13/04/2026
A common narrative from some dog training camps, is that ‘Dominance Theory’ &/or ‘Alpha Theory’ has been debunked.
Videos like these may be described as ‘resource guarding’, ‘defensive aggression’, ‘fear over losing food’, ‘food aggression’ etc etc ‘but not dominance’ (“because that’s a bad word associated with aversive trainers”, apparently), without realising they’re still in fact describing dominant behaviour (that word again, GASP!).
✔️Yes, wolf researcher Dr David Mech established that wild wolf-packs are family units with a mother/father breeding pair, not social structures established via aggression, as seen in captive wolves.
❌While many dog trainers did (and still) incorrectly describe Dominance as power-struggles over other dogs and humans for ‘Alpha status’. Others threw the baby out with the bath water and misinterpreted Dr Mech’s writings as ‘debunking’ Dominance/Alpha (to aid their ideological agenda).
Both sides have elements of truth, but both are also wrong.
⁉️So what’s the deal?..
The breeding pair in a wolf pack ‘are’ Alpha. But, as Mech wrote, the term ‘Alpha’ provides no added information that the terms ‘mother/father’ can’t, and insinuates a hierarchy established via competition/aggression. Alpha, just means ‘first’ or ‘leader’ but doesn’t necessarily mean aggression, depending on the species. And in wolves, Alpha status is naturally established (usually) not fought for.
💡Dominance was never debunked or redefined by Mech, but it ‘was’ misdefined by old-school dog trainers who view dog behaviour as scheming manipulation to take control.
✅Dominance IS: social behaviour between two individuals to gain priority access to a resource. Usually, (but not always) intending to ‘avoid’ fights.
*Most humans are dominant over their dogs resources, but that doesn’t mean harshness or power struggles. And to add, the terminology is more appropriately used within the same species rather than across different ones.
The behaviour in this video is very much Dominant Behaviour.
(For more information look up Roberto Barata writings on the topic)
Video credit:
