General Dog Behavior Information


Animal Behavior Associates offers free dowloads, a blog, educational telecourses, books and more from Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists Suzanne Hetts, PhD, CAAB and Daniel Estep, PhD, CAAB.
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Solutions for Problem Behavior

Alternative approaches to dominance theory for...


Social Behavior in Wolves and Dogs


One of the most misunderstood aspects of dog behavior is the way they form social relationships with people and with other dogs. This misunderstanding leads to ineffective and sometimes abusive training techniques. Sit, stay, learn.

Free web lecture on dog and wolf social behavior: Alternatives to Being the "Alpha:" Better Ways to Interact with Dogs

Ellen Mahurin, M.A.
University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
March 16, 2010, Knoxville, TN

Why We Need Alternatives to Dominance-Based Training

Relevant Publications

  • Bradshaw, J.W.S., Blackwell, E.J., & Casey, R.A. (2009). Dominance in domestic dogs-useful construct or bad habit? Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4, 135-144.
  • Coppinger, R. & Coppinger L. (2001). Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. The University of Chicago Press.
  • Hiby, E.F., Rooney, N.J. & Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2004). Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behavior and welfare. Animal Welfare, 13, 63-69
  • Mech, L.D. (1970). The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species. Doubleday Publishing Co., N.Y.: Natural History Press.
  • Mech, L.D. (1999). Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 77, 1196-1203
  • Mech, L.D. (2000) Leadership in Wolf, Canis lupus, Packs. Canadian Field-Naturalist, 114(2), 259-263.
  • Mech, L.D. (2001). Standing Over and Hugging in Wild Wolves, Canis lupus. Canadian Field-Naturalist, 115(1), 179-181.
  • Van Kerkhove, W. (2004). A Fresh Look at the Wolf-Pack Theory of Companion-Animal Dog Social Behavior. Journal od Applied Animal Welfare Science, 7(4), 279-285.