21/08/2026
Myth vs Fact: DOMINANCE IN DOGS
MYTH: āMy dog is doing that because heās trying to dominate me.ā
FACT:
š§ Dog behaviour is rarely that simple. Behaviours such as jumping up, pulling on the lead, guarding resources or refusing to respond to a cue doesnāt mean a dog is trying to establish social dominance over their human.
MYTH: āI need to show my dog whoās boss.ā
FACT:
ā¤ļø Effective training is about understanding learning, motivation, emotions and the environmentānot winning a battle for status. Using intimidation or punishment can create fear, anxiety and unwanted side effects without addressing the underlying reason for the behaviour.
MYTH: āThe dominant dog is always the one at the top.ā
FACT:
š Social relationships in dogs are context-dependent and dynamic. A dog's behaviour can change depending on the individual, resource, environment and circumstances.
Instead of asking āHow do I dominate my dog?ā
Try asking āWhat is influencing this behaviour, and what can I do to help my dog succeed?ā
That's the difference between simply labelling behaviour and actually understanding it.