11/02/2026
I hear this all the time!
“My dog is dominant!”
“My dog thinks they are the boss!”
“My dog is alpha”
I have news for you. No, no & no!
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/
