Why nobody will ever agree about dominance in dogs

The concept of dominance in the training of domestic dogs is debated by both scientists and dog trainers but is not an observable truth that can be evidenced by further study. The same observed interactions between animals may be interpreted as dominance within a hierarchy or as an outcome of learning theory, depending on the theoretical perspective taken by the observer. The term “dominance” as used in everyday language may also be applied to the dog-human relationship without the need for interactions to be driven by an implicit hierarchy. Debates around the validity of dominance in dogs should instead focus on the promotion of welfare-friendly training methods that must be used by all.