K9 Advisors

 Dominance Aggression: Yep that’s me. I want to be the boss; you see dogs are social animals. They like a pack structure and there is always the issue of who is the “pack leader”. Based on the outcomes of social challenges among group members, a dominance hierarchy or “pecking order” is established. If your dog perceives his own ranking in the hierarchy to be higher than yours, he’ll probably challenge you in certain situations. Because people don’t always understand canine communication, you may inadvertently challenge your dog’s social position.  A dominant aggressive dog may growl if he is disturbed when resting or sleeping or if he is asked to give up a favorite spot, such as the couch or the bed. Physical restraint, even when done in a friendly manner (like hugging), may also cause your dog to respond aggressively. Reaching for your dog’s collar or reaching over his head to pet him could also be interpreted as a challenge for dominance.  Dominant-aggressive dogs are often described as “ Jekyll and Hydes” because they can be very friendly when not challenged. Dominance aggression may be directed at people or at other animals. The most common reason for fights among dogs in the same family is instability in the dominance hierarchy. As a dog owner, whether of power dogs or 3 pound yorkies you must be the pack leader. This will be addressed in the next issue.