Pets Stack Exchange
Pets Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [dominance]

For tagging questions related to behavior where dominance and pack hierarchy (e.g. "alpha dog") are assumed to be factors between 2 or more animals, including humans.

Additional Information

This tag should be used for labeling questions related to pack theory as it relates to dog training. This theory has modern adherents, but is also widely contested by behaviorists and ethologists, and can be contrasted with other methods of dog training that used behaviorist models such as classical and operant conditioning.

Related Links

44 questions
53
votes
4 answers

Who should win at tug of war?

I love playing tug of war with my dog. This is partially because he didn't show interest in toys at all early on, and getting him to actually pay attention to a tug rope was a long and often unrewarding process. Thankfully, he is now always excited…
Steve D
  • 1,900
  • 4
  • 18
  • 21
19
votes
3 answers

Why do dogs lean against you?

I've read on some sites that dogs lean on you because they feel comfortable with you. Other sites say that it is a sign of dominance. So, is it good or bad?
Lucy Galván
  • 593
  • 3
  • 6
  • 12
17
votes
2 answers

Why do neutered dogs still show sexual signs?

My dogs are both neutered - however they both still hump people, objects, and even each other. Sometimes they even get aroused. Is this a sign of dominance? Or is it a sexual thing?
nicolefurlan
  • 645
  • 6
  • 8
16
votes
2 answers

How much dominance is normal in 2 cats at play?

I have 2 cats; one is young (8 months) and the other is 1.5 years old. During play, the older cat always takes the role of the chaser and the younger cat always runs away. I had read somewhere that during play, cats should switch off who is chasing…
Dennis Graves
  • 3,493
  • 1
  • 28
  • 40
14
votes
1 answer

Cats fight over who sleeps further up on the bed

I have 2 cats, who enjoy sleeping on the bed with my wife and me, but during the night we notice that they both start at the foot of the bed, and creep up, leapfrogging each other to be higher up and closer to our heads. This occasionally erupts…
Dennis Graves
  • 3,493
  • 1
  • 28
  • 40
13
votes
1 answer

Why is my one dog's hobby chewing my other dog's fur?

So, I have had my 3-year-old, 65-pound, American Bulldog for about 9 months. His name is Dewey and he is deaf. I recently adopted another dog, a 2-year-old, 45-pound, Australian shepherd/Chow mix, named Clint, from the local shelter. Dewey has…
kjlubick
  • 233
  • 1
  • 2
  • 5
11
votes
2 answers

Possible sign of dog-to-dog aggression in a 3 dog household

I have a friend who recently adopted a boxer from a rescue (they've had the dog full-time for about a month now on a semi-trial basis). There is little information on his history as he was just found wandering on the side of the highway without a…
psubsee2003
  • 3,428
  • 22
  • 50
10
votes
1 answer

5-month puppy first day at home: guarding couch, growling, biting

Apologies for the long post in advance! After our beloved Dobermann passed away some time ago, we decided to get a new dog. We picked a cute 5-month mixed race puppy from a local shelter. In the shelter she looked lovely: active, curious, loving of…
axel_c
  • 241
  • 2
  • 7
10
votes
3 answers

How can I get my ferrets to play nice together?

I have four ferrets but they don't all get along. Each pair of ferrets doesn't like the other. At the moment they have separate play times outside of the cage. They're also caged separately in case that wasn't clear. I've tried letting them fight…
Cuthbert
  • 1,975
  • 15
  • 28
9
votes
1 answer

What's the effect of a dog watching you clean up his poo?

If I'm outside and my dog poops, I'm obliged to clean it up. My dog sees me do this. What's the effect of this. Will the dog think this is a dominant act or a submissive act, or just ignore it? Is there an alternative to this? (as in: cleaning up…
Demian Kasier
  • 193
  • 2
  • 6
9
votes
2 answers

Why is my puppy nipping at me, but not my wife?

I think I'm doing everything right with my puppy who is now a five month old Frengle (French Bulldog\Beagle mix), but he won't stop nipping and trying to attack me! Oddly enough, he leaves my wife alone or is cuddly with her, but with me he thinks…
user347
8
votes
1 answer

How can I tell if my cat is bullying her sister and what can I do to combat the problem?

I have two cats from the same litter that I adopted when they were around 12 weeks old. They are going to be a year old in two days, and as of recently I have been wondering if there's something wrong. Chilli is the bigger and much more approachable…
D. Tunus
  • 1,200
  • 4
  • 14
  • 32
7
votes
1 answer

Is it harmful to allow animals of different species to share the same water bowl?

This question can apply to any kind of animal, but I'm mostly targetting the aspect of cats and dogs sharing the same water bowl. Does this affect the relationship between animals? Would it be preferred to have separate water bowls due to dominance…
Dioxin
  • 1,206
  • 8
  • 17
  • 26
7
votes
4 answers

How can I redirect a cat about to pee outside the litter box?

As I mentioned in another question, my cat has been peeing on things outside of her litter box. So far she’s done it three times right in front of me, so either she doesn’t realize that she’s in the wrong place, or she’s challenging my authority.…
B. Szonye
  • 275
  • 1
  • 3
  • 9
7
votes
2 answers

Cats and throat-hold -- accept or discourage?

My turn to ask for help interpreting a behavior... I have a pair of neutered sibling cats, Harry and Hazel, about 7 years old. Periodically -- usually during a mutual grooming session -- Harry will grab Hazel's throat -- not scruffing, but under the…
keshlam
  • 12,215
  • 1
  • 28
  • 46
1
2 3