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Dominance and Dogs
Sylvia Koczerzuk Koczerzuk 
Expert reference about dominance in dogs.
GREAT resource to explain Dominance by veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Ballantyne, and shared by the Illinois University College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary Behaviorists are veterinarians who have advanced education in the clinical field of behavior issues. They KNOW what they are talking about and it is time that "we" (pet owners and trainers) listen. Excerpts from the article below but please DO READ the whole article:
"It is simply not true that pet aggression and misbehavior arise from dominance."
"“The concept of dominance is most appropriately applied as a descriptive term for individuals in relation to resources, such as toys, resting spots, or food,” Dr. Ballantyne explains."
"Dominance is not an absolute position that only one animal may claim. In fact, dominance typically doesn’t involve aggression, but rather the peaceful deferral of one individual to another."
"According to Dr. Ballantyne, “there is no data to support the idea that dominance crosses between species.” This means that our pets’ behavior is not an expression of their desire to be the alpha male or female over us."
"So why is the idea of dominance such a popular explanation for canine behavior? Because it’s easy. It’s easier to dismiss a dog’s actions as a display of dominance rather than spending the extra time and energy to uncover the root of the problem. Many times the problem turns out to be anxiety-based."
Categories: : canine, dog behaviour, dog training, domiance
