Is your dog “dominant” or willing to submit? Could you be living with a dog determined to take over and control your household? Dog Trainer Eric Brad looks as his own dog to see if the “warning signs” described by so many web sites could mean his dog is a tyrant in the making!
This week as I was surfing the web I ran across one of the many articles on how to determine if your dog is “dominant.” Those of you who regularly read my writings know how I feel about the whole notion of dogs attempting to “dominate” their owners. Those who may be new to my writings on dogs and dog training may want to read my previous articles The Myth of Alpha Dogs or Blunt Force Trauma – Canine Reality to get an idea of where I stand on the issue. So as I read through this particular web page my reaction went from the usual eye-rolling to amusement.
I thought it might be interesting for me to share with you my assessment of my dog, Tiramisu, as I went through the description I found on the web page. What always strikes me as interesting is the “warning” tone these articles present. Here we have, in the dog, an animal specifically bred to be cooperative with humans. Centuries of selective breeding have, presumably, produced the most compatible animal for working in human societies of all types. And yet, somehow, articles like the one I ran across caution me to look out for signs of “dominance” in case my adorable companion should suddenly morph into a diabolically clever wild animal bent on controlling every aspect of my life.
The “Warning” Signs and Stuff
I suppose I should explain that I’m not including the author or address of the website where I got these warning signs. The reason for this is simple. You could just type “dominant dog” in your favorite search engine and you will come up with at least 50 articles that will tell you the same things I found on this particular site. It seems that many dog trainers and dog training professionals are keenly interested in identifying your “dominant” dog for you. I’m guessing that’s because they would be happy to help you with your “dominant” dog before something “bad” happens – for a fee, of course.
So let’s see how my dog stacks up against these “warning signs” of dominance that I encountered:
Protectiveness of possessions (to include toys, food, and even people); snarling and snapping when the dog feels someone or another dog is too close to his things. – The books I’ve read about dogs and behaviour have a term for this. They call it “resource guarding.” It’s how a dog lets a person or other dog know that this thing is “Mine!” and you can’t have it right now. Since dogs are evolved scavengers, it’s no surprise that they would want to horde their resources unless they had easy access to more anytime they wanted. So will my Tira snarl or snap if you try to snatch something away from her? You bet! And she regularly warns our other dog, Rizzo, when he makes a move for something she wants to keep. But here’s the thing. That’s not only natural, it’s the correct response! You would be a little snarky if someone just walked up and took your brownie out of your hand.
But we also train our dogs. Can I take anything away from Tira? Yes. Even food or something she really wants? Yes. We train two very specific commands – “Drop” and “Leave it” for just such occasions. We train both with reinforcement. “Drop” what’s in your mouth and you will either get it back or get rewarded with something better for dropping what you have 80-90% of the time. The same is true for “Leave it”; if you back off of the object when we ask you to, you will likely get a good reward for cooperating.
Tries to stare your down – As I sit here writing this, Tira is looking at me from across the room. She’s lying comfortably on the love seat and looking at me. We make eye contact and she doesn’t necessarily look away to avoid my eyes. Is this a staring contest? Is it a battle of wills? Hardly. You see, Tira has been reinforced hundreds of times for looking at me. It’s a behaviour we deliberately trained. Why? Because I will need her undivided attention from time to time. I could just as easily train her to look away from me when I look at her but that isn’t nearly as useful.
Repeatedly ignores well-known commands/Refuses to move out of the way when you ask – Tira is a pretty well trained dog, I think. She responds reasonably well to cues I give her in most situations. She is, after all, a champion in the sport of Dog Agility. But there are times when situations or environments are more distracting and there are things that are much more interesting to her than I am. So I may have to repeat a cue several times before getting a response, if I even get one at all in high distraction environments. And Belgian Shepherds are notorious for being right where you want to be when you want to be there. It seems I frequently have to ask her to move out of the way. And sometimes she’s looking for something or is into a smell that she’s not willing to leave right away. I’ve taught Tira to “backup” and she knows directional cues if I point in a direction and ask her to “go.” Somehow, we work it out. I ask for the easy stuff when it’s very distracting and I’m willing to get her attention with a tough or a quick “Hey!” if I need to get her attention. Am I being dominated? I doubt it.
Nudges or mouths you insisting to be petted or played with, trying to make you comply to his wants – My Tira has never particularly been an “attention hound” when it comes to physical affection. But Rizzo, our younger dog, can be very insistent about what he wants. He regularly ambushes either my wife or me by shoving a toy into the back of a leg and wrapping a paw around to solicit play. Similarly, he has no problem walking under an outstretched hand or ducking under an arm for some affection. Do we give it to him? Sometimes. Does he always get what he wants? No. Who makes that choice? We, the humans, do. Here’s another “dog secret” for you. All dogs are trying to get what they want all of the time. Most well behaved dogs have learned from experience that nudging, mouthing, or pestering will not get them what they want so they use the things that they have found do work. The very things that we teach them to do in order to get that treat, or be let out, get some physical affection from us. Dogs will nudge and mouth and pester if we show them that it works to get what they want. So how is that my dog’s fault?
Persisting to walk in front of you or go out of a door before you – I don’t think I’ve ever known a time when Tira was not walking out at the very end of her leash when we went for walks. In fact, when she was only 8 months old, she snapped a leather leash trying to see what was in the bushes ahead of us. It’s for that reason that I use a harness instead of a collar on walks (prevents injuries to the throat) and I clip her leash to my waist rather than let her pull at my arm holding the leash. Does she go out the door before I do sometimes? Yes! Know why? Because she wants to GO OUTSIDE! Not because she wants to show me who’s boss around here. But if I pull her in on a short leash and if I ask her, Tira will walk nicely next to me. And she will wait before rushing out of a door, in the house or in the car, if I ask her. There’s that training thing again.
Being stubborn, hard-headed and willful, demanding, pushy, forceful, and greedy – Well, now…on this one they have me stumped. How on earth would I know if my dog is “hard-headed” or “willful”? Aren’t all of those subjective terms? Couldn’t I say Tira was being pushy if she needed to out and I didn’t feel like getting out of bed on a cold morning? Is she being “stubborn” if she refuses to walk near something she finds scary when I know it isn’t dangerous? And frankly, I would have to say all dogs are “greedy” considering they are scavengers and opportunists. But again, that’s my value judgement and nothing at all objective.
Am I In Trouble Here Or What?!?
So if I look at the criteria set out in this and other articles to determine whether my dog is exhibiting “dominant” behaviours I might have to conclude that I might be in trouble here. After all, Tira exhibits many of these “warning signs” on an almost daily basis. But I write this , Tira is lying on the floor across from me. She alternates between dozing and looking out the window at the trees. I’m confident in my belief that she is not secretly constructing clever and elaborate plans for the ultimate take over and running of our household.
There is a theme that runs the many of my articles here at Life As A Human. And that theme is simply that we need a better understanding of the dogs that are such an important part of our lives. Getting that better understanding isn’t that difficult; the information we need is out there. The real challenge is sorting the marketing and the hype from the facts. And as I’ve said in other articles, only the dogs themselves can give us the facts.
In his book “The Gift Of Fear”, security expert Gavin de Becker makes the case that there is an entire industry that has built up around “fear” and selling ways to keep you safe from vaguely described but ominious threats. Selling you on the idea that your dog is a wild animal, like the wolf, and that without professional help you may be in “dire trouble” with your dog is just one more way that people can take your money. Trying to sort out dog behaviours into easily understood analogies of human motives and behaviour doesn’t do justice to either our dogs or our ability to work and live with them successfully.
Maybe it’s time we took these “warning signs of dominance” for what they really are – outdated and amusing attempts to make dog training and management far more heroic than it actually is. I don’t control my dog, I work with her. I don’t command my dog, I cue behaviours. I’m not my dog’s “Pack Leader” because dogs are not pack animals. I am my dogs guardian, a “parent” if you will. And I take that responsibility pretty seriously. In the end, my dogs and I are pretty happy together – up here on the sofa where I let Tira be as pushy as I want her to be.
Until next time, have fun with your dogs!
Photo credits –
All photos copyright Petra Wingate 2006-2012
I’ve been reading many articles about dog training, and most see a dog as a pack member that has to be dominated. One article, however, stood out. It suggested that, no matter how hard we humans try, we cannot fool a dog into believing that we’re canines, they do recognize us as a different species. They see us as resource control, and will go to any lengths in order to get to the goods. How they behave to obtain such resources, is up to us handlers to shape through training. That’s why food rewards work so well. I like the second approach more, and your article reflects a lot of this idea.
To me, dog training, is an ongoing process. And what is most important, it is a two way learning experience, because I learn just as much from my pooch, when we work together.
With this said, I must congratulate you for your two gorgeous Groenendael! I always wanted one too, ever since I saw that “Black Lassie” in an old John Wayne western. 🙂
I just stumbled upon this site, and am reading the exchange between both of you two -” Eric” and “Paul.” From the 2 minutes worth of reading this is my fast and quick observation:
HUMOR:
Eric: Yes
Paul: No
GOOD WILL:
Erc: Yes
Paul: No
COMMUNICATION SKILLS (effort at listening, being patient and tolerant):
Eric: Yes
Paul: No
ANGER:
Eric: No
Paul: Yes
INSIGHTFUL:
Eric: Yes
Paul: No
LACK OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS:
Eric: Yes
Paul: No
ABILITY TO LAUGH AND ENJOY LEASH RESPONSE:
Eric: Yes
Paul: No
Me: Yes
I could go on and on, but I think you get the drift. Paul, why are you hell bent on chastising? I am fairly sure there are hundreds and hundreds of animal advice websites floating around in cyber-space. If you don’t like Eric’s philosophy, you said your piece, now MOVE ON!!!
Eric, I adore your philosophy. Makes so much sense and a refreshing way to look at the human/animal relationships in our lives. Keep on doing what you are doing!!!!
Rose
p.s. Paul, have you seriously need to relax and have a little fun in life. Try it!!!
Actually Rose,
you will notice that I left the final comment to Eric. In other words, I had moved on. But don’t allow that to get in your way. After all, never mind what I was actually saying.
I was referring to your entire attitude throughout your countless comments. When people say they are “moving on,” they seldom do.
And never mind what the essence of my message was to you. Bah humbug!
Sorry, I should have said Eric in my previous post. My apologies for getting your name mixed up.
“So I may have to repeat a cue several times before getting a response, if I even get one at all in high distraction environments.”
Sorry to getting on your case again Brad. But firstly let me say, I appreciate your fairness in letting my previous comments stand. I know I came at you rather impolitely at first and probably did not deserve your patience. But still here I am again. Basically I disagree with most of what you say but for other reason than ‘dominance’. Still leaving that issue aside, I am nonetheless amazed that as a professional dog trainer you could have such casual attitude to the above.
For myself, single command performance regardless of distraction is the basic minimum obedience I would expect from a professional dog trainer. If my dog should get loose and start chasing a cat across the road that’s precisely when obedience is most needed.
So I really don’t understand the above at all.
Hi Paul –
Your comments will always be welcome here. Canine Nation is about finding out what’s true and factual and not really about pushing one ideology or another. Your views and comments contribute to that dialog and we’re happy to have you with us.
I don’t consider your comments “getting on my case” so much as open disagreement and an alternate point of view. And that’s just fine. But I want to reiterate that the article was specifically that none of the behaviours listed from this “other” website actually lead to “dominance” as a specific behaviour problem. Can those behaviours cause problems for dog owners? Absolutely! But not “dominance” or the ultimate take over of the household by the dog. It’s just not their agenda.
I always enjoy comments like the one you offer – “If my dog should get loose and start chasing a cat across the road that’s precisely when obedience is most needed.” In my opinion, what’s “most needed” in the situation you describe is a LEASH! If there is even the remotest chance my dog could be injured or killed, I would not want to trust the power of my voice, regardless of the thousands of times I’ve rewarded or punished, to keep my dog alive. You might want to take that risk, but I wouldn’t. Dogs have the intellectual capacity of a 3 year old child (and that’s a smart, well trained dog). I certainly wouldn’t trust a 3 year old to comply with my directions every single time without fail.
So, if you want to call into question my legitimacy as a “professional dog trainer”, that’s fine. I do, in fact, work towards “single command performance regardless of distraction” but I’m also keenly aware of the animal I’m working with and I try to work with in the limitations of my dogs. Instincts are strong, distractions happen, and their little canine minds will wander in spite of the best training no matter what methods are used. I’m sure just as many dogs trained by “balanced trainers” die each year because they didn’t respond properly to a voice command as those trained using positive methods. I might venture that positive trained dogs might be less at risk because we just don’t take the chance.
So, if your goal with your dogs is instant compliance in any and all situations, that’s fine. It’s not the way I would prefer to spend my time with my dogs. We pursue agility championships and tracking titles. We don’t stand near roads and test our “stay” command.
“I always enjoy comments like the one you offer – “If my dog should get loose and start chasing a cat across the road that’s precisely when obedience is most needed.” In my opinion, what’s “most needed” in the situation you describe is a LEASH!”
I don’t know why you enjoy such comments Eric. Management I can do just fine on my own, no need of a professional trainer there. I was asking a question pertaining to obedience not management.
“If there is even the remotest chance my dog could be injured or killed, I would not want to trust the power of my voice”
“even the remotest chance”? Heck, why don’t I just lock my dog up inside the house and never let him out. Why bother with training at all?
“So, if your goal with your dogs is instant compliance in any and all situations, that’s fine. It’s not the way I would prefer to spend my time with my dogs.”
Now, if only all science based trainers would put that out on their singles selling their wares to the public we could all get along just fine.
I know where you’re at with all of this “dog stuff”, Paul. I really do. I used to be there too. We’ve come to a happy balance of training and management that suits our lifestyle with our dogs. I daresay, you have too. It’s just a different way to be with dogs.
If you think you are a better trainer than I am because your dog will screech to a halt at a word from you every single time, ok. I’ll give you that one. You have done something I won’t accomplish with my dog. What behavioural science has taught me is that animals behave in accordance with the likely consequences of their actions. So any dog that would screech to a halt at a verbal command is doing so for one of 4 reasons – 1) they will receive a reward FAR greater than what they want to chase 2) something they treasure more than what they want to chase will be TAKEN AWAY 3) something they REALLY DON’T LIKE will stop happening if they comply (this one seems pretty unlikely) or 4) Holy Hell itself will rain down with all of it’s fury if they do not comply!
World famous animal trainer Bob Bailey tells a story of training landmine detection for the US military. Bob says that this was the only time he used punishment to train the dog to avoid warning signs of mines. This was done to save the dog’s life. And Bob also says it was the most difficult training he had to do because in order to for it to be completely successful, the dogs had to be TERRIFIED of the punisher so that there was NOT CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH THEY WOULD APPROACH THE MINE.
So there is a long and rich history of fear and intimidation as dog training tools and those methods have enjoyed a great deal of success for over 100 years. And I can tell you, BASED ON SCIENCE, why it works. I just choose not to do it. If you like it your way, do it your way.
And yes, I’m happy to hang that shingle out and tell people how and why I train. If dog owners want their dogs to STOP doing things, I’ll send them to a “balanced trainer” who will demotivate and intimidate them until they do only what they know is safe. That’s not the kind of dog I want and it’s not how I teach others. I’m not embarrassed by my dogs or my students and their success.
Have fun with your dogs, Paul.
“I know where you’re at with all of this “dog stuff”, Paul. I really do.”
Eric, I am unconcerned with how you or others train their dogs. Everybody should choose the method and/or tools in which they are comfortable with. We all love our dogs.
“What behavioural science has taught me is that animals behave in accordance with the likely consequences of their actions.”
I don’t know why you would need behavioral science to tell you that. Seems more like plain old common sense to me.
“World famous animal trainer Bob Bailey tells a story of training landmine detection for the US military. Bob also says it was the most difficult training he had to do because in order to for it to be completely successful, the dogs had to be TERRIFIED of the punisher so that there was NOT CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH THEY WOULD APPROACH THE MINE.”
I am glad Bob did not allow his own personal feelings get in the way of doing what was needed to be done for the benefit of the dogs.
“And yes, I’m happy to hang that shingle out and tell people how and why I train. If dog owners want their dogs to STOP doing things, I’ll send them to a “balanced trainer”
I have had this argument with you before it seems. I don’t train to stop behavior. I train to teach behavior. If follows as a logical consequence that if my dog responds to my command to ‘drop’, or to ‘come’, chasing the cat will cease.
My problem Eric, is not how you choose to train your dogs. My problem is with the oft heard suggestion that science based methods are so much more effective. But if you are not going to base those claims on the same standards, such claims appear rather hollow to me.
Here’s an idea, Paul. Try positive training and let us know how it all works out for you. Then you can do a fair comparison for yourself. It only seems fair since I trained your way for more than 15 years before changing what I was doing. I know both sides of this argument.
I don’t know you or your experience. But having heard nothing of your own personal attempts at positive training, I can only assume that you observe positive trainers and criticize their methods with no first hand experience. I, for one, would be interested in how you would make out with a few classes and a genuine attempt to use the tools available.
And yes, I know you don’t need them and you are astonishingly successful with your current methods. Fortunately, they will still be there after you try something new if you don’t like it.
I think when my dog rolls on his back, looks at me upside down and growls, he’s trying to dominate me…but in a passive-aggressive way. 😉
Another excellent article, Eric. Great job!
You can’t imagine how much better you’ve just made me feel about our huge lab that always wants to sit on top of us! I’ve always felt that he just wanted to be cuddled, but everything I read told me he was trying to dominate us.
Whew! Now I know to just go with my gut.
enjoyed the article. particularly liked the photo of your “ferocious” dog “dominating” you on the couch. Sorry to admit that years ago I also believed my Rotti was trying to “nicely” dominate me by leaning into me and standing on one of my feet…..over our years together I finally got enough dog experience and education to give her more credit. I’ve tried to forgive myself as thoroughly as my dog did. By the time she left me me last year, we had a strong, close understanding and bond. I would rather not ever have a dog again than go back to that adversarial type of approach.
It’s a shame in this day and age (and with all the information out there) that people still don’t realize that training and spending time with your animals will create a bond that will eliminate the need for “dominance”. Dogs are such opportunists (developed from there scavenging days?) that without training and mutual respect, they will push the boundaries as far as their humans will allow (especially as cute puppies) until it becomes a problem the owners can no longer handle or deal with. Then of course (and sadly) the dog suffers the consequences.
While out walking Castle at lunch one day recently, we ran into a colleague of mine from work. He has seen Castle periodically over the past six months, so Castle knows him and went right up to him for attention. After a few comments on how handsome Castle was, this man (who is bending over my dog and petting him rather vigorously) looks up at me and says, pointedly, “He’s leaning on me.” I reply with a laugh that yes, he is a leaner. To this, my colleague responds, “Well, that is a sign of dominance, you know! He’s trying to dominate me!”. I was at a loss for words.
I often feed my dogs BEFORE I have eaten!!! I’m in as much trouble as you are, Eric.