Fact or Fiction: Do “alpha dogs” really exist?
Many myths surround the term “alpha dog.” Much of our “dog pack” and “alpha dog” talk comes from research on wolves. Many of the training methods used in the past with dogs stems from the assumption that wolves live in packs controlled through aggression by an alpha wolf.
However, recent research has shown that wolves don’t live in packs based on an aggressive pack leader. It was once believed that the alpha wolf kept the pack in line with displays of aggression and violence while all the other members of the pack battled for position. Instead, recent research has shown that wolf packs are families. The alpha male and female are in charge of the pack, but only because they are the parents, and they are leading their pack who all look to them for guidance!
So, what does this mean for dogs?
First, many behaviors that people think of as “dominant” are usually something completely different. Dogs who display aggression are often thought of as the “alpha dog” who is asserting their dominance through aggression to keep everyone in line. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Aggression is a behavior that dogs use to get bad things to go away or stop. For example:
Do you notice a pattern? The behaviors that people think equal a dominant dog are actually the opposite. Dogs that are the most aggressive may often be the most anxious, worried or scared!
During training, many people think that they need to show the dog who the “alpha dog” really is (themselves and not the dog). However, when training a dog using dominance, more anxiety and fear can occur. Therefore, using positive reinforcement (or rewards-based methods) has far better results.
But what if one of your dogs always get the toy first and demands attention first, while your other dog waits his turn. Does this mean that one is dominant over the other? It’s likely that one dog happily defers to the other on some things, while looking for priority on others. It’s unlikely that one dog is forcing the other to submit as an alpha dog, but rather is acting as a guide. When a dog aggressively demands these things, it’s likely due to an anxiety or fear issue rather than dominance.
The bottom line is dogs are simply not trying to be in charge. They’re learning how to be a part of your family. They learn what works and what doesn’t work with each interaction that they have, whether with the human members of their family or other dogs. Focus your training methods on socialization, positive reinforcement and clear, predictable interactions to help your dog grow.