How to stop a dog dominating other dogs?

Dogs are social animals who base their relationships on individual experiences. They can learn how another dog is feeling by reading their body language and changing their own behaviour in response. 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. Positive training methods, using rewards for good behaviour, are much more effective and better for everyone. When resources are scarce, rather than fighting, wolves spread out into smaller groups across a wider range of land. They avoid conflict where possible. Examples of such training methods to avoid are pushing or pulling a dog into a position, holding a dog down, using a choke chain, using an electric shock collar, shouting, smacking.

To stop a dog dominating other dogs, you need to be consistent and set rules for acceptable behavior and bad behavior in your home and in public places, like on walks or at a dog park, and reinforce those rules on a regular basis. You are your dog’s pack leader, which means you should handle situations in a calm and decisive manner. Remove your dog from situations or stimuli that provoke aggressive responses. Make the dog work by teaching them to follow your commands before receiving rewards, praise, or affectionate gestures like belly rubs, and be consistent with this approach. Lead the pack and handle situations in a calm and decisive manner, as anger or physically aggressive training techniques rarely correct dominant behavior. A relaxed dog is more willing to listen and learn than a fearful dog. If your dog continues to exhibit dominant behavior, seek help from professional dog trainers who can help you understand canine communication and use behavior modification methods to undo the most difficult behavior problems.