How to show a dog your dominance?
Ollie Nikolaus
2025-07-07 12:23:35
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: 11
We align with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), which advocates for positive reinforcement and behavior modification techniques based on scientific principles. AVSAB recommends against using dominance-based methods and urges trainers to focus on reinforcing desirable behaviors and addressing underlying emotional or medical factors. This theory suggests that animals misbehave to assert dominance, but research now shows that many undesirable behaviors stem from unintentional reinforcement, not a desire for rank.
Carmella Terry
2025-06-24 07:05:22
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: 5
People assumed that dogs saw their owners as competition for the position of ‘top dog’. The theory became so popular that it was used to interpret interactions between dogs and people. If an owner believes that their dog is trying to be the boss, they might feel they have to make it clear to the dog that they are not. An owner might do this by using punishment and discipline, which could scare and hurt the dog. Using methods that aim to control a dog’s behaviour with physical force and shouting are not a good idea. They will likely result in the dog feeling intimidated and scared. Examples of such training methods are: pushing or pulling a dog into a position, holding a dog down, using a choke chain, using an electric shock collar, shouting, smacking. These forms of control can damage the bond between a dog and their owner and might even make the dog’s behaviour worse.