Dominance Theory: Why You Should Leave it Behind

If you’ve ever searched about dog training techniques, you may have come across the phrase “dominance theory”. Or, perhaps someone has told you you need to be the “alpha” to your brand-new puppy. But what is dominance theory? Do you need to be the “pack leader” when training your dog? Learn more about the flawed science behind a now-outdated theory of training, as well as alternative techniques that can help you build trust instead of fear.

What Is Dominance Theory?

In 1947, Robert Shenkel was studying a group of wolves in captivity. From his studies, he decided that wolves had a strict hierarchy: a pack had a distinct “alpha” or lead male, with other wolves filling less dominant roles beneath. The alpha kept the pack in check, instilled rules, and got the first pick of resources. For many years, this theory of a strict hierarchy was applied to other similar species, such as pet dogs. It was believed that if your dog saw you as “pack leader”, they would naturally submit to your training techniques and rules.

However, in 1986, researcher David Mech found that the actual pack hierarchy in wild wolves was more of a family nucleus than a strictly structured group; based on experience rather than the ability of one wolf to dominate another. But, despite these new findings, dominance theory remained a popular training method into the mid-2000s. It was made even more popular with celebrity trainers and TV shows that “proved” being the leader was the fastest way to get a dog to behave.

Dominance Theory’s Use in Dog Training

Dominance theory has been an extremely popular training technique in dog training until very recently. This training method utilizes techniques such as prong collars, pinch collars, and shock collars to make a dog “listen” to the will of the owner through the use of positive punishment. It also emphasizes techniques such as “alpha rolling” which involves placing a dog on their back until they give in to their owner’s “dominance”. It was believed that by teaching your dog that you were the leader and they were not they would be more likely to listen and less likely to challenge you.

Dominance theory is also sometimes used in the discussion of resource guarding between dogs. It was believed that a more dominant dog was more likely to guard or covet resources such as bones, food, and bedding.

How Dominance Theory Was Proven Wrong

With the rise in studies of animal behavior and the human-animal bond, dominance theory is becoming increasingly unpopular. Not only has the strict hierarchy of wolves been heavily debunked both in and out of captivity, many studies have found that dogs are more responsive and easier to handle when using a trust-based system over a dominance one. And, in the case of resource guarding between dogs, it’s been found that dogs will often “swap” who is more dominant over a resource, debunking the theory that one dog is always the most in control.

Many owners and animal behaviorists are also becoming more vocal in their dislike of dominance-based training techniques. The shift to positive reinforcement, fear-free, and other trust-building training techniques has helped owners build a bond of trust without the use of harmful and potentially dangerous training tools.

Alternative Techniques in Dog Training

Luckily, many current training methods employ positive bonding skills rather than instilling fear or pain in your dog. These methods, such as positive reinforcement training, behavioral-adjustment training (BAT), and fear-free handling help build a bond and trust between you and your dog. 

Instead of shocking or hurting your dog when they do something wrong, these techniques encourage your dog to want to do the right things. For problem behaviors, they work by redirecting your dog’s attention or replacing a “bad” behavior with a “good: one that can be rewarded instead. And, they help fearful or reactive dogs work through stressful situations with the use of gradual desensitization instead of overwhelming them into a fight or flight response.

With the increasing knowledge of canine behavior, there is no reason to hit, yell at, or harm your dog into doing what you want. Instead, look for training techniques that can help build a positive bond, encouraging your dog to want to work with you. At Tippy Taps, we work entirely with positive reinforcement techniques to create a home where your dog can be happy, healthy, and fear-free.

Interested in helping your dog through positive training? Schedule a consultation today, or check out our latest books!