Taming a Dominant Dog

A dominant dog is not the same as an aggressive dog, but left unchecked, the behavior of a dominant dog can worsen rapidly. While an aggressive dog is more concerned with harming people or animals, a dominant dog just wants to be in charge and the leader of its pack. The owner of the dog should be the ̶0;pack leader,̶1; but being the dominant one does not mean being abusive or violent.

  1. Behavior

    • Traits a dominant dog may show include ignoring the owner when given a command or starting to play instead, guarding food or toys, growling or barking during play, pushing past to go through doorways first, trying to prevent anyone petting it on the head, and urinating or defecating on clothing, shoes or other personal items of people in the house.

    Territory

    • Furniture, rooms and doorways all signify territory to dogs. Dominant dogs need to be taught that the furniture in a house belongs to its owner and is not something to be guarded by the dog. Only dogs that behave well and respond to commands should be allowed to sit on the sofa or the bed and only as a privilege when the owner approves. Similarly, the dog should be prevented from pushing through doorways first or laying across doorways as if guarding them.

    Feeding

    • An easy way to change the hierarchy in the house when living with a dominant dog is to alter feeding times slightly. If the dog is fed at the same time as a mealtime for the family, ensure the people have finished their meals before the dog is given its food. This is important, as in a pack of dogs or wolves the pack leader eats first. When the dog is given its food, it must learn to sit and stay and only eat when it is told to by its owner. If necessary, leash the dog until it learns to sit and stay when told. Edible treats should be earned and not just given freely throughout the day. This reinforces good behavior and teaches the dog that its owner controls the food.

    Interaction

    • A dominant dog will sometimes attempt to mount its owner or another person in the household. This should never be allowed, nor should the dog be allowed to climb on top of its owner when he is sitting down. If a dominant dog tries to gain its owner's attention by jumping up or pawing, the owner should tell the dog to sit and stay or lie down and stay. The dog then receives the owner's attention or affection on his own terms rather than when the dog decides.