Disciplining the Dominant Dog

Dogs are undeniably the pet of choice for a lot of people. Their combination of puppy-dog eyes and complete willingness to give unconditional love and loyalty create a combination that’s hard to resist. Indeed, many dog owners treat their dogs like they would their own children. They’ll dress them up in little outfits or carry them in little carriers taking them everywhere they go. But dogs are not children and sometimes, albeit unintentional, we do our dogs and ourselves a great disservice by treating them as such. Dogs learn what they are taught and this has a direct impact on the kinds of behavior they will exhibit, both good and bad.

In deciphering dog behavior, it is important to remember that even the smallest of breeds is a descendent of the wolf. Bearing this in mind, it’s helpful to be aware of how wolves behave in the wild. Wolves run in packs, which are family like units dominated by a mated couple, the Alpha Male and the Alpha Female. These dominant wolves exert their authority over the rest of the pack throughout all aspects of daily living and survival. They initiate when to eat, when to rest, and when to mate. The Alpha wolves generally rule by intimidation, often “bullying” and subduing the other wolves in the pack. Although rarely challenged, these wolves are always ready to fight for their position of authority and let the others in the pack know who the boss is.

Because dogs are direct descendents of the wolf family, this “leader of the pack” mentality is still deeply ingrained in them. Oftentimes, it is when well-meaning dog owners unwittingly allow dogs to feel that they are the dominant animal in the family that problems arise. These problems can manifest themselves as annoying behaviors such as a dog barking or lying on the furniture (a classic sign of a dog asserting their dominance), to more serious problems like trying to bite anyone who tries to get too close. These behaviors must be dealt with immediately so as to not teach a dog that they have free reign. You, the dog owner, are in charge, and it is important that your dog knows it.

The good news is, that most dogs are very teachable, and a lot of maladaptive behaviors can be easily modified. The first step to successful dog training is for you, the dog owner, to establish yourself as the dominant animal. This does NOT mean using aggressive or punitive techniques. It means being firm with your dog when they engage in undesirable behavior (a firm “NO” should suffice) and, more importantly, providing a reward when they act appropriately. A reward could be a “doggie treat”, a hug, a favorite toy, etc. A simple exercise to try with your dog is to spend 10 minutes a day reinforcing a simple behavior; sitting down, for example. To begin, establish gentle eye contact with your dog to ensure you have their attention. Don’t stare down your dog as this can be construed as a threatening gesture. Using your dog’s name, command them to sit down. If your dog complies give them their reward. If your dog doesn’t comply, verbally command them again, this time using a physical prompt, such as applying gently pressure to his rear to a seated position. Do not give the dog their reward until they have successfully completed the task. Repeat this exercise over and over until the dog immediately responds to your commands. This exercise is beneficial as it makes clear to your dog that you are in charge and they will not get what they want until they comply to your wishes.

Again, I stress, that aggression and punishment have no place in dog training. As smart as dogs are, they don’t understand the concept of punishment and such acts will only serve to confuse them or, worse yet, provoke them towards aggression as a means of self-protection. The most effective means of teaching your dog anything is by a system of providing consistent rewards for desired behavior and the withdrawal of those rewards when undesirable behavior occurs.

It should be noted that, in some instances, you might need to enlist the help of a professional trainer or obedience school to modify your dog’s behavior. This is sometimes the case when a family adopts an older dog. Occasionally, these dogs have been abused or neglected and, as a result, become conditioned to be aggressive animals. If your dog is not responsive to at home training or if you feel threatened by your dog in any way, you should not hesitate to enlist the help of a professional.

It should also be noted that, like all animals, dogs are sometimes unpredictable. Even the most docile of animals has it in them to attack if they feel somehow threatened in any way. As such, don’t ever leave small children unattended with your dog. Kids don’t always understand how to play gently or appropriately with animals and can sometimes unintentionally hurt your dog, prompting an aggressive response. Therefore, always supervise any interaction between your dog and small children.