The Dominance Theory (“alpha,” “dominance,” “pecking order,” and “leader of the pack”) was developed in the 1970s. What most people don’t know is that the theory that dogs are constantly fighting to establish their place in the pack has been debunked.
In group settings, some dogs may be more confident or insecure than others. Some may be pushy and others more reserved. But the main goal of most dogs in open play is to manage disagreements without conflict. Most scuffles result from one dog totally ignoring another dog’s social cues.
When a dog is acting up, he isn’t trying to control us. He is receiving some benefit for his behavior. Did he try to push by you when you opened the door? He wasn’t trying to dominate; he was simply excited to get outside
At Texas Doggie Daycare we believe in fair leadership, consistent boundaries, and positive reinforcement – not dominance.