He got on the couch. He went through the door first. He kept the toy. For a long time, these scenes were explained as signs that a dog wanted to be in charge. It is an interpretation that turns very different domestic situations into the same dispute.
Before deciding there is a power struggle, it is worth looking at what really happens. Maybe the couch is comfortable, the door announces a walk or that toy has great value for him. To decide how to intervene we need something more precise than a label.
Hierarchy is not a universal explanation
Dominance has a specific meaning in the study of relationships between animals. Using it to generally explain coexistence between people and dogs can lead to interventions based on submission. The AVSAB warns against that approach and its risks. [6]
This does not mean rules disappear. If you prefer your dog to rest in his bed, you can prepare a comfortable place and teach him to use it. The decision about the couch is a coexistence rule; it does not need to become a demonstration of superiority.
Do the same exercise with the door: do you want him to go out after you because of an idea of rank, or do you need a safe exit? For the latter you can organize the opening, use appropriate equipment and practice a wait. The concrete objective helps choose a proportionate solution.
Being a reliable reference shows in everyday life
You can think of your responsibility as a series of decisions: organizing veterinary care, offering rest, managing encounters and sustaining workable routines. They are important obligations. None requires your dog to lose a competition with you.
You can also allow safe choices. Choosing between two resting places or moving away from a caress does not equal deciding all the rules of the house. It is recognizing that there are matters in which he can express a preference without putting anyone at risk.
If he guards food, growls or tries to bite, do not challenge him to check who's in charge. That situation deserves safety measures and evaluation. Behavioral work may need environmental changes, learning and clinical attention, depending on the case. [2]
Review an inherited custom
Think of a rule you apply because someone told you “that's how he'll respect you.” Ask yourself what concrete need it solves and whether there is a clearer, safer way to address it.
At Huella por Huella we care about a coexistence in which you can care firmly and listen attentively. You don't have to win against your dog to take responsibility for him. You can build everyday agreements that work because they are well taught and because his well-being matters.
Keep reading: Setting Limits Without Scaring Your Dog · The Growl Worth Listening To