Dominance vs. Leadership in Dog Training

At Animal Friends, we believe that dominance theory in pet training, which promotes the use of force and submission to address behavioral issues, is an outdated and ineffective approach. This theory suggests that animals misbehave to assert dominance, but research now shows that many undesirable behaviors stem from unintentional reinforcement, not a desire for rank.

We align with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), which advocates for positive reinforcement and behavior modification techniques based on scientific principles. AVSAB recommends against using dominance-based methods and urges trainers to focus on reinforcing desirable behaviors and addressing underlying emotional or medical factors.

For a deeper understanding of why dominance theory can be harmful and how to apply effective, humane training methods, we encourage you to read the full article here.