international positive dog training association
The Dominance Theory In Modern Dog Training
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The Dominance Theory
By Norma Jeanne Laurette
There’s a common belief among many dog owners and trainers that dogs will challenge their owners in an attempt to rise in rank and lead the pack. Rudolf Schenkel first presented the dominance theory in the 1940s after studying wolves in captivity. R1 This doctrine remained a respected concept for decades until challenged and debunked by David Mech after conducting research of wild wolf packs living in their natural environments, untouched by human intervention.
According to Mech, only unacquainted wolves living in captivity behave in a manner that appears to be a competition for status. It is instead due to confined artificially created territories and limited resources forcing wolves to compete with one another for survival. R2 R3
Based on Mech’s findings, natural wolf packs operate as family units with one male and female breeding pair leading each pack in order to provide for and protect their cubs. As soon as they are old enough to mate, the cubs will leave the pack to find mates and raise families of their own, thus becoming alpha male or female of their own packs. The role of leadership is associated with parenting, not domination. The parents work together to hunt, protect territory and control pack dynamics. The alpha female is typically more controlling with raising and protecting the cubs, while the alpha male is generally more ascendant when it comes to leading the hunt. R2 R3 R13
Another study by Roberto Bonanni and his associates of the University of Parma studied street dogs in Italy. They followed a pack that included 27 dogs of which
6 led the pack most of time while at least half led the pack on occasion. They concluded that the leaders at any given time were mature and experienced dogs that were more likely to secure resources. R4
Many dog owners and trainers not only use the dominance theory to explain a variety of unwanted canine behaviours, they also use it to justify a myriad of unpleasant tools and techniques designed to frighten, hurt, overwhelm or over-power a dog with the objective of intimidating it into subservience. This type of training only appears to work because the dog avoids behaviours that result in unpleasant consequences.
Punitive techniques teach avoidance but do nothing to teach the dog what you want it to do, nor do they address the root cause of the behaviour or what’s reinforcing it. It’s on par with a doctor treating a malignant tumour with painkillers – the problem will not go away. In fact, it’s been proven that an unwanted behaviour treated with force and punishment will quickly return and will often be more severe when it does. R5 R6
Unfortunately, this approach and ideology has cost many dogs their lives or at the very least, diminished their quality of life. Dominance-based training causes frustration, stress, anxiety, fear and aggression along with other unwanted stress-induced behaviours that result in more punishment, abandonment and often euthanasia. In one case, a Florida trainer killed a dog while attempting to force it into submission. After muzzling the dog and sitting on it for over an hour, the dog lost consciousness and later had to be euthanized due to its injuries. R7 Sadly, many similar stories have appeared in the news over the years.
The course I took in the early 90’s to become a professional dog trainer included the dominance theory and many aversive methods. Within my first year of instructing dog training classes and behaviour consultations I dumped the dominance theory and stopped using punishment based tools and techniques because I quickly realized the potential harm to a dog’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. It quickly became apparent that coercion was causing fear and distrust, and harming the dogs’ temperaments.
We need to be consistent leaders in order to teach and protect our dogs, however benevolent leadership has nothing to do with dominance and everything to do with caring and compassion. It means teaching our dogs while nurturing mutual respect, earning their trust and ensuring quality of life and emotional wellbeing. Positive training requires setting the dog up for success by teaching it what we want it to do, motivating it to make correct choices and rewarding it for doing so. Effective positive training involves patience, consistency, environmental management, resource control and socialization.
I no longer use the word “dominance” to describe any aspect of dog training, behaviour modification or the dog/human relationship because it’s nothing more than a misinterpretation of canine motivation. Another reason is because many believe it gives them license to intimidate, scare, hurt or otherwise coerce their dogs into doing what they want them to do, or stopping behaviours they don’t like. My opinion is that treating anyone in this manner – animal or human is abusive.
I no longer use the words ‘obedience’ or ‘command’ as ‘obedience’ means submissive to another’s will and ‘command’ means to demand. This is not positive training and is not the relationship I want with my dog. Instead of ‘obedience’ I use ‘training’ and instead of ‘command’ I use ‘cue’ or ‘instruction’.
Since dog training is about teaching our dogs to understand our cues and signals and choose to willingly respond, the dog’s ability to learn is one of the keys to success. It’s been scientifically proven that intimidation, force and pain cause frustration, stress, anxiety and fear, and that these unpleasant emotions inhibit ones ability to think, learn, remember, problem-solve or make choices. Because of this, negativity is clearly counter-productive to the learning process. R8 R9 R10 R11
Unless caused by physiological factors, all unwanted canine behaviour is normal and can be explained by simple cause and effect, motivation and reinforcement. Like us, dogs just want to be happy, and whatever works to get the dog what it wants is what it’s going to do. If you saw a $100 bill lying in the street would you not pick it up? Why then is a dog helping itself to your unattended dinner a sign of dominance when dogs are scavengers by nature? It's not a dominant dog that takes your food it's a normal dog doing what comes naturally to its species and it’s a trained dog that leaves your food alone.
Challenges with our dogs are not about dominance – they’re about controlling resources, which is a natural survival instinct. One of the few commonalities between dogs and humans is that some are more assertive than others. Dogs with more assertive personalities will try harder to control valued resources than those with more submissive personalities. An assertive dog may be more of a challenge to train, but it has nothing to do with dominance. Because a dog’s guardian controls the resources, the guardian is the most valuable resource of all, which is why assertive dogs try to control their humans.
Since it's all about resources, it stands to reason that if you control the resources, you can control the dog. All it takes is patience and consistency to shape an assertive dog into an amazing companion by following three rules of resource control.
Resource Control R12
Rule #1 – Ignore all demands
If you don’t respond to your dog’s demands, it can’t control you or the resources. If you don’t follow, your dog can’t lead.
Many are unaware that attention is also a very potent reward for many dogs. If your dog demands something and you do anything other than ignore it, you’ve rewarded the unwanted behaviour with attention and it will escalate. If your dog jumps on you for attention and you tell it to get off or sit, you’ve rewarded your dog for jumping on you. If your dog barks at you for attention and you tell it to be quiet, you’ve rewarded your dog for barking. For many dog guardians, changing their own habits is an important part of the process.
Rule #2 – Require your dog to earn everything it values
Require your dog to earn all valued resources by first performing a previously taught cue, such as a sit or down. If your dog is earning everything it values it will
begin to offer these desired behaviours as default behaviours because they work.
When your dog is earning resources other than food, it makes the process of eliminating training treats much quicker and easier, so you don't end up with a dog that will not respond to cues without food.
This rule also serves the purpose of creating numerous training opportunities because your dog will be earning many resources throughout the day. A few resources your dog may value are games, toys, chewing, walks, playing with dog friends, cuddle time, etc. Requiring your dog to earn everything it values promotes structure and benevolent leadership, which garners respect and creates good manners. It nurtures a mentally stimulated, thinking dog resulting in focus and self-control.
Rule #3 – Manage the environment in order to follow the first two rules
With the understanding that not all unwanted behaviours can be ignored, pro-active, positive training and environmental management can prevent these behaviours from occurring in the first place and allow you to consistently adhere to the first two rules.
Following these three rules consistently can make a big difference in earning respect and reducing unwanted behaviour in a short period of time however, if you’ve been responding to demands, an unwanted behaviour will get worse before it gets better because the dog will try harder until realizing the rules have changed and finally giving up.
Although dogs need leadership and guidance to become good companions, dominating them has proven to be counter-productive, harmful, abusive and dangerous. It’s time for dog trainers and guardians to stop blaming and punishing dogs under the dominance umbrella. Once it’s universally understood that it’s easier, more enjoyable, effective and productive to teach using positive methods, only then will the world become a better place for dogs and those who love them.
According to Mech, only unacquainted wolves living in captivity behave in a manner that appears to be a competition for status. It is instead due to confined artificially created territories and limited resources forcing wolves to compete with one another for survival. R2 R3
Based on Mech’s findings, natural wolf packs operate as family units with one male and female breeding pair leading each pack in order to provide for and protect their cubs. As soon as they are old enough to mate, the cubs will leave the pack to find mates and raise families of their own, thus becoming alpha male or female of their own packs. The role of leadership is associated with parenting, not domination. The parents work together to hunt, protect territory and control pack dynamics. The alpha female is typically more controlling with raising and protecting the cubs, while the alpha male is generally more ascendant when it comes to leading the hunt. R2 R3 R13
Another study by Roberto Bonanni and his associates of the University of Parma studied street dogs in Italy. They followed a pack that included 27 dogs of which
6 led the pack most of time while at least half led the pack on occasion. They concluded that the leaders at any given time were mature and experienced dogs that were more likely to secure resources. R4
Many dog owners and trainers not only use the dominance theory to explain a variety of unwanted canine behaviours, they also use it to justify a myriad of unpleasant tools and techniques designed to frighten, hurt, overwhelm or over-power a dog with the objective of intimidating it into subservience. This type of training only appears to work because the dog avoids behaviours that result in unpleasant consequences.
Punitive techniques teach avoidance but do nothing to teach the dog what you want it to do, nor do they address the root cause of the behaviour or what’s reinforcing it. It’s on par with a doctor treating a malignant tumour with painkillers – the problem will not go away. In fact, it’s been proven that an unwanted behaviour treated with force and punishment will quickly return and will often be more severe when it does. R5 R6
Unfortunately, this approach and ideology has cost many dogs their lives or at the very least, diminished their quality of life. Dominance-based training causes frustration, stress, anxiety, fear and aggression along with other unwanted stress-induced behaviours that result in more punishment, abandonment and often euthanasia. In one case, a Florida trainer killed a dog while attempting to force it into submission. After muzzling the dog and sitting on it for over an hour, the dog lost consciousness and later had to be euthanized due to its injuries. R7 Sadly, many similar stories have appeared in the news over the years.
The course I took in the early 90’s to become a professional dog trainer included the dominance theory and many aversive methods. Within my first year of instructing dog training classes and behaviour consultations I dumped the dominance theory and stopped using punishment based tools and techniques because I quickly realized the potential harm to a dog’s emotional and psychological wellbeing. It quickly became apparent that coercion was causing fear and distrust, and harming the dogs’ temperaments.
We need to be consistent leaders in order to teach and protect our dogs, however benevolent leadership has nothing to do with dominance and everything to do with caring and compassion. It means teaching our dogs while nurturing mutual respect, earning their trust and ensuring quality of life and emotional wellbeing. Positive training requires setting the dog up for success by teaching it what we want it to do, motivating it to make correct choices and rewarding it for doing so. Effective positive training involves patience, consistency, environmental management, resource control and socialization.
I no longer use the word “dominance” to describe any aspect of dog training, behaviour modification or the dog/human relationship because it’s nothing more than a misinterpretation of canine motivation. Another reason is because many believe it gives them license to intimidate, scare, hurt or otherwise coerce their dogs into doing what they want them to do, or stopping behaviours they don’t like. My opinion is that treating anyone in this manner – animal or human is abusive.
I no longer use the words ‘obedience’ or ‘command’ as ‘obedience’ means submissive to another’s will and ‘command’ means to demand. This is not positive training and is not the relationship I want with my dog. Instead of ‘obedience’ I use ‘training’ and instead of ‘command’ I use ‘cue’ or ‘instruction’.
Since dog training is about teaching our dogs to understand our cues and signals and choose to willingly respond, the dog’s ability to learn is one of the keys to success. It’s been scientifically proven that intimidation, force and pain cause frustration, stress, anxiety and fear, and that these unpleasant emotions inhibit ones ability to think, learn, remember, problem-solve or make choices. Because of this, negativity is clearly counter-productive to the learning process. R8 R9 R10 R11
Unless caused by physiological factors, all unwanted canine behaviour is normal and can be explained by simple cause and effect, motivation and reinforcement. Like us, dogs just want to be happy, and whatever works to get the dog what it wants is what it’s going to do. If you saw a $100 bill lying in the street would you not pick it up? Why then is a dog helping itself to your unattended dinner a sign of dominance when dogs are scavengers by nature? It's not a dominant dog that takes your food it's a normal dog doing what comes naturally to its species and it’s a trained dog that leaves your food alone.
Challenges with our dogs are not about dominance – they’re about controlling resources, which is a natural survival instinct. One of the few commonalities between dogs and humans is that some are more assertive than others. Dogs with more assertive personalities will try harder to control valued resources than those with more submissive personalities. An assertive dog may be more of a challenge to train, but it has nothing to do with dominance. Because a dog’s guardian controls the resources, the guardian is the most valuable resource of all, which is why assertive dogs try to control their humans.
Since it's all about resources, it stands to reason that if you control the resources, you can control the dog. All it takes is patience and consistency to shape an assertive dog into an amazing companion by following three rules of resource control.
Resource Control R12
Rule #1 – Ignore all demands
If you don’t respond to your dog’s demands, it can’t control you or the resources. If you don’t follow, your dog can’t lead.
Many are unaware that attention is also a very potent reward for many dogs. If your dog demands something and you do anything other than ignore it, you’ve rewarded the unwanted behaviour with attention and it will escalate. If your dog jumps on you for attention and you tell it to get off or sit, you’ve rewarded your dog for jumping on you. If your dog barks at you for attention and you tell it to be quiet, you’ve rewarded your dog for barking. For many dog guardians, changing their own habits is an important part of the process.
Rule #2 – Require your dog to earn everything it values
Require your dog to earn all valued resources by first performing a previously taught cue, such as a sit or down. If your dog is earning everything it values it will
begin to offer these desired behaviours as default behaviours because they work.
When your dog is earning resources other than food, it makes the process of eliminating training treats much quicker and easier, so you don't end up with a dog that will not respond to cues without food.
This rule also serves the purpose of creating numerous training opportunities because your dog will be earning many resources throughout the day. A few resources your dog may value are games, toys, chewing, walks, playing with dog friends, cuddle time, etc. Requiring your dog to earn everything it values promotes structure and benevolent leadership, which garners respect and creates good manners. It nurtures a mentally stimulated, thinking dog resulting in focus and self-control.
Rule #3 – Manage the environment in order to follow the first two rules
With the understanding that not all unwanted behaviours can be ignored, pro-active, positive training and environmental management can prevent these behaviours from occurring in the first place and allow you to consistently adhere to the first two rules.
Following these three rules consistently can make a big difference in earning respect and reducing unwanted behaviour in a short period of time however, if you’ve been responding to demands, an unwanted behaviour will get worse before it gets better because the dog will try harder until realizing the rules have changed and finally giving up.
Although dogs need leadership and guidance to become good companions, dominating them has proven to be counter-productive, harmful, abusive and dangerous. It’s time for dog trainers and guardians to stop blaming and punishing dogs under the dominance umbrella. Once it’s universally understood that it’s easier, more enjoyable, effective and productive to teach using positive methods, only then will the world become a better place for dogs and those who love them.