The Importance of Hierarchy in Dog Training

Dominance, packs and co – old theories revisited

Wolves and dogs are social animals. They need contact, reliability and someone they can trust, just like us. Nevertheless, hardly any other terms ignite such quick reactions in the dog world as “dominance” and “pack”. Some swear by them, others wave them away irritably. And in the middle stand owners who simply want to know: What is actually true?

Does the human have to be the pack leader?

“You must clearly be the pack leader.” You have probably heard this sentence from everyone – from the neighbour, from an old dog training school, sometimes even from vets. But what is that supposed to mean concretely? That your dog only shows respect if you constantly tell it what it may and may not do? That a so-called “dominant” dog has to be handled particularly harshly?

The answer is clear: No. Fortunately not.

The typical rules from the pack corner sound roughly like this:

• The human eats first, the dog waits.
• The leader decides which places it occupies.
• Toys always belong to the boss.
• You can take the food away from the dog at any time.
• Only the human determines rituals.
• In short: The human controls every second of their dog’s life.

Sounds like a lot of effort – and brings little benefit.

What modern findings say about this

These rules stem from ideas that are considered outdated in modern behavioural research. Neither in wolf packs nor in free-living dog groups can the rigid hierarchies often invoked be proven according to current knowledge. And humans and dogs do not form a pack anyway, we are simply too different for that.

Let’s look at the terms more closely:

Dominance
Dominance is not a personality trait that a dog carries with it like a coat colour. It always describes a specific situation. The same dog can appear very determined when dealing with a bone and completely relax and back down when dealing with toys. Stress levels, relationship and daily form all play a part. Anyone who says “he’s just dominant” has usually only seen part of the picture.

Pack
A pack consists of animals of the same species. Humans and dogs are not. So there is also no pack leader in human-dog everyday life that anyone would have to play.

Training
Real training means: helping the dog move safely in our world. Not controlling, not suppressing. We show it what is dangerous, such as running into the street, jumping up on people or eating unknown things from the ground. And we give it a reliable framework within which it can also make its own decisions. This does not weaken a leadership role, it creates trust.

Typical examples from practice

Food
Your dog does not have to earn its food. And you do not have to be able to take the bowl away just to show that you could. Eating and drinking are basic needs, they should be available reliably and without ulterior motives. Anyone who regularly steals the dog’s bowl harvests mistrust and sometimes aggression.

Choice of place
Permanently chasing a dog away from its resting place or controlling who is allowed to lie where makes you unpredictable in its eyes. Dogs need retreats, just like us. Anyone who ignores this makes bonding difficult, not easier.

Property
Toys and chew items belong to the dog. Really. Constantly taking them away generates exactly the resource guarding that one supposedly wants to prevent. Trust arises when the dog learns: What belongs to me stays with me.

The consequences of dominance thinking
Some dogs silently endure harsh training methods. Outwardly they then appear “obedient”. But behind this can often be insecurity or simple resignation. Other dogs react defensively, become more aggressive, are punished for it and become even more defensive. A spiral from which neither human nor dog emerges unscathed.

The difference
I sometimes wonder: Do we want dogs that function like little soldiers? Or do we want dogs that go through life with us relaxed and cooperatively?

For me there is no question. Control and rigid rules often only create obedience. Trust, cooperation and mutual respect, on the other hand, sustain a relationship. This choice is made by each owner themselves, but it shapes the relationship with the dog.