Myths and Truths About Dominance, Rank, and Leadership in Dogs
In this article, we explore the fascinating dynamics within a group of dogs and their implications for the human-dog relationship. From dominance and hierarchy to leadership roles, we delve into the intricate world of dogs, highlighting the importance of establishing a harmonious bond based on mutual respect and understanding. ㅤ
To figure it all out, we need to determine whether the dogs' behaviors are natural interactions that come with living in a pack or not. It's normal for conflicts to arise from time to time. However, if one of the dogs consistently dominates to gain resources at the expense of others, it's a different situation. Such behavior suggests that something is amiss, whether it's related to that particular dog, the composition of the pack, or the distribution of resources.
If one of the dogs repeatedly asserts itself (without involving resources), something is also off, and the behaviour is likely internally motivated rather than a normal part of pack life. Lets delve into some prevalent concepts in the dog world: dominance, ranking, hierarchy, leadership, alpha males/females.
Dominant Behaviors
Dominant behaviour include various actions that dogs employ to gain access to a resource, such as a meaty bone, a resting spot, attention, or a toy. Usually, these behaviors involve threats aimed at creating distance between oneself and another individual. The dog wants to displace the other dog and thereby gain access to the resource. Growling, bristling, lunging, stiff tall, intense gaze, and attempts to approach the "opponent" from above and downward. ㅤ
Winning a Resource
These behaviors are not personality traits, or a result of upbringing, or an accepted behavior to maintain social structure in a pack. It is about trying to win a resource. That's all. Such behavior can be detrimental within a pack, so we should ensure that resources are abundant enough to eliminate the need for competition. If we give bones, we provide more bones than the number of dogs, for example.
Dominance is absolutely not something we humans should use in relation to our dogs, as it only reinforces threats and competition within our pack, which can lead to problematic behaviors. ㅤ
Imbalance Exists
There are also dogs that display dominance outside of competitive situations. Dogs that "pick fights" at random times. The reasons can vary, including stress, pain, redirected guarding, trauma, and so on. It could also be a glitch in the interaction between the dog parent and the dog, causing the dog to make unfavorable decisions in inappropriate situations. One thing is certain: something is wrong, and there is an imbalance in the dogs emotional state. ㅤ
A Secure Dog is a Safe Dog
In general, a secure dog is a safe dog. A dog that is raised and trained in a way that it can understand, based on mutual respect, learns to respect. They become secure and often safe to have around others.Stressed dogs have difficulty acting properly, often leading to excessive displays or outlets that can be interpreted as dominant behaviors, such as humping.
Natural Assertiveness and Courage
Then we have dogs with plenty of assertiveness and courage, typically the guarding breeds. These dogs may have (not a general trait) trouble distinguishing when they are working and when they are not, especially if they are not allowed to guard.
Just as a herding dog can redirect its herding drive in a play situation with other dogs, a guarding breed may become confrontational and dominant in interactions with others. It does not mean that the dog is a dominant bully; it is an inherited trait that manifests itself. Such dogs require guidance on when it is appropriate to act from that source and when it is not suitable. ㅤ
The dog's personality matters
Regardless of breed, dogs have individual personality traits. Some dogs are more introverted and cautious, while others are more outgoing and expressive. In modern times, scientific research focuses on personality traits in dogs, unlike in the past when dogs were categorized as submissive or dominant. ㅤ
What is rank and when is it relevant?
Rank is a sociological term, a hierarchical order that animals may have when resources are scarce. It is a queuing system that prevails in harsh times. It is established through subdominant behaviors from subordinated individuals rather than the aggression of dominants. Most studies are conducted on captive animals. And animals in cages are not a good model for drawing conclusions about behaviors in healthy dog in a home environment. ㅤ
Why we don't need to rank our dogs
As you can understand, the hierarchy does not belong in our interaction with our dogs or among companion dogs. It should not be necessary when there is enough to go around for everyone. If we mix up leadership and ranking, there is a high risk of creating hierarchy-seeking dogs, social learning is powerful. The social inheritance causes them to adopt dominance behaviors in social situations. They seek conflicts, strive for dominance, and push others down to release their own frustration of being treated in such a way. ㅤ
Understanding the role of alpha females and alpha males
The alpha pair is the breeding pair in a wolf or dog pack. The pack consists of the alpha pair's offspring of different ages. As a result, the alpha couple gets more respect and responsiveness from the group, which is the effect of birthing, nursing, nurturing, guarding, and providing vital resources to someone. ㅤ
What is true leadership in the dog world?
Leadership has nothing to do with rank, hierarchy or dominance behaviors. Leadership is a role we take on if we have a companion who puts their trust in us. Dogs can give us that role in certain contexts, if we, like the alpha male/alpha female, care for, feed, invent fun antics, guard, play, etc. Dogs want to follow such a person. And such a person may occasionally guide dogs, for safety's sake. Want to know more? Read the article: Leadership and Lönneberga
Dynamic leadership in dog packs
We may hold the leadership role in certain situations since the leadership role is dynamic. Role distribution occurs in studies of wolves and wild dog species and among feral street dogs. So, we are not almighty leaders in the eyes of our dogs, but we may get to lead now and again. ㅤ
Wise decision-making and delegation for leaders
Dogs believe that a wise leader makes decisions that benefit the entire pack as a unit. A pack leader delegates but also follows someone else's initiative from time to time. Decision-making power and self-interest have no place here. In a pack, each individual has different superpowers, different qualities that benefit everyone, and thus, they have different roles. Everyone is equally important—a scout, a guardian, a tracker, and a caregiver. The role is contextual and can shift depending on the prevailing situation. ㅤ
Role allocation and rotation in dog packs
Role distribution and order are important in large dog packs; they contribute to fair interactions. We, as humans, can take a directing role in situations where conflict may arise. However, the energy behind the direction should not be dominant.
Consider adopting the mindset of an airline flight attendant or a kindergarten teacher, which brings calmness and order. Bailey, you sit there while Fly puts on the harness, then it's your turn, Aro. And now we all go out on one, two, three "Go ahead". This mainly applies to interactions among dogs in established packs, such as in a dog daycare group or within a family.
Trust takes time: why casual encounters don't create flocks
Loose connections and fleeting encounters are a different matter. There is no logic in expecting your dog to share resources or be in harmonious interaction with everyone just because they have four legs and a tail. Not all dogs see other dogs as their pack.
Trust that creates that peace within a pack requires time and experiences with each other. Dogs that are not family members or friends know nothing about each other, so there may be tension in new encounters, and that is natural. Sometimes, excessive dominance arises from too many sporadic meetings, causing stress. To find out more, read How to introduce new dog friends.
Common misconceptions about dog behavior
- Humping = dominance behavior? No, it's often stress/overflow behavior or hormonally driven.
- Urinating on someone = dominance behavior? No, it's usually an honest mistake.
- Urinating over someone's urine = dominance? No, it's a way to reinforce the impression that the two are a unit against others who pick up scents.
- Intervening between two playing dogs = dominance? No, it's more of a need for control or a way to separate two dogs that have come too close. The purpose is to reduce the risk of conflict.
- Growling over a chew bone = dominance? Well, it could just as well be a lack of trust in being able to keep the bone near the one being growled at.
Positive reinforcement and practices for harmony
Positive reinforcement: Don't use threats or harsh methods when teaching the desired order. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool.
Name + Signal Consistently use the dogs' names in combination with a release cue for direction, recall, lowering the food bowl, getting in/out of the car, and so on. This creates a sense of calmness as the routine contains clear information, allowing expectations to be managed. You don't need to adopt a specific order; let it vary.
Fair distribution: Ensure that all dogs get what they need: food, water, resting spots, toys, treats, closeness, affection, play.
Charged zones: Identify charged zones and exclude the dogs from those areas when tensions are high; around the grill, on the bed, near the dishwasher. The dogs don't need to circle each other in anticipation of resources.
Charged Situations: Identify stressful situations and alleviate the stress; in the hallway during visits, while waiting to be leashed for a walk. Embrace the concept of order and maintain a calm atmosphere.
Vulnerable Positions: Identify vulnerable positions and ensure that each dog feels in control. For example, during nail trimming, if one dog is lying down and being trimmed, it can be tense if another dog gets too close to what needs to be a calm, safe zone. ㅤ
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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