Ever been told your dog is “dominating you” or that you need to exert dominance over them for them to listen reliably? While it can sound convincing, it's probably not true.
It’s Likely a Lack of Clear Expectations
Dogs learn by outcomes. The door opens up, they push their way out – that worked! Is that dominating you? No.
Your dog is simply doing what works for them, and it’s self-reinforcing, which is why it continues to happen… but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Examples of Self-Reinforcing Behavior
Even when you don’t mean to, some behaviors keep rewarding your dog, so your dog keeps repeating them.
A few examples of this are:
A dog barks at another dog out of insecurity, and the passing dog moves to the opposite side of the street. Space is what your dog wanted, and space is what they got. Therefore, the barking and lunging will continue, provided the outcome remains the same (and is favorable to your dog)
A dog jumps on the table; they hit the jackpot by licking what was left on your plate. Your dog learns that jumping may lead to scraps; therefore, the counter-surfing continues.
Jumping can also apply to receiving attention from guests in the moment. A dog jumps on a guest, gets a pet, and receives attention. They will use the same tactic in future situations, hoping for the same result.
Three Ways to Kickstart Clear Expectations
In these moments, it’s important to:
Define the pattern of your dog’s behavior you’re looking to change
Be present prior to the behavior occurring
Interrupt the behavior before it happens
Pro Tip: A leash is one of the most effective ways to redirect your dog’s attention in the moments it matters most.
In Closing
Your dog isn’t dominating you; they’re just unclear of the expectations that you’d like them to follow through on. Clarity is everything. And your dog will thrive on it once it is provided.
If this resonated and you want help applying it with your dog, reach out anytime:
info@hopegablescanine.com 🐕✨
Nicolas Angione is the founder and head dog trainer at Hope Gables Canine, based in Fairfield County, CT. Inspired by his own dog's reactive journey and rehabilitation, he left his career behind to become a dog trainer. After years of shadowing other dog trainers in the industry, he started his own practice, which has successfully helped hundreds of dog owners, both domestic and abroad, regain peace and harmony with their dogs. Many of these success stories, dog training tips, and more can be found on their Instagram and YouTube pages.
