Dominance in domestic dogs revisited: Useful habit and useful construct?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dominance in domestic dogs revisited: Useful habit and useful construct?

AU - Schilder, M.B.H.

AU - Vinke, C.M.

AU - van der Borg, J.A.M.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - In the last decade, the validity and relevance of the dominance model was regularly put into question regarding relationships between canids like dogs and wolves, and consequently, humanedog relationships as well. The concept underlying this model, scientifically defined as an intervening variable reflecting status difference between individuals, is applicable when formal status signals symbolize the long-term relationship between individuals, resulting in a formalized dominance hierarchy. This article reviews the basics underlying the concept of dominance and reflects on the value and importance of some new quantitative studies on the applicability of the concept of dominance in domestic dogs. The conclusions are, first, that formal dominance is present in the domestic dog, expressed by context-independent unidirectional formal status signals. Consequently, formal dominance (e.g., submission) plays an important role in assessing status in dogedog relationships. Second, that nonverbal statuserelated communication in humans resembles that in dogs to a considerable degree, and hence dogs may be well able to interpret this human statuserelated nonverbal communication from their perspective. Dominance is therefore also likely to play a role in humanedog relationships. Hence, the dominance concept might be useful to explain the development of certain problems in dogedog and dogehuman relationships. However, enforcing a dominant status by a human may entail considerable risks and should therefore be avoided.

AB - In the last decade, the validity and relevance of the dominance model was regularly put into question regarding relationships between canids like dogs and wolves, and consequently, humanedog relationships as well. The concept underlying this model, scientifically defined as an intervening variable reflecting status difference between individuals, is applicable when formal status signals symbolize the long-term relationship between individuals, resulting in a formalized dominance hierarchy. This article reviews the basics underlying the concept of dominance and reflects on the value and importance of some new quantitative studies on the applicability of the concept of dominance in domestic dogs. The conclusions are, first, that formal dominance is present in the domestic dog, expressed by context-independent unidirectional formal status signals. Consequently, formal dominance (e.g., submission) plays an important role in assessing status in dogedog relationships. Second, that nonverbal statuserelated communication in humans resembles that in dogs to a considerable degree, and hence dogs may be well able to interpret this human statuserelated nonverbal communication from their perspective. Dominance is therefore also likely to play a role in humanedog relationships. Hence, the dominance concept might be useful to explain the development of certain problems in dogedog and dogehuman relationships. However, enforcing a dominant status by a human may entail considerable risks and should therefore be avoided.

KW - free-ranging dogs

KW - canis-familiaris

KW - personality dimensions

KW - agonistic interactions

KW - nonhuman animals

KW - gray wolves

KW - behavior

KW - hierarchies

KW - traits

KW - lupus

U2 - 10.1016/j.jveb.2014.04.005

DO - 10.1016/j.jveb.2014.04.005

M3 - Review article

VL - 9

SP - 184

EP - 191

JO - Journal of Veterinary Behavior

JF - Journal of Veterinary Behavior

SN - 1558-7878

IS - 4

ER -