Dog Dominance Behavior

A dominant dog, or a dog showing dominant behavior... It is a very common problem as well as a popular term in this day and age. But few people really know what it means. Or how to deal with it.

Dominance is the art of keeping everything under control. There are symptoms of Dog Dominance Behavior, and then there's the dog who is truly being dominant... We sure have a mess here don't we?

Symptoms of Dog Dominance Behavior include, among others, such things as:

-- Refusing to move out of your way

-- Blocking your ability to where you want to go

-- Stealing and hiding your stuff

-- Destroying your things

-- Peeing on your bed

-- Pooping on your bed

-- Stealing your food

-- Ignoring commands that he knows well

-- Demanding your attention through nudges, whining, or mouthing you

-- Growling at you

-- Humping you, your guests, or things

-- Mounting you, your guests, or things

-- Guarding food or toys

-- Putting your stuff in his area

Note: The dog was only playing in this picture. DogWhisperWoman Rena Murray knows the difference. Do you?

Some of these behaviors such as nudging may just be attention seeking behavior. The question is, does your dog start yapping or nipping at you when you ignore him? If the answer is yes, it is a dominance issue. But a dog who goes in the corner and sighs is simply pouting.

A dog who does not come when called may be that way only because he is confused, thanks to no consistency in his life. That is neglect on the part of the owner, not dominance on the part of the dog.

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Iron sharpens iron...

Remember at all times, "Iron sharpens iron." Yelling at a dog who has already shown his teeth at you is likely to result in you being bitten. Stay calm and mean business. Follow through one hundred percent, and make no excuses for your dog.

He is to work for his food and earn his play and free time. Those are privileges and not rights.

"Work?" That means at least 45 minutes of rigorous exercise where he is mentally focused on you. He can swim, run, walk, carry a backpack, walk on a treadmill, pull a cart... You name it. But his brain needs to be focused on YOU.

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You've got to be kidding! You're the one who paid for it. But the audacity . . . There he is, peeing right in the middle of your bed, and snarling at you when you try to change the linen or get in it!

The dog does not care if you paid for it. Dogs don't see things that way. If you are being weak about something, not showing that you own it, then . . . in his mind, it's free for the taking.

So what are you supposed to do?

Put a leash on your dog and lead him on a heel into the bedroom. Followers go behind leaders. If he jumps on the bed, promptly remove him from it and sit him down in an assigned place. Sit down on the bed yourself while making eye contact with your dog, so he is getting the message that YOU own the bed. Stretch out on it. Roll over on it. Show him who owns it!

Never pick your dog up to remove him. He needs to walk or jump off. Otherwise, you did the work, not him.

If your dog moves from the assigned place without your permission, bring him back promptly.

you notice there are not really a lot of words here, but the communication is serious, and your point is being driven in.

I can't really understand why anyone would really want to put their hands in the dog's food. It makes no sense. But the point is, your dog should not be able to stop you from touching anything in your home. Him being the subordinate, and you the dominant, means that you are able to touch anything and everything that you have chosen to share with him.

You should be able to take food right out of your dog's mouth, if you so choose. It's not actually taking it from the dog that you do. It's knowing that you CAN. It's being safe in that fact.

To "claim" a dog's food, you need to be shown in person by an expert. A mistake on your part can result in a very nasty bite. But the way to control your dog's behavior around food is to make him wait for it.

Put a leash on him and remove him if you have to. The minute he growls at you or he grows stiff, use the leash to remove him right away. It is not a quick fix. It is staying there until you accomplish your goal.

You dog has bitten you?

If that is the case, you already know in your heart of hearts that you need professional help. This is dog dominance advanced to aggression.

Do NOT go to a dog obedience class. You need a dog behaviorist at least. A traditional trainer will generally refuse to work with even a level one biter. They usually say the dog is untrainable and recommend euthanasia. Or at least they help you train the dog to sit and stay, but he's still a biter!

Find the behaviorist, and be prepared to face your fear of your dog. . . and regain control of your house!

If I become "pack leader" to my dominant dog, will that stress him out?

No! Just look at the wild wolf.

Put an alpha wolf alone with an omega. The alpha's heart rate is steady, while the omega's is like a jack hammer. The alpha is totally in control, and it takes very little of his energy to control this low ranking wolf.

When the pack is all together, the alpha's heart rate goes up due to the pressure of all his responsibilities. The omega's heart rate has then gone way down, because he has nothing to worry about. So actually by becoming your dog's alpha, you are decreasing his stress and yours. The stress of having a dog who pushes you around is horrible!

If dog dominance is your problem, do NOT be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. Please get it. We all need help from someone at one time or another. And yeah, it really is a serious thing. Dominance behavior in dogs often leads to aggression.