Rank and Dominance in Dog Training: A Kansas City Dog Trainer’s Perspective
Rank and Dominance in Dog Training: Why This Article Is Worth Reading
Every once in a while, I come across an article that makes me pause — even when it challenges ideas I don’t typically rely on in my own training.
This is one of those articles.
As many of you know, I lean strongly toward positive reinforcement–based dog training. I’ve never been a fan of training methods that rely heavily on dominance, intimidation, or outdated “alpha dog” theories. In real life, those approaches often create more problems than they solve.
That said, I also spent four and a half long years at the University of Kansas earning a psychology degree, and when you study learning theory, motivation, and behavior, you learn pretty quickly that social dynamics do exist in all species — dogs included. The challenge is understanding what those dynamics actually mean, and how (or if) they should be applied in everyday training.
The research discussed in the article below explores dominance in a much more nuanced way than most internet arguments ever do. While I think additional research is still needed before drawing broad conclusions, I found the discussion thoughtful and worth considering — especially for dog owners who want to understand behavior without oversimplifying it.
Click here to read the full article:
Rank and Dominance Matter When Trying to Teach Dogs
A Practical Note from a Kansas City Dog Trainer
At KISS Dog Training (Keep It Simple, Stupid), my focus isn’t on labels like “dominant” or “submissive.” Instead, I work with dog owners throughout the Kansas City area to build clear communication, consistent routines, and behaviors that actually work in real life — at home, on walks, and around distractions.
Dogs aren’t trying to take over the household. They’re responding to what’s been reinforced, allowed, or accidentally taught. When we simplify the picture and focus on what we want the dog to do, training becomes more effective and far less stressful for everyone involved.
Dog Trainer in Kansas City:
https://kissdogtraining.com/dog-trainer-kansas-city/
Books & Training Resources:
https://kissdogtraining.com/merchandise/
Contact Us:
https://kissdogtraining.com/contact-us/
Thanks for reading, and I hope you find the article as thought-provoking as I did. If it sparks questions about your own dog or makes you rethink something you’ve been told in the past, that’s usually a good thing.
— Mike
KISS Dog Training
