02/06/2026
What does dominance really mean?
As pet owners, we are constantly surrounded by advice about our dogs—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.
We go down rabbit holes trying to work out what is best for our furry friends, only to end up confused. The advice can be expensive, unhelpful, and sometimes even harmful for both us and our dogs.
With so many different opinions out there, it can be hard to tell what is genuinely helpful and what is simply “fake news”.
A little while ago, I listened to a behaviouralist talking about dominance, and it really made me think. His work in the wild showed that dominance does exist, but not in the way many of us have been led to believe. What he was really describing was leadership. In the wild, leaders do not rely on force alone; they use communication and a range of behaviours to make good decisions, teach, and guide their family groups.
I love it when something makes you stop and think!
One definition of dominance refers to 'a species that has the greatest influence within its community because it is the most abundant or the largest'. If we take that at face value, it sounds as though humans—not our pet dogs—are the dominant ones???
If we take the word as it is often used, we are told we must be strong leaders for our dogs or they will dominate us. But is that really true?
So, in human terms, what do I look for in a leader?
For many years I worked in organisations and teams, and when I look back, the best leaders were never the bullies or the bribers. They respected the differences within the team, understood each person’s strengths and weaknesses, knew how to motivate others, and created a safe, trusting environment. They were fair, sometimes firm, supportive when mistakes were made, and encouraging of independent thinking and choice. To me, that is what good leadership looks like: not a pushover, not a micromanager, but someone you can trust and respect.
In the wild, communication may look different from what we are used to, but it is certainly not what many of us have come to associate with words like dominance, it is more like the leadership we would like to see for ourselves. I have been humbled by the intimacy, tolerance, and patience I have seen in both wolves and dogs.
The idea of dominance is most often associated with wolves. So what does this actually look like in the wolf world and how does that impact our pet dogs?
Recently, my mentor Kim Ellis from the Wolf and Dog Development Centre, together with my colleague and friend Neri Karazija released a podcast called The Resident Wild—and it is brilliant.
The Resident Wild answers so many questions relating to our pet dogs, busting myths beginning with dominance from a wolf’s perspective. If you want to explore this further, have a listen to The Resident Wild, I cant recommend this podcast enough.
From personal experience, I can say with certainty that this knowledge has fundamentally changed my understanding and ability to make sense of why dogs behave as they do.
It has helped me recognise my influence and role, and the importance of understanding our dogs unique ways of communicating, not by ignoring their links to the natural world, but by embracing the canine in all its complexity.
In doing so, I have been able to repair and strengthen my relationship with my current rescue in ways I never thought possible, without reliance on commands or force..
So are you up for a challenge? ask yourself what kind of leader do you want in your life, and what kind of leader are you? 🤪
