20/04/2023
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ALPHA DOG! ๐ถ๐
There are many common misconceptions when it comes to a dog's dominance... Whether that be they're aggressive, they're the alpha or that they're pack animals. โ
So, today we're going to set them straight...
1) Dogs are not pack leaders; wolves come in packs, but this only refers to a family unit. If a dog is left with its own devices, they don't need a pack and therefore, have no hierarchy
2) In the same breath, alpha or dominant dogs don't exist either due to no hierarchy. Dominance to a dog simply means getting access to desired resources. Not to mention, they're often diplomatic about these situations when figuring out who needs what and therefore making it a peaceful sacrifice
3) It isn't true that aggressive dogs are trying to be dominant. In almost all cases, aggression indicates fear, confusion and/or pain
4) We also don't need to be the alpha for our dogs. Again, as they don't live by the notion of packs, and as we're also not a dog, we will never be the 'top-dog' in their eyes. Instead, they have evolved to socialise and live with a human... a unique and wonderful trait of theirs
5) Similarly, you don't have to dominate your dog so that they don't dominate you. While a dog can be persistent in getting what they want, it's usually because they know they will at the end...i.e. begging for food at the table. They're opportunists, they're not dominant
We hope this has put some myths to bed for you! For any more advice, get in touch with us or leave a comment below! ๐