Managing Submissive And Dominant Dogs

Topic: Socialization

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In the wild, all canines within a pack fall into one of two categories, submissive or dominant. Typically in most wild packs and in most multi-dog households there will be one dog that is the "leader" and he or she will be the dominant dog. All others will be considered pack members and therefore submissive. This is not to say that these dogs are timid, frightened or bullied by the dominant dog, it simply means that they recognize that the leader is boss and respond to what he or she does in ways that will not cause confrontation. Typically this structure will stay very stable over time, only when a new dog, pet or person arrives into the household may the order be challenged.

While this pack type mentality seems in the distant past for our domestic housedogs, in reality the dogs typically see the whole family as part of the pack. Dogs that see themselves as dominant are typically from breeds that are more dominant in temperament and perhaps have not been correctly trained and socialized. It will be easy to identify these dogs as they want to run the household, not responding to the humans in the house but rather just doing their own thing. Dominant dogs don't have to be the biggest dog in the house either. Toy breeds and terriers are very likely to want to be top dog until they learn through obedience training, socialization and firm and consistent handling that they are part of the pack but not in charge. Dominant dogs can be either male or female, intact or neutered or spayed. In very general terms intact males and females are more likely to be dominant or will try to be dominant than spayed or neutered dogs of the same breed.

Keys To Working With Dominant Breeds

If you have a dominant breed of dog, regardless of his or her breed, size or age, it is essential to establish yourself as the leader. This should not be done through being aggressive or punitive to the dog, rather it is done through being firm, consistent and loving.

One of the best tips for working with a dominant breed is to get the puppy into a puppy obedience class as soon as possible. Most puppy classes will take puppies at the 12 week mark, provided they are fully vaccinated and large enough to participate in the class. Through working in a group setting you can provide controlled, supervised socialization plus you will have the assistance of a professional trainer to help with any problems or concerns that you have.

Dominant breeds tend to have the most challenging teenage years at approximately one to one and a half years of age. They will often seem to forget all their training and start acting very aggressive and headstrong at this point. If this occurs, consider a refresher obedience class or even try something different that is a special trait of the breed. The last thing that owners should do with these dogs is try to show they are stronger. Avoid games of strength such as tug a war or wrestling with the dogs at this time. This interaction will only reinforce the dog attempting to be dominant. Find something that the dog does well and build on that, avoiding really challenging tasks until the dog will be able to focus and be successful.

Submissive Dogs

Unlike pack dogs that are deferring to the leader, what most trainers consider a submissive dog is an overly timid, shy or anti-social dog that just wants to be unseen in the room. Submissive dogs are often dogs that have been abused or mistreated, however some breeds are just more prone to these types of behaviors than others. Often unsuspecting new owners that pick the puppy that is sitting off by his or herself and just trying to hide in the corner don't realize that it is very likely these behaviors will continue on for the dog, even when he or she is in a loving home.

One of the most challenging behaviors with submissive dogs is submissive urination. This can occur when a dog gets overexcited when the family comes home, urinates in response to loud noises, raised voices or even new things or people in the environment. Owners that punish the dog for this type of urination are more likely to cause a greater problem as the dog is simply trying to say "I am scared and no threat to you" as they would with a dominant dog in a pack setting.

To start to minimize and eventually eliminate submissive urination it is important to immediately work on only positive reinforcement, no punishment or raised voices. Greet your dog by getting down on his or her level, don't stand over the dog and bend over to pet him or her, as this is the dominant position. In addition you may wish to greet your dog only after you have been in the house and he or she has calmed down, rather than making a big fuss when you first get in the door.

Working on obedience training and socialization in a very positive and highly controlled setting will help these dogs become more confident. With time and practice the submissive types of behaviors should gradually fade, but be aware any threatening situations may trigger them again. Avoid pushing a submissive dog into situations where they are showing signs of anxiety and stress, rather give them time to adjust and take everything very slowly.

If you do have a submissive dog, talk to your dog trainer before enrolling him or her into a group class. As with most types of behavior working on the situation early in the dog's life rather than later will be more effective, however any dog can respond to positive training. A trainer may recommend private lessons until your dog builds up confidence to avoid too many changes all at one time.

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