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Dominant: Exercising influence or control.

There is a problem in relation to the widespread use of this word in dog training circles. Nobody has the same definition and most of the time it is used with a very negative connotation, usually in reference to aggressive behaviour. For this reason I rarely use this word with my clients. I feel the use of the word dominance is counter-productive to the beginning of a training program, because the client usually gets the impression that their dog is somehow bad or aggressive.

Dogs, Humans and Dominance:

Humans must influence / control their dogs. Dogs live with us and are our responsibility.

All dogs want things and try to get them. They are pro-active about making things happen to their benefit, and they learn to persevere. Without guidance, this can get out of hand.

However, it is rare to see a dog with extreme dominant tendencies that have occurred as a result of genetically inherited traits. It is *common* to see dogs that have inadequate guidance from their humans and have been permitted to learn that they can get what they want through pushy behaviour or ignoring direction. These dogs are not normally type "A" personalities because of inherited tendencies. They simply have learned that they have to try hard or push through stuff (you) to overcome the roadblocks in their way to the things they want.

In other words (going back to the definition here) dogs easily learn to influence or control their environment if guidance is not given by humans.

If you have a dog that is constantly pushing your buttons, challenging your authority, or otherwise attempting to get THROUGH you rather than accept your direction, it is usually because the dog is under-educated. It is also extremely simple to fix, whether the dog is a true type "A" or not.

Think about what things you control in the dog's life. It has been my experience that most pet dog owners control very little in regards to the dog. They allow the dog free access to nearly everything he wants nearly 100% of the time. The problem occurs when the ratio of control to total freedom is off. In order to have a pet that consistently accepts direction comfortably and consistently, you need to practice control much of the time so that the dog gets into the habit of accepting your direction and control.

If you are having problems, read the article "Nothing in Life is Free" to find out how to turn your life around with your dog.

There is one other fact about humans and dogs. They share some of the same language...but the "words" don't mean the same things. People who have pushy dogs should be aware that there are a few signals you can accidentally send to your dog that can mislead him into thinking there's a chance that he'll be successful in controlling things. Take a look at the list below, and then think about your daily life with your dog...are you doing this stuff? If so, stop. Do Nothing in Life is Free instead.

Human Action/Perception	Dog's Perception
Owner allows dog to be physically all over them whenever the dog wants to be. Dog is regularly allowed to stand on, jump on, grab, run into, or get in the human's personal space at his own whim. Humans usually like interacting with the dog in this way. It's like a small child approaching for a big hug.	No high-ranking dog worth his salt would ever allow unrestricted physical access. He would expect respect of his body space, and allow this kind of contact only by invitation. Therefore the dog is the higher-ranking individual and can expect that the human will cede to his control/influence in other areas of life.
Scooting over to make room when the dog wants on the bed or couch--human respects and loves the dog and feels they are being "polite" or "sweet" to the dog.	Human conceding to influence of dog--dog has control
Allowing free access to resources most of the time (food, toys, resting areas, doorway entries and exits, etc). Human wants dog to be happy and gives him everything he might want.	Dog has control of nearly every object or food item and is very much aware that the human is not controlling these resources.
Uncontrolled territorial/defensive barking at doors or on edges of property. Human feels the dog is "protecting his property and us"	Dog gets the impression that the house, car, and humans are "his" and that reinforces his belief that he can control them. After all, you control what's yours, right?
Sucky greetings when human arrives home with human using high voice and getting down on floor with dog. Human is just happy to see the dog and is greeting them in the way they would greet a child.	Dog perceives that a lower pack member is returning and performing the normal lower-ranking greeting behaviour. Lower-ranking animals can be influenced or controlled.
Allowing dog to rush out doors without paying attention to the human first. Between humans, this is a polite gesture.	Dog perceives that human is responding to his wish to get outside as fast as possible, and thinks that he has control over the door situation.
Owner allows dog to control games with toys by not insisting that the dog bring the ball all the way back or allowing a dog to tug without responding to owner's "drop it"	Dog perceives that the toy and game are in his control much as they would be if he were playing with a lower-ranking dog.
Owner allows dog to stop/start games such as wrestling/horsing around. Allows dog to play-bite at will and doesn't care if it's hard to get the dog to stop.	Dogs jaw-wrestle and play-bite with other dogs all the time. It's always the higher-ranking dog that stops or starts the game (has control).
Owner allows dog to dictate when he gets up, when he goes outside, and when he gets petted. If owner wants dog to do these things, owner “bribes” or “begs” dog. Human is just trying to be polite in the same way he would with another person.	It is obvious to the dog that he is in control of everything. Lower-ranking dogs "beg" to the higher-ranking, controlling dog. Therefore, the dog perceives he is in control.

Dogs, Other Dogs, and Dominance:

Dogs have an instinctual programming to seek their place in the pecking order of dog society. No dog is ever equal. Dogs usually don't care what place they occupy as long as it is clear where they stand.

Conflicts between dogs occur for various reasons, including the attempt to climb the social ladder and/or the defense of a rank. Humans freak out while watching normal doggy language, not realizing that it’s harmless. This is *not* a dog problem. It’s a *human perception* problem.

Behaviour such as snarling, growling, humping, standing on tiptoes, piloerection (hair standing up), direct eye contact, lip-lifting, snapping, and even having a stand-up-on-hind-legs-spat are all normal dog communication and do not necessarily mean that you have a problem. Dogs don't have a verbal language. They can't say "please refrain from sniffing my butt now, you've been back there long enough." Some aggression between dogs is necessary for communication. This type of aggression is usually ritualistic, and dogs do not harm each other. It's all a big show. Normal dog/dog aggression is aimed at keeping the peace, not starting a real fight! The establishment of pecking orders immediately allows all the dogs to relax. Conflicts can be prolonged if dogs are not allowed to sort this pecking order out. Humans often prolong the conflicts by interfering each time, thus preventing resolution.

In particular, "dominance aggression" between dogs is seen when a new dog is introduced to the household where there is already a dog. Or, when a puppy grows into the adolescent stage, his new maturity causes the relationships between the dogs to change. Or, when a previously "top dog" gets a bit older and less agile and strong, his position might slip. Owners notice the dogs jostling for position--the previous peaceful co-existence is a bit strained and there might be some posturing/growling/etc.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is to try to control the relationship between the dogs. Be aware there is a big difference between normal doggy language and outright bullying (bullying is covered in the aggression article). Often, owners get offended or upset if their "old dog" is obviously the less dominant in the relationship...owners feel the dog has a "right" to be the king or queen. Unfortunately this attitude is a human one, and doesn't translate to the dogs! If a dog is old, infirm, smaller, more timid, etc...the bigger, stronger, younger and more confident dog will be the "top dog." You can't change this through any amount of interference. Both dogs just want peace. Neither dog wants to be in constant conflict. As soon as each is sure of their place with each other they will happily co-exist.

The second most common reason for "too much aggression" is lack of confidence in dog/dog social interactions. A dog that is slightly afraid or unsure will tend to use "the best defense is a good offense" technique, showing aggression in order to end the interaction before it really begins. This type of dog needs remedial socialization. The cause of this type of aggression usually stems from sheer lack of experience with other dogs. This is also the type of aggression that is most often mistaken for "dominance." A dog like this needs Nothing in Life is Free as much or more than other types of dogs. He needs to know he's got a good boss, a manager he can trust, that will keep him safe and look out for the dangerous stuff for him.

Very rarely, dogs are born with strong genetic tendencies to want to be Top Dog all the time and in every group. These are the true type "A" personalities. They usually go around confidently whipping every butt in the group until all the other dogs bow to this dog's influence and control. I like to call them "control freaks" or "bullies." They often interfere with other dog's play and make them separate, or if they see a dog having too much fun running around or playing they go over and make the other dog "calm down." Problems can occur easily with these types of dogs if they are not well-socialized and under good control of a human. A poorly socialized or fearful type "A" is likely to harm other dogs through lack of bite inhibition and lack of the impulse control that is brought about by good training and control from the owner. Owners of dogs such as this need to have a good routine that constantly reminds the dog that ultimately, the owner is in control.

To summarize, most behaviours that people call "dominance" are:

-Lack of training and control

-Normal dog/dog interactions that are harmless, and that humans interpret to be dangerous.

-Fear/lack of socialization

-A combination of all of the above!

It's all find and dandy to know all this, but how to you go about making changes so that your life is easier?

Do Nothing in Life is Free. Socialize your dog more. Learn about normal dog/dog language and relax if it doesn't match what you think is polite!

A Life or Death Matter

When I initially present the Nothing in Life is Free program to dog owners who are having problems, they often react negatively. They see it in terms of how it would feel if *they,* the humans, were to be put on the program. They often feel that it is somehow "not nice" or even cruel to implement the program!

However, consider the alternative. Dogs that behave badly often end up re-homed or put to sleep. Dogs are under our control and we are the reason they live or die. We must adequately care for them so they can live alongside us in harmony. The ultimate cruelty for a human to impose on a dog is to inadequately manage his nature, and then kill him when he cannot fit into society. Proper husbandry and management are the kindest things pet owners can give to their beloved pet.

Some of the same people that refuse to exercise control over their pet because they think it's "cruel" have no problems putting the dog down a year later because they can't stand him anymore. Where's the logic in that?

Control your dog. Guide him through his relationships and lifestyle. Realize that without control from humans, a dog's life is in very real danger.