviour. This is potentially very dangerous as the dog may develop aggression in response, but it is also very damaging to our relationship with them. Remember, just because they know how to sit, does not mean they are in a calm, relaxed stated of mind.
Leaders promote and reward a calm state of mind in their dogs, making reliance on commands and corrections less necessary. A proactive approach minimizes stress and confusion while reinforcing the desired behavior. By having a trusting relationship with our dogs, we can lead them to better choices.
Building a Better Relationship Through Leadership
Effective leadership is about guiding your dog by teaching the rules, building trust, and cultivating a strong bond. By approaching training through leadership rather than dominance, we can create a more balanced and relaxed atmosphere where dogs feel safe and secure. This kind of environment not only reduces stress for the dog but also helps the owner feel more confident in their role.
Let’s commit to being true leaders for our dogs—not by pretending to be an “alpha,” but by teaching, guiding, and supporting them in a way that builds trust and fosters a lifelong, healthy relationship.
