Dominance (noun): power exerted over others, control or command, wielded over others, first importance
I believe dominance is a fact of life, all life.
Does dominance exist in domesticated dogs?
Dominance often conjurs up a mental image of aggression. I don't believe true dominant features involve aggression though. I believe that domesticated dogs (AND HUMANS) who exhibit features of what is popularly referred to as dominance are infact bullies.
A group needs structure. A group needs leadership. These are basic ground rules. Dogs are social creatures and social (group) living requires structure (rules and good manners) in order to function properly. Social or family living requires COMPROMISE and appeasement.
I believe that the term dominance has been applied to dogs exhibiting unwanted behaviour to justify aversive (punishment) correction techniques. Does every dog try to be dominant?
Definately not!
Do you need to become a "dominant Alpha pack leader" to manipulate a dog's behaviour?
NO.
and here's why......
THE WOLF PACK HIERARCHY THEORY
The Alpha pack status theory was introduced to support and explain the social living behaviour in captive wolves.
According to the theory, the Alpha wolf is generally the breeder in the pack. He is reported to have first choice in everything. This includes the right to chose a mate. The wolf pack is fundamentally a family unit, consisting of the offspring of the breeding pair. For reasons not yet fully known, some packs allowed dispersed wolves from other packs to join whilst others were killed. Wolves tend to disperse depending on the abundance of food and territory and to find new mates. This also helps prevent interbreeding situations.
The theory suggests that Pack structure consists of the Alpha pair, Beta (middle ranking) wolves and Omega (lowest ranking) wolves. The Alpha status rarely changes except through death. Beta wolves are often status seeking and strive to increase their status frequently with other middle ranking individuals. Omega wolves never challenge status.
The theory continues to explain this concept of a hierarchial system by stating that the alpha pair eat first, get the best places to sleep, are the only breeding pair and I dare say that if they lived in houses would walk through the doorway first!!
Most studies on wolf behaviour were carried out on captive wolves.
.............
L. David Mech who has studied wolf behaviour for many years (and also introduced the theory of Alpha pack hierarchy) now states that the idea of Alpha pack status is no more than pure family dynamics. Unfortunately his earlier works continue to be published as fact, outwith his control and much to his annoyance.
I prefer to think of the pack as a family unit. The parents educate their off spring by chastising them. Submissive behaviour (also known as calming signals) is an appeasing gesture used to escape punishment or potential fights.
Do dogs form packs?
Jean Donaldson believes that non domesticated dogs do not form packs; they may enjoy social living for a few days but then move on. This, I believe, would be dependent on resources such as availability of food and shelter. Scavenger dogs have no reason to form a pack, whereas, if food was dependent on catching large prey, then social (pack) living is naturally indicated.
Dogs are not wolves; they are a different sub species. Anatomically similar, granted, but I wouldn’t have a wolf sharing floor space with my children. There is no doubt that our domesticated dog shares the same ancestory as the grey wolf, the DNA evidence is profound, but for me, that’s all. No more closer than we are to apes. Dogs are not wolves!
Do you need to become a dog to train a dog?
Well, actually sort of! But we are definitely NOT dogs! We cannot fool a dog into believing we are a dog. I believe therefore, that we cannot adopt or project a role of alpha status to our dog even if we needed to (which we don't!). We cannot convince them of that. Dogs aren’t stupid after all. What I do believe is that as humans, we need to properly communicate (train) with dogs. We can train them into responding to vocal commands but they do not understand the human language. They communicate with each other by means of visual, vocal and scent behaviour. Thus, the concept of dog manners. Social greetings that are acceptable to each other. By understanding visual communication such as posturing and eye contact, we can actually “talk” with them. Vocally we can use pitch modulation in our voice to communicate effectively. Scenting? I’m not suggesting for one minute............... but dogs tell an awful lot about us by our smell, our production of sebum from our glands, our sweat glands etc.
Do all dogs try and dominate us?
Mmmn, don’t think so. Jumping up at us, mounting, walking through doorways first, eating first, begging, sleeping on our bed have all been classified as dominant behaviour. I used to teach this too!! Having watched my dogs interact, they swap these behaviours frequently, and it doesn’t seem to matter to them so why should it matter to me? Well, it does matter to me. I think these behaviours are bad dog manners. I don’t let my children leap up at visitors, bump into them, push past them, sleep in my bed so why should my dogs be any different. It’s setting rules and boundaries to achieve harmonious living. I think this is very different from approaching these issues as having a dominant based backround
It is incorrect to think that every unwanted behaviour stems from dominance. Some dogs exhibit dominant behaviour (bullying) towards other dogs (mostly evidenced by the bully dog ignoring all calming signals from the victim) and humans. To approach every behavioural issue with a pack reduction program is niaive at best, and at worst just makes the issues worse and is TOTALLY unnecessary.
"The blanket assumption that every dog is motivated by some innate desire to control people and other dogs is frankly ridiculous. It hugely underestimates the complex communicative and learning abilities of dogs."
Dr Rachel Casey
If you wish to read more on dominance try "Oh Behave......" by Jean Donaldson. I personally recommend it. It is written clearly and in my opinion one of the most readable dog training books out there. A real "can't put it down" book!!
I believe all unwanted behaviour issues can be extinguished using classical and operant conditioning and without resorting to traditional "corrective" aversive interventions (which are justified by the term dominance). Positive training by creating positive conditioned emotional responses is how dogs learn best and the results are life long.
We have domesticated the dog over thousands of years and yet we appear to have learned so little about them. We still argue over theories about dominance, alpha dogs, correction methods, positive training, and punishment.
There is one concept however, that is proven beyond any doubt.
Dogs (and all animals with a cortex) learn by classical and operant conditioning. This is irrefutable. Studies by Pavlov and Skinner are well documented, and can be found on the internet.
So why do some trainers continue to punish dogs for unwanted behaviour?
I can't be sure of the answer to that, but perhaps because they are stuck in their ways, not keeping up to date with training developments, lack of professional training and knowledge, lack of skills, feeling of power and possibly enjoy inflicting punishment!
My advice is that if you require the services of a dog behaviourist then ask about their beliefs, their training methods (specifically listen out for the words "correction, positive punishment, leash correction, alpha rolls, becoming the Alpha dog, pack or dominance reduction programs.")
If you hear any of these, please,please,please do yourself and your dog a favour and avoid.
Always ask for references.
I know from experience of having taught the old traditional methods that they are inhumane, outdated and unnecessary. True positive training is best and has the better outcomes!
Your dog will love you for it!!