Affinity Dog Behavior & Training

11/01/2026

THE PLOT TO DOMINATE HUMANS

We hear it far too often - “my dog is dominant” or “trying to be the alpha” or “I have to be the pack leader to show my dog who’s in charge”.

The definition of dominance - dominant in the chain of command / occupying or being in a commanding or elevated position / having a controlling, prevailing, or powerful position in a social hierarchy. Do we really believe this of our dogs in the context of our relationship with them? Are dogs really trying to take over our homes and rule the world?

We control everything in their lives - what and when they eat, when they go out, their choices, where they sleep, who they interact with, their environment etc. and yet it’s still believed they are trying to dominate us.

Yes, dominance between dogs does exist, but not in the way that we may assume. It exists in certain situations or contexts, is fluid and may constantly change. It’s not usually about using force but about one individual deferring to another.

Dogs know that we are not dogs and they don’t expect us to behave like other dogs.

Dogs need us to be their advocate, a source of security, of safety and a secure base from which they can navigate our world – not a source of pain, fear, intimidation, force, competition and dominance.

There is a vast amount of scientific evidence and information available that debunks the dominance myth as it pertains to our relationship with dogs.

A few links for further reading and information:

Dr David Mech - scientist and wolf researcher
https://davemech.org/wolf-news-and-information/

From APBC - SJ Evans, Dr Anne Mcbride
https://apbc.org.uk/my-dogs-being-dominant/

From Ready Pup Go –
https://readypupgo.biz/why-dominance-theory-fails-in-dog-training/

11/01/2026

It’s kinder and it works!!

"Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context."

—American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior - AVSAB

10/30/2026

Yep

There are some great ways to prevent food aggression, but messing with, taking or putting your hand in your dogs food is not one of them.

The more we mess with our dogs stuff, the more likely they are to become defensive around it. Just like we might!

10/30/2026

Food for thought.

Some dogs are tethered to a kennel.
Others are tethered to our expectations.
And that tether is much harder to see.

They live inside our homes now.
They sleep on orthopaedic beds.
A few toys to play with. A wardrobe full of coats.
They are loved. Oh, how they are loved.

But a loved life is not always a lived life.

We shrink their world for convenience.
We want a dog that fits into our life,
not a life that stretches to fit a dog.

So before they even arrive, the plan is made.
They will be calm when people come over.
They will be fine with 10 minutes around the same block.
They won't complain when we skip it.
Five minutes of fetch while dinner cooks.
And they will be my loyal companion.

But what if who they are doesn't fit the plan?
What if they were bred to run for miles and we give them a block?
What if they were bred to use their nose, and we never give them anything worth sniffing?

So the cracks show.
The chewed rug.
The paint scratched off the wall.
Whining at the door.
Jumping all over guests because it's the most excitement they've had in 8 days.

And we call it misbehaviour.

So we train them harder.
Not to understand them better-
but to make them fit neatly again.
Calmer.
Quieter.
They need to accept this is the life we decided they should have.

After all, dogs are meant to be loyal companions.
We never stop to ask if we are being a loyal companion to them.

We look at photos of dogs chained to kennels and feel angry.
We all agree, that's no life for a dog.
We give ours a bed instead of a rag on the ground.
A beautiful home instead of a chain.
A couple of toys instead of dirt and twigs.
We just don't see that the chain can still be there

10/28/2026

Less:
"How do I fix this dog?"

More:
"How do I understand this animal and their needs in order to improve their care in order to improve their behavior?"

Welfare literacy changes the conversation.

Start asking better questions with L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology.

10/27/2026

It’s important for our dogs to feel proud and valued, too. 😊

“I’m proud of you – for the things you’re learning…for the many ways you’re growing.” But Mister Rogers didn’t stop there. It wasn’t enough to tell us that a grownup was proud of us. Mister Rogers took it deeper. He made sure to add “and I hope that you are proud of you, too.” It’s much more important that the good feeling of pride belongs to us – and we earned it.

Mister Rogers gave us these universal and timeless messages, and they continue to resonate with us today. As we deal with the tasks we struggle with, even as adults, we can remember those words and those songs, knowing that we are loved and valued – just because of who we are. How good it is to know that even on our darkest days that we have value.

10/24/2026

Come tell me about your dog and have your free in person discovery call!

10/23/2026

It’s been a very long week here at Affinity. After returning from an amazing CANIS Conference, I’ve been non-stop caring for my dogs. Vox has been ill and Lily Opal had a bump removed, and the healing has been intense and very slow. She doesn’t trust or tolerate new people so my vet does the most minimally invasive care on her, and she has to be sedated for everything. So stapling it wasn’t the best option. (I LOVE my vet).

Both dogs have made progress in our cooperative care. And I use the Grooming Goodies Hack. I stop when they need me to, I don’t push them and they have been opting in more than they opt out. Today Vox blew me away at the vet. I couldn’t believe that was my dog!

And I’m especially proud of Lily Opal, my Village Dog, a traumatized dog who came all the way from South Korea. She is terrified of so much. But she has let me do some things to her I never thought possible. Today she let me wipe and gently twist the area around her wound to remove some of the scab. It was hard for me but I kept going as long as she could. This was a dog who could barely be touched and I never could tell if she like being petted for several years. She would pull her legs and feet away from me if I tried to touch them. We’ve come such a long way
I often see the World Dogs trusting people and tolerating a lot when I watch videos (especially in India). With Lily Opal, I am now seeing more trust and she is understanding I am helping her. My other pet dogs don’t do that like she does. It’s different. 💜💜💜

If you need help or want to learn more, I offer these in my sessions and behavior plans.