08/11/2026
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has specifically addressed the use of dominance theory in dog behavior, explaining that the idea that dogs are simply trying to achieve a higher rank is outdated and doesn’t provide a good general explanation for behavior problems.
And when we look specifically at marking, veterinary behavior specialists describe it as a normal social behavior. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine explains that marking can be influenced by social and hormonal factors, and that dogs will often mark in areas where other dogs have already left their scent.
Research has even looked at how dogs respond to and leave their own scent in areas where other dogs have been. One study published in Animal Behaviour found that both male and female dogs participated in this behavior, and the researchers identified different social patterns surrounding it. That doesn’t fit neatly into the idea that every mark is simply a dog saying, “I’m in charge.”
So yes, marking can have a territorial or competitive component in certain situations. But that’s very different from saying that a dog who marks is being dominant, challenging you, or poorly trained.
A dog can be incredibly well trained and still have a natural desire to mark.
It’s a normal part of canine social behavior — and understanding that distinction helps us respond to the behavior appropriately instead of labeling a dog as “dominant” simply because they’re doing something that’s natural to them.
