Debunking The Dominance Theory

'PR' Grnlf''s Whirlwind, Bounce, Owned By Whitney Weston
Photo Credit: Memories Photography By Holly

Every dog owner has heard it at least once, "You need to be the Alpha of your pack." Now, let's start with that. What is an Alpha exactly? Well, let me start by telling you, you can't be one. When L. David Mech originally wrote his book, The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of An Endangered Species, it greatly started the spread of the Dominance (or otherwise known, Alpha) Theory. Mech has since been trying to keep the book from being published because even he himself has realized the fault in his writing, he was observing captive, not wild, wolves. The wolves that Mech was observing were all adult wolves forced to live together as a pack and was very different from naturally formed wolf packs. It wasn't surprising to find out that they fought often as this wasn't a natural way of living for them. So what is a natural wolf pack like? A natural wolf pack is formed when a male seeks out a female, they mate and have pups. The pups grow up as part of a pack, but once they mature, the males go out and find other females and start packs of their own. So all in all, there are no Alphas in wolf packs, just parents and pups.

Border Collie Owned By Hazel Fernandez

Shorty Bull and Poodle-Chihuahua Mix, Photo Credit: Zoey Carter

Now, let's throw that aside to talk about the main issue with this theory. Dogs are NOT wolves. Yes, it's true, they aren't wolves. So when did wolf behavior have anything to do with dog training? In all truth, they don't go together at all. A better place to look for dog behavior in nature would be feral dog groups. I'm going to start by saying there isn't much information currently available about feral dogs, as they have only become recently interesting to wildlife biologists. However, I will provide you with the information that is currently known. So let's start with what exactly a feral dog is. A feral dog isn't your neighbors dog that has been missing for a few months, that dog would still be considered domestic.

Mixed Breed, Photo Credit: Tyfanee Fortuna

A feral dog would be the offspring and any generations afterwards that grew up without humans. Feral dogs, just like the Domestic Dog, are social animals. They enjoy interacting with others in their species. However, what has recently been noted is that they are not pack animals. They do not stay in organized groups, nor do they have an organized hierarchy. Often times they travel individually, spending time with a certain group of dogs before moving on to the next. It is also important to note that feral dogs are more scavengers than hunters, and do not hunt in groups even when they do hunt. It's much more likely for an individual to catch a squirrel or rabbit as it's own meal than for it to share with the other feral dogs, very much unlike wolves.

If dogs when let loose do not form hierarchy on their own and do not try to attain a status by dominating other dogs, then why would we assume that we would need to dominate our dogs to gain respect? In feral dog packs respect is everywhere, the dogs do not dominate each other but rather give each other their space and socialize on occasion

So what should this say to us as dog owners? Are the alpha rolls really necessary or are we just scaring our dogs for no reason? The dominance theory is an outdated theory based on incredible amounts of misinformation and can cause fear and aggression issues in dogs that had otherwise been fine. If you are having behavioral issues with your dog contact your local trainer or behaviorist, but keep in mind the problem is most likely not that your dog is trying to dominate you.  

"A good dog never dies, he always stays, he walks beside you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and
winter's drawing near, his head within our hand in his old way." --Anonymous