What Cause Dominant Behavior in Some Dogs
Despite speculation, dominant behavior is not a normal personality trait in any breed of dog. There’s several reasons why a dog displays dominant behavior, none of which, owners should consider as “okay” or “normal”. In many cases, pet owners unknowingly create the behavior by failing to discipline them when they first show signs of dominant behavior towards children or other animals. By failing to discipline them, their behavior gradually escalates. Other causes for dominant behavior include:
Another important reason dogs display dominant behavior is in response to an underlying health condition. Underlying health conditions can cause a dog to have hormonal or mood imbalances and poor eyesight or hearing. These conditions can cause a dog to displaying dominant behavior such as biting, growling, and barking in respond to the pain and irritability these conditions cause.
If your dog is showing signs of dominance it’s time to get help from a dog trainer or behavior specialist. Dominant dogs are often intent on preserving their position so if you do anything that they find challenging to their authority, they may bite you or someone in your family. Get help from a well-qualified professional. Contact Us Now for a Free Consultation on Dog Aggression Training! Sandlot K9 Services Featured Video Recent Posts
Having a dominant dog around the house can be annoying as well as dangerous. A dog who thinks he’s in command might eventually bite you or someone in your family if he is challenged. It’s important to recognize the signs that your dog is becoming dominant and do something about the problem.
2. Getting on furniture or the bed without permission. If you allow your dog to get on the furniture or the bed, it’s important that you teach your dog that he is only allowed to do so when he has your permission. If he gets up on furniture or the bed whenever he wants, he is displaying dominant behavior and putting you in a subordinate position.
Medical Causes of Dominant Dog Behavior
Certain medical conditions may trigger dominant behaviors and aggressive tendencies in dogs. Thyroid issues and testosterone imbalances are common medical causes of canine dominance. If your dog suddenly lashes out after being touched, it may be a cry for help. Many physiological disorders can cause chronic pain in dogs and irritability. Have your vet conduct a thorough exam to see if your pup is suffering from a medical cause of dominant dog behavior.
Is Your Dog Asserting Dominance? – Understanding Dominant Dog Behavior
Most pet owners know without question that they (and, to a lesser extent, their human family members) have to be Pack Leaders when interacting with their pooch. He should be submissive even to younger children so aggression and other problem behaviors don’t arise.
But different dogs have varying inclinations toward dominance or submission, so how much you’ll need to work to establish this role won’t be the same with every dog.
Understanding your dog’s natural inclination can help prepare you, but how do you discover whether they’re more likely to be dominant or submissive? One surefire way is to socialize them with other dogs and pay careful attention to their behavior with the rest of the pack.
A dog doesn’t need to follow all of these behaviors in order for you to consider her “dominant” or “submissive.” Most dogs won’t because they fall somewhere in the middle of the dominant-submissive spectrum, and the degree of dominance that your dog displays will likely change depending on the group of dogs that they are with.
However, by watching how they socialize over time and with different groups, you can get a pretty good sense of their natural inclination.
Generally speaking, dogs who tend to be more submissive are easier to keep at the bottom of your family pack structure and will fall in line with less work on everyone’s part. Those who are naturally inclined to lead and dominate other dogs may require more effort and structure to keep them happy and balanced in a position subordinate to your human pack.
Understanding how your dog fits into the pack can also help guide you towards safer socialization with other dogs.
