The Alpha Myth

The idea that dogs form rigid dominance hierarchies came from 1940s studies of captive wolves forced to live with strangers. In that artificial setup, wolves did fight for rank.

Applying dominance theory to dogs means misinterpreting normal behavior as power grabs. A dog on the couch is not claiming territory — it just wants the soft, warm spot. A dog pulling on the leash is not being dominant. A dog eating before you is not establishing rank.