Help! I Have a Dominant Dog

By: Ron Ayalon Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Dogs have a very hierarchy within their pack. It is a basic part of their instinct to establish their place within the pack and then respond to that place accordingly. Dogs need this order – a dog that does not know where it is in the pack is prone to stress, bad behaviors, and anxiety. As much as you may adore your dog, it is healthier for your pet and you if your dog knows its place within the pack and is not treated like an equal.

One of the main problems with this is, as pet lovers, we want our dog to feel as though it is a member of the family. Unfortunately, this can lead to some very undesirable results – namely the raising of a dog that thinks it is the dominant pack member. Think about it: You are the one that needs to feed your dog, you are the one that cleans up after it, and you are the one that responds to its requests. Your dog has every reason to believe that it is the one in charge, not you, and it will respond to those feelings accordingly.

How to Tell if Your Dog Thinks it is Dominant

Dogs that believe they are dominant usually display a number of unwanted behaviors. Because they are "in charge," anything that you may do to challenge the pack leader will result in punishments. Some of the ways to tell if your dog thinks it is pack leader include:
• Your dog will not obey its commands.
• Your dog will destroy items of yours when it does not get what it wants.
• Your dog tries to steal your food and shows aggression when you eat first.
• Your dog stands on your foot (this is a sign of dominance between wolf packs).
• Your dog barks at you or bites to get your attention.
• Your dog starts to "hump" your leg or body even after it has been fixed.

All of these are signs that your dog may think it is the dominant member of the pack. If you expect to stop any of these behaviors, it is not a matter of simply telling your dog "no." Your dog sees no reason to listen to you, since it is the one in charge. Instead, you have to establish your own dominance, to show your dog that you are in fact the true pack leader.

How to Establish Dominance

There are many different ways that you can establish yourself as pack leader. Try each of these methods and your dog will very likely start to realize its place in the pack.
1. Give your dog a command before you give it anything it wants, including food and toys. Only provide what your dog wants once it has listened to the command.
2. Trick train your dog – a dog that is constantly listening to commands to get treats is clearly not in charge. This is one of the most underused tools for obedience training your pet.
3. Completely ignore barking and other bad behaviors. Remember, turning to your dog and yelling "no" is still giving your dog attention.
4. Always keep your dog off of your bed. Only the pack leader gets to choose where he sleeps.
5. Always feed your dog last, after the whole family has eaten. Make sure your dog observes you eating first.
6. If it is safe to do so, do not back down when your dog exhibits bad behaviors. You are the one in charge, and if you give in to your dog's commands, you show it that it has the power to tell you what to do.

In time, your dog will learn that it is not in charge. But remember – you must stay firm. If you leave any ambiguity in terms of whether or not it is okay for your dog to behave a certain way, your pet will not pick up on what it needs to learn. Be firm, and show your dog that you are the pack leader, and your dog is the one that should be submissive to you.

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