The D-Word: On dogs and dominance

Reference to Helium article about dogs and dominance.
By Laure-Anne Viselé, July 2010; Last updated April 2012

Writing for Helium

I have just published my first article for Helium. You can find it on: The D-Word. It’s about my favourite subject: debunking the dominance myth. Like the article? Vote for it on Helium.

This is the article.

The evidence

Despite the overwhelming body of knowledge invalidating the pack theory, it still seems to be that the vast majority dog professionals and owners continue to cling to an outdated set of beliefs. The persistence of dominance and pack theory rhetoric in dog training never ceases to baffle me.

So what evidence, I hear you ask

Here are but a few snippets of the current consensus among academics seriously researching dog and wolf behaviour:

- The (Northern gray) wolf is not a pack animal in the classic notion of a pack (i.e. unrelated members forming a large social group). The NGW social groups are more akin to a family unit with the parents, this year’s cubs, and perhaps last year’s yearlings.

- Dominance aggression in wolves is not preponderant in the wild.

- The dog is not a wolf. We do not interpret all our human behaviours through analysing our close cousins, the chimps. Why would we do this with the dog-wolf relationship?

- Rank-reduction programs are known to lead to carry an increased risk of worsening behaviour in anxious and aggressive dogs.

- Studies of wild and feral dogs fail to show them form a coherent packing structure. When they do group, they form loose and temporary congregations, generally around common resources like a village dump.

A bit of history

The pack theory was popularised by David Mech throughout the seventies, based on a study of captive wolves by Schenkel (1947). Schenkel observed many hierarchy-related spats between the wolves he studied. Mech himself later invalidated much of Schenkel’s findings after systematic studies of wolves in the wild, which showed next to no dominance-related competition.

Around the same time, post-war military dog trainers emmigrated from Germany to the US, greatly popularising the sport, and laying down the foundations of punishment-based dog training with military levels of discipline.

The last piece of the puzzle that contributed to the present representation of the dog in the public’s mind was the myriad popular fictional dog heroes like Rin Tin Tin and Lassie, who were present in book, radio, or TV form from the fifties through to the seventies

These three historic influences formed the basis for what is referred to today as ‘traditional’ dog training methods: a mix of unrealistically high behaviour expectations (the Lassie syndrome), punishment-based training (the military founders of dog training), and an inordinate focus on dominance (the Schenkel study).

But my dog is so dominant

Followers of the pack theory give even the most desultory of behaviours a dominance flavour, advising rank-reduction methods for fear the dog will end up dominating the human familly.

Countless behaviours such as jumping, sleeping on furniture, eating before the human family or exiting a door before the owner, are commonly met with baseless rank-reduction punishment.

Take jumping up when greeting: the modern interpretation on that behaviour likens it to a throwback puppy behaviour, where the dog attempts to lick the nurturing parent’s mouth. And, wouldn’t you know it, if you allow a (jumping) greeting dog closer to your face, he will lick it. Not exactly the stuff of alpha wolves.

Now let’s look at sleeping on furniture for another widespread misinterpretation. Popular myth would have you interpret this behaviour as a dog seeking an elevated position to better dominate over its pack. If one must compare dog behaviour to wolves, this behaviour is displayed by cubs (undisputably not the pack leaders) and adults alike in wild wolf studies. The last time I checked, no study had found a statistically significant correlation between status and resting in high places. The other usual suspects (eating first, entering a passage first, or growing while eating and being approached) show similar results to the sleeping places test in wild wolf studies: no relation to status or dominance, and displayed by cubs and adults alike.

So why do I care so much?

There are two reasons the issue of dominance is close to my heart. Firstly, I have a pet hate for fallacies. Especially when they continue to be spread by professionals in an advisory position, like dog trainers or behaviour therapists. In light of the overwhelming body of evidence invalidating the pack theory and its dominance ramifications, I find it nothing short of irresponsible to cling to an outdated apocryphal model of behaviour interpretation. Professionals owe it to the public to educate themselves as best they can in the field of their choice, and I look forward to the day when ‘I am good with dogs and I have worked for twenty years’ will no longer be valid substitutes for a basic qualification.

The second reason I care so much is a lot less lofty: the rank-reduction training methods that flow from the dominance theory often lead to punishments that are baseless, disproportional and abusive, ultimately leading to countless dogs being abused, abandonned and/or euthanised in the name of a myth.

So dogs should be spoilt?

What is often referred to as the modern approach to dog training does not preach permissive methods and spoilt dogs, but it asks to treat a dog like a dog, and to use humane methods, rather than intimidation, to make Good Canine Citizens out of them.

So do yourself and your dog a favour and look for a training school that does not mention alpha leaders, dominance or the pack theory every other sentence.

STILL not convinced?

The American Veterinary Association of Animal Behavior’s position statement on the use of the dominance concept in behaviour modification.

And THE scientific authority on wolf behaviour, David Mech, talking of the issue:

Got a comment?

I am always interested in hearing your comments, so don’t be shy and write on.

I would particularly like to hear from you if you:

• Often get caught in the D-word debate
• Disagree with some (all?) of my points
• Have good references to share on the subject (e.g. websites, books, scientific articles)

No comment is too long or too short, just join the debate.

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• Dogs, my philosophical position – Canis bonus position statement on debated dog issues
• Thinking of getting a dog? Reality check – Article about responsibilities and chores of dog ownership
• Hot dogs – Take part in quick poll on hotly debated dog issues (e.g. on- or offleash, use treats in training or not, etc.)

Dog behaviour

• Blimey, my dog’s barmy – Interview with canine behaviourist Nick Jones
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• Getting your dog through the Dutch New Year’s Eve – A guide to fireworks anxiety
• Dog-dog aggression, a self-help guide – Some advice to put you in the right track in seeking treatment

Dog training

• Dog training, traditional vs. modern theories – An academic review of the field
• Dogs, the art of intelligent punishment – Insight into effective and non-cruel punishment
• Stop your dog from scavenging while walking – Training tips to help reduce the risk of poisoning

Further reading

To find out more on the subject:

• John Bradshaw’s ‘Dog Sense’ (book)
• American Veterinary Association: Position statement on the use of dominance theory
• Dr Stanley Coren “Is the concept of the Alpha Dog valid?”
• Cafazzo et al, 2010 “Dominance in relation to Age, Sex and Competitive Contexts in a group of free-ranging domestic dogs” – this one supports the dominance theory

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