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If you’re a pet parent, you’ve likely heard of the alpha dog theory. Dogs naturally organize themselves into a social hierarchy, so the theory goes, with one dog establishing the alpha role through dominating behaviors. So in a domestic situation you have the simple choice of the alpha being either you, or your dog.
But it’s time that this harmful canine dominance myth is left well and truly in the past—where it belongs. This theory relies on using dominance as the foundation of training, something that we now know doesn’t work.
In fact, the origins of the alpha dog theory aren’t even based on studies of dogs, but on wolves. The researchers who popularized the term “alpha” have even rejected their initial theories, acknowledging that it’s misleading when applied to both wolves and dogs. And unfortunately, training dogs using this dominance-based method often results in fear-based aggression, traumatic experiences — and ultimately — can lead to a completely broken relationship between dogs and their owners.
We now know that a pack of dogs won’t be trying to dominate each other, nor their owners. Dogs have a wide range of ways to communicate with each other (and us, if we pay attention!) including body position, facial expressions, and tail carriage. As science helps us learn more about how our dogs communicate, and how they try to feel secure, safe, and relaxed, we can use these findings as we work towards more effective ways of training and living alongside our dogs — no alpha required.
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What Does Alpha Dog Actually Mean?
The term alpha dog refers to the (now debunked) theory that within a group of dogs, one will always be trying to assert their dominance over the others.
Steffi Trott, founder of SpiritDog Training says that “this idea of canine dominance relies on our human projection of what we think dogs want, and has been perpetuated by many popular dog trainers.” But we now know that when living within a multi-dog household, our dogs operate on more of a family or community unit, and dominance simply isn’t a factor.
Using fear to try and teach our dogs to respect us is never going to work. Instead, concentrate on creating a home that provides everything your dog needs to feel safe and happy — by meeting their emotional, physical, and intellectual needs.
Dog Dominance Is a Damaging Myth
We briefly covered the origins of the alpha dog theory, but let’s take a closer look at the original research and why it was shown to be flawed. The roots of the terms dominance and submission being attached to canine behavior can be traced back to Germany in the 1940s. Konrad Lorenz observed that when dogs approached each other, sometimes one would roll on their back in a ‘submissive’ gesture to the other, more ‘dominant’ dog.
This idea was also tied into observations of captive wolves observed in the 1940s. They were kept in a smaller than usual area, and formed into an artificial pack. Within these wolves, conflicts were observed that were originally thought to be tied to dominance. The theory that there needed to be an alpha wolf was then later extended to domestic dogs.
David Mech, wildlife research biologist and founder of the International Wolf Center, admits that the idea of alpha wolves is now outdated and misleading. He acknowledges having popularized this term in his 1968 book “The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species.” Other animal behavioral experts are also against the use of dominance theory.
In 2008, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommended veterinarians to avoid referring pet parents to trainers or behavioral consultants whose “solutions” are rooted in the dominance hierarchy theory.
Training techniques that rely on methods based around dominance are also outdated — and potentially harmful. This includes:
- the alpha roll
- scruffing
- forcing your dog to wait while you walk through doors first
- eating before them
- staring at them until they break eye contact first
These techniques often result in fearful or anxious dogs. If a trainer (or anyone else) recommends these kinds of tips, it’s best to decline — and then send them a link to this article!
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Learn what actually motivates your dog
Instead of fear-based training, learn what actually motivates dogs and use this to create a relationship based on trust. Motivation techniques include science-based strategies, such as positive reinforcement, desensitization, and counter-conditioning.
“Dogs are not wolves,” says Trott. Wolves and dogs have very different genetic makeup and behavioral motivations. For example, dogs are motivated to live alongside us. They seek out interactions with humans, look for help from humans, and observe our social cues.
“Many dog owners believe that once they establish themselves as the alpha, all the behavioral issues will be solved and their dog will be perfectly trained. But it doesn’t work like that,” says Trott.
“Dominance training methods are also often pretty rough. So your dog may be more likely to try and figure things out by themselves rather than come to you when they’re scared or unsure. The trust and bond between you is broken — and you still don’t have a well trained dog,” she adds.
We also know that dogs aren’t motivated by fear — scientific research shows that fear is the cause of most aggressive behavior in dogs. Confrontational training techniques based on dominance and fear aren’t ever going to result in a well trained dog. “It can be very confusing for dogs to be trained with harsh methods. Once their trust is broken it can take a long time for this to come back – and in some cases that trust will be broken forever,” says Trott.
Pack Mentality Hurts Both Dogs and Humans
Often, pet parents want to believe that within a multi-dog household, at least one dog is the alpha. There can be a variety of reasons behind this belief, for example we might be feeling overwhelmed with dog training and hope that an older dog will set an example to a younger one.
But our domestic dogs aren’t always striving to dominate each other — it’s more likely that they’re competing for resources. If there aren’t enough dog beds, each dog will be trying to find somewhere comfy to sleep. If one dog eats a chew faster than another, they may start to bicker over what’s left.
Knowing how to manage the resources in a multi-dog household will help create the optimum environment, but it’s also important to recognize that often undesirable behaviors are also down to us accidentally rewarding our dogs.
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How to manage a multi-dog household
“Multi-dog households can be difficult to manage,” says Trott. “Pay attention to the relationships between your dogs. We want all dogs within the house to be comfortable, and unfortunately they’re often not,” she adds. Pay attention to the interactions between your dogs and remember it’s always best to seek help sooner rather than later if you’re concerned.
Some tips you can try include:
- Feeding your dogs separately
- Make sure there are always enough resources, including toys and beds
- Allow each dog to have their own space
- Spend one-on-one time with each dog to build confidence
All of the tips we’re providing are designed for regular pet dogs that don’t exhibit any extreme behavioral issues like reactivity, aggression, or high prey drive. When training a dog with these issues, it’s always best to work with a qualified trainer or behaviorist to develop a training plan that addresses your dog’s specific situation.
Do Dogs Choose an Alpha Human?
Now we know that dominance doesn’t come into how dogs interact with each other, it also makes sense that they don’t see humans as alpha or dominant. But we do know that some dogs definitely prefer certain people over others. And there’s always a good reason!
“Some less outgoing dogs may be attracted to people who are less physically intimidating or whose body language is more subtle,” says Trott. Certain breeds including Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs often bond very strongly to just one person. “Dogs also learn very quickly that there may be different rules or consequences from different people,” says Trott.
Consistency and routine are also important to dogs. You may know your dog naturally gravitates toward the family member who is most consistent during training sessions, or the person who is their primary caregiver. The amount of time spent creating positive associations can also play a part.
It’s clear that while there are many different ways that individual dogs pick their favorite person, none of these are based on dominance.
Never use the alpha roll
The alpha roll is a dominance training technique that is now considered not only outdated, but dangerous. This method involves physically rolling a dog onto their back and pinning them there for a short time. It was popularized as a technique in the book “How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend” published in 1978. But the second edition of the book, published in 2002, was updated and strongly discouraged dog owners from using the alpha roll as a training technique.
You’ve probably seen dogs, especially puppies, roll onto their backs when greeting another dog. It might look similar to an alpha roll, but the key is that the dog is assuming this submissive position themself — there’s no force involved.
“No dog would ever actively roll another dog onto their back,” says Trott. “Most dogs will resist being placed into an alpha roll by a human, because it’s such an unnatural sensation for them. This puts them at risk of physical injury,” she adds. Research shows that used over time, techniques like the alpha roll may provoke an aggressive reaction.
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How to Re-Interpret Your Dog’s Body Language
As we learn more about our dog’s body language and motivations, things that may once have been seen as dominant body language should be viewed in a new light. Training techniques designed to address these so-called ‘dominant’ behaviors also fail to acknowledge that the fear these techniques create does not equal obedience.
Some classic examples include staring at your dog and making them break eye contact first. “Many breeds, especially herding dogs, are very uncomfortable with direct eye contact and perceive it as a lot of pressure,” says Trott.
Growling when another dog or puppy comes near is often seen as dominant, when it’s simply a clear signal for another dog to step back and not engage.
Pushing past their owner is another classic example — “but this can be down to all sorts of reasons. Maybe your dog needs to pee, they’ve seen a cat outside, or simply haven’t been trained how to behave around doorways,” says Trott.
When it comes to re-evaluating your dog’s body language, “it’s all about knowing your own dog, their individual personality and reinforcement history,” adds Trott.
All Dogs Need Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Support
Using training techniques based on outdated canine dominance theories “can not only damage trust between you and your dog, but possibly break it forever,” says Trott. Often, our dogs are simply reacting to what we’ve unconsciously been reinforcing — your dog jumps up and you give them a stroke as you push them down. When they jump up again, they’re not trying to be dominant, they just want some more fuss!
As we learn more about canine behavior and cognition, it’s clear that any training techniques relying on dominance simply aren’t going to achieve anything other than making dogs fearful and potentially aggressive.
“By choosing to train using positive reinforcement, you’re allowing your dog to be an active participant in their own success. Instead of living their life trying to avoid punishment, they understand how they can be rewarded for behaving in the right way,” says Trott.
And there’s no need to do it on your own. If you’re unsure where to start or are concerned your training techniques aren’t working, it’s always best to consult a professional for some tailored advice.
