Seems like everybody thinks they have one.

I always see dogs described as dominant that in text look like they have separation anxiety, possession issues, fear exhibiting as aggression, over excitement, or just don't know the rules.

Can a dominant dog really be a fearful dog, too? Or insecure?

How do y'all see a dominant dog?

I think dominant dogs can definitely have fear or insecurity. One person described my dog as her thinking she is the alpha, but not really wanting to be. Maybe she feels like she needs to protect, but at the same time it scares the crap out of her?

With the separation anxiety, that same person also told me that if a dog does not believe itself to be the pack leader, it will be okay with you leaving and going.

I think all of those things you listed, possession, anxiety, fear aggression can all be traits of a dominant dog, but don't know if dogs with those issues are all necessarily dominant. If that makes sense.

 Quote: jenn verrier

I think dominant dogs can definitely have fear or insecurity. One person described my dog as her thinking she is the alpha, but not really wanting to be. Maybe she feels like she needs to protect, but at the same time it scares the crap out of her?

See, to me, this is NOT a dominant dog at all, but a dog lacking in a leader. A dominant dog WANTS to be the leader, and NEEDS to be a leader and is very comfortable in that position. They will literally FIGHT to be in that position. Just because a dog is forced into a position by a void does not define the basic temperament of the dog.

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With the separation anxiety, that same person also told me that if a dog does not believe itself to be the pack leader, it will be okay with you leaving and going.

I have never heard this before, and don't know that I buy it. Thousands of dogs certainly do not believe themselves to be pack leaders, but have horrid SA. SA, IMHO is caused by a mix of genetics and life style. Some dogs are just more prone to being nervous in situations and when you mix that with an enabling owner SA develops. Dogs that are genetically more apt to becoming nervous, but are taught to calm themselves and feel safe don't develop SA, or not nearly to the degree that it is identified at.

By its very nature, a dominant dog is confident and independent. Neither lends themselves to SA behaviors. At most, I can see it stretched to a dominant dog wanting to control its surroundings and exhibiting destructive behaviors in an attempt to do so, but it would come from a very different place than nervousness.

I think that many label their (or a clients) dog as dominant based on ignorance. A dominant dog is not a desirable thing in most situations and is very difficult to live with. They tend to be very stubborn and don't typically train well. They can be a constant challenge, literally. Ironically, they don't really feel the "need to protect" and are quite indifferent in most situations. They are more inclined to allow you to protect yourself unless the threat is, or perceived to be, on them.

For an easy analogy, think of a male lion with a handful of girlfriends. The lionesses are the ones that are the protectors and hunters. They do most of the work. The male "protects" them from other male lions that may come in and kill their young, but more than that, want to kill him. It doesn't translate perfectly, but you get the idea.


Some dogs are more ready and willing to take leader-like positions, as in any situation where more than one being co-exist, one must be the leader, but most will find themselves nervous about being there and will happily follow a stronger leader when the opportunity presents its self.

I'm not real big on terminology or wolf studies & pack stuff but I don't believe an actual dominant dog has those types of issues.

The only dogs I have had pointed out to me or shown to me by people who know always seem calm and confident to me. A certain aloof indifference. Of course they are owned by people who have no problem with that type of dog. There does seem to be an amount of showing the dog they have to do something when training them, not just having him want to.

Everyone believes they have a dominant dog. A guy came over with his female Shepherd once, and we needed to see if my male, Tiko, would get along with his female before he decided whether or not to buy him. Tiko is a pushy PUSHY dog, and his female (described as "very dominant") ran away screaming whenever Tiko was being pushy. Comparatively, my little 36lb Dutchie is a real snarky lil bitch, and a single sharp snarl from her would make Tiko back away and leave her alone. I wouldn't even consider Lyka to be very "dominant," which goes to show that people are very quick to call their soft, submissive dogs "dominant" because the dog appeared to be more dominant than something even more submissive than it...

Most people do not have dominant dogs. Most working dog owners do not even have dominant dogs. Most people just suck at handling and training their dog, so when the dog does anything wrong the dog is automatically "dominant."

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One person described my dog as her thinking she is the alpha, but not really wanting to be. Maybe she feels like she needs to protect, but at the same time it scares the crap out of her?

As Jessica so nicely put, this is not a dominant dog at all. This is a dog that wishes someone would take over and is stressing herself out in a position that she doesn't want to be in.

A truly dominant dog is a dog that does not want to follow even a strong leader. Most people are not strong leaders by nature, so when a dog walks all over them they say "the dog is dominant," in reality, "the dog is more dominant than me, but not more dominant than a competent handler."

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With the separation anxiety, that same person also told me that if a dog does not believe itself to be the pack leader, it will be okay with you leaving and going.

That is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. So the un-confident pansy dog that freaks out when the handler is gone is supposed to be the dominant one? Its a wonder wolves survived that way....

I checked in earlier today on LB and saw this thread heading, I've just read it through.
The best answer I've got is what my SO said when I read the heading out loud earlier in the day; quote ' Chuckle chuckle. If you have to ask, you have no need to worry about it, ya ain't got one'.

Thanks for all the replies.:smile:

I don't even know if I've ever seen a real dominant dog before. Maybe one, but not sure.

I just had a hard time picturing what I think of as dominance being paired with anything less than confidence.

Constantly reading, "Dominant, dominant, dominant....", I just wanted to check.

Seems like people could enjoy their dogs more if they saw them for what they really are. Could probably approach behavioral problems a little more effectively, too.

Reading through the posts, especially Jessica's and Mike's made me think that today people often like to throw terminology around carelessly. While some pets may be more dominant than others, or even more so than their owners very few are truly dominant.

I did live with a truly dominant dog (and, no, I never felt the need to ask, LOL

I've seen lots of dogs that (mostly unwillingly) socially outrank their human pack members, but have only ever seen one truly dominant dog. He was a police dog who was very confident; no fear, nervousness, anxieties, etc. Just calm, cool and collected with a very direct gaze and a 'go ahead and try it' attitude. He was cool, but I can't imagine him in the hands of 'average-Joe pet-owner' (or in MY hands, for that matter)

I've never owned a truly dominant dog.