Dominance in Dogs: A Comprehensive Scientific Compilation

Date: May 16, 2012

Author: Roberto Barata

Last update: Mar 2024.

How to cite: Barata, R. (2012). Dominance in Dogs: A Comprehensive Scientific Compilation. Human-Animal Science.

 

The exploration of knowledge, both tangible and digital, offers an expansive landscape for discovery. Yet, navigating this terrain, searching for dependable, fact-based insights on particular topics can often prove challenging.

It’s imperative to approach scientific inquiry with an unbiased lens, ensuring that our ethical convictions do not cloud the objectivity of our findings. By rigorously defining terminology and concepts, we commit to the ethos of professionalism, skillfully separating empirical evidence from widespread myths and cultural narratives. This commitment fosters a deep respect for all life forms, each possessing its unique mode of communication.

In this context, I have curated a collection of scholarly articles and research findings from authoritative sources, addressing various aspects of animal behavior. This compilation, subject to periodic updates, is designed to serve as a solid informational base. The material herein is intended to empower you with a well-informed perspective, enabling you to partake in profound and informed dialogues.

I invite you to invest time perusing these carefully selected references, laying a robust scientific groundwork. This foundation will enrich your understanding and equip you with the intellectual tools necessary for engaging in substantial discussions on the subject.

 

Articles

• Dominance, submission, hierarchies, ethograms, and all scientific definitions on the subject. Article by Dr. Roger Abrantes.

• Dominance and aggressiveness – Critical reasoning. Article by Dr. Roger Abrantes.

• Canine Ethogram—Social and Agonistic Behavior, by Dr. Roger Abrantes.

• Dr. Simon Gadbois’s article on dominance and punishment.

• Canine Ethogram-Social and Agonistic Behavior. Article by Dr. Roger Abrantes.

• Article by Dr. Marc Bekoff with the testimony of Dr. David Mech stating that he never rejected the notion of dominance.

• Dominance and Pseudo-science. Article by Dr. Marc Bekoff.

• Dogs display dominance—article by Dr. Marc Bekoff with several studies and other essays on the subject.

• Study the ontogeny of social play and agonistic behavior in selected canid species.

• Study with quantitative analysis of dominance in domestic dogs.

• An article by Dr. David Mech in 2011 stated that there is no problem using the term “alpha” with wolves in some cases and that the problem was the complete misrepresentation of the term (page 8).

• Another study about dominance in domestic dogs.

• Study about Age-graded dominance hierarchies and social tolerance in packs of free-ranging dogs.

• Various articles and studies about Social Hierarchies.

• Use wrong wolf generation time in assessments of domestic dog and human evolution.

• Dr. Mech: Alpha Status, Dominance, and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs.

• Dr. David Mech: Leadership in wolf, Canis lupus, Packs.

• Ethology Institute live about the “Alpha Dog” meme. 

• A Dog Is Not a Wolf—Is It? – Roger Abrantes.

• In a 2023 interview with Dr. David Mech, he clearly says that he never denied the term “dominance” and never spoke about dogs, confirming that “dog people” completely misunderstood his words.

 

Recommended Reading

Abrantes, R. (1997). The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior. Wakan Tanka Publishers.

Abrantes, R. (1997). Dog Language. Wakan Tanka Publishers

Barata, R. (2024). Anthrozoology & Animal Training, A Paradigm Shift, 2nd Edition. Human-Animal Science.

Coppinger, R. and Coppinger, L. (2001). Dogs: a Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. Scribner.

Eaton, Barry. (2002). Dominance in Dogs: Fact or Fiction? Dogwise.

McFarland, D. (1998). Animal Behaviour. Benjamin Cummings. 3rd ed.

McFarland, D. (2006). A Dictionary of Animal Behaviour. Oxford University Press

Székely, T. (2010). Social Behaviour, Genes, Ecology, and Evolution. Cambridge University Press.

Watson, J.C., Arp, Robert. (2015). Critical Thinking—an introduction to reasoning well. Bloomsbury Academic.