“My Dog is Dominant!”

 

“My Dog is Dominant!”

Dominance and submission are standard terms within the dog world. They are often heard in ways such as “He’s a dominant dog.” Dominant and submissive behaviors are just that, behaviors.

Dominant behaviors aim to gain or maintain control over a certain resource. Examples include items like bones and toys, places such as couches and beds, or a female within a group of dogs. It can be anything that they deem valuable enough to control. This differentiates from aggressive behavior in that it does NOT intend to cause injury, although these behaviors can appear very intense.

A dog may show dominant behaviors such as growling, teeth-baring, barking, staring, lunging, or stiff body language.

Submissive behavior is the opposite of dominant behavior. Submissive behaviors aim to decrease the intensity of a situation, to de-escalate. These behaviors aim to reduce the likelihood of injury.

Submission can be presented in different ways, we often see a dog that turns onto their back exposing their tummy. This is often confused with an “invitation” to get a belly scratch. Other submissive behaviors include the flattening of one’s ears, lowering one’s posture, tucking of the tail, turning their head and gazing away, avoiding eye contact, lip-smacking, etc. This is the “flight” part of the “fight or flight” response.

These behaviors are contextual. This can change based on environmental factors, including which dogs are present. These strategies are a form of communication to minimize the chance of injury within their group. We need to observe all shown behaviors within a context and not rely solely on one specific behavior.

Well-socialized dogs with a proper upbringing communicate in these ways with proper intensity, saving energy and lowering risks of escalation/injury. But some dogs, due to factors such as poor socializing and imprinting phases or prior learning experiences, can display these behaviors in unusual circumstances, or with more intensity than what is required.

All behavior, especially behavior including emotional responses, takes time to change, but together we can improve the welfare of all who are involved.

“Be a friend. Not an owner.”