Let’s talk : Dominance

Let’s talk about dominance!

You only have to Google dog training, and somewhere in there will pop up... “my dog is trying to be the alpha” or “how do I stop my dog being dominant”

Methods to remedy this are even given:

-Pin your dog down

-Growl at them

-Spray with water

-Always go through the door first

-Always eat first

-Don’t allow on the furniture

All apparently so they know “who is boss/Alpha” or “who is the pack leader”, and claims are made, that if you don’t do this, you are allowing your dog to disrespect you.

And I can tell you this for free... take a seat...

It.is.BULL$**T!

If a dog is behaving in an undesirable manner (to us), this does not mean it is motivated by a desire to have a higher social rank. It means that behaviour has, almost certainly, been previously rewarded (reinforced).

In the example of jumping up on the sofa, the reinforcer may simply be: he wants some scratches from you; a better view out of the window for his cat-patrol; the comfort of a softer surface; or in my dogs case, he likes to be closer to my dinner, Incase there’s anything left for him.

Dominance is NOT a personality trait!

I used to walk small groups of dogs every day in the UK. We’d come across the same gate to our walking field each day. All dogs were off lead, so perfectly free to create a queue, we were all British after all! Did they line up at that gate each day and go through in any type of hierarchy??

NOPE!

Their entry and exit of that field was always pretty random. No one made way for the mythical Alpha, who must always go through first. It was all about the motivation and rewards available on that day!

So say I’d thrown a ball over the gate, the ball lovers would be very motivated to get through that gate first. If I’d launched treats over that gate, the foodies would be lining up first, most likely drooling...

If I threw treats over, but kept the ball in my pocket, THEN opened the gate, the foodies would go charging in, and the ball enthusiasts wouldn’t move, until I’d taken the ball out of my pocket.

You get the picture, It’s reliant on the reinforcement available on any given day.

I should also note, that my wee King Charles Spaniel buddy, would only go through the gate when I did, because her motivation was any kind of human fuss. Being nearer to me meant the fuss had a greater chance of happening for her. This was unless her favourite Romeo, a doodle named Skittles, was on her walk, and then I just didn’t exist. But who am I to get in the way of young love?

Anyhow, our interactions with our dogs are not, and should never be, based on this mythical idea, that we would be considered in any type of social

rank with them. Your dog knows you are not a dog!

We should however, be basing it on reinforcement... always think, what is driving my dogs behaviour? Think about the behaviour and work out what your dog is actually trying to achieve. If it’s an undesirable behaviour to you, think about how can we train smarter, and achieve your dogs goal, with behaviour WE deem desirable.

So if Buddy is jumping on the sofa to get a tummy rub, but you don’t want Buddy on the sofa (I mean, first of all why not??!)... then why not give him plenty belly rubs, whilst he’s calm in his own bed. It won’t be long before, he lies in his bed belly to the sky instead, because it pays out a higher number of belly rubs.

Just keep in your mind, reinforcement drives behaviour, it’s not dominance.

I promise you, hand on heart, pinky-swear, he is not trying to take over the world.