The "Alpha" Myth: Why Dominance Training Was Dropped
The alpha idea came from studies of captive wolves. What the wolf researcher who studied wild packs found, and why vet behaviourists dropped it.
Written by thecanineledger
A wolf researcher who spent 13 summers watching wild wolves concluded: “the typical wolf pack is a family, with the adult parents guiding the activities of the group” (Mech, Canadian Journal of Zoology 1999, abstract).
While the “alpha” idea still appears on trainer websites, it rests on a picture of wolves that the research has moved past, and on the idea that dogs behave like wolves. This page explains where the idea came from, and why veterinary behaviourists dropped it.
1. Where “alpha” came from
Captive wolves. Mech described the old view of a pack as “a group of individuals ever vying for dominance but held in check by the “alpha” pair”. He noted that “Most research on the social dynamics of wolf packs, however, has been conducted on non-natural assortments of captive wolves.”
Wild wolves. Watching free-living packs, he found families: parents leading their offspring, with a division of labour between them.
Wolves aren’t dogs. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) puts it simply: “the best model for understanding domestic dogs is domestic dogs.” It adds: “Dogs have diverged significantly from wolves in the last 15,000 years.”
Our note: We read only the abstract of Mech’s paper.
2. What veterinary behaviourists say
The concern. AVSAB’s 2008 position statement opens: “AVSAB is concerned with the recent re-emergence of dominance theory and forcing dogs and other animals into submission as a means of preventing and correcting behavior problems” (AVSAB, 2008).
Most problems aren’t about rank. “Most undesirable behaviors in our pets are not related to priority access to resources; rather, they are due to accidental rewarding of the undesirable behavior.”
The standard. AVSAB says “the standard of care for veterinarians specializing in behavior is that dominance theory should not be used as a general guide for behavior modification.”
Trainer referrals. “The AVSAB recommends that veterinarians not refer clients to trainers or behavior consultants who coach and advocate dominance hierarchy theory and the subsequent confrontational training that follows from it.”
What this rests on. It’s a position statement from a professional society, not a study. It was written in 2008.
Our note: When we checked on 5 November 2026, AVSAB still linked this statement from its position statements page (AVSAB, Position Statements). We compared the copy it links now with the one we cite. The text is the same, and it is still dated 2008. In 2025, AVSAB’s board called its 2021 statement on humane dog training “the most current and authoritative expression of our views”.
3. The “alpha roll”
What wolves actually do. AVSAB says: “In a pack of wolves, higher-ranking wolves do not roll lower-ranking wolves on their backs.” Instead, lower-ranking wolves “show their subordinate status by offering to roll on their backs.”
Why it can backfire. “The most common cause of aggression in dogs is fear. Pinning a dog down when he is scared will not address the root of his fear.”
Our note: AVSAB cites a 2008 conference presentation by Herron and colleagues for this. The same authors published a survey of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in 2009 (Herron et al., Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2009). We couldn’t read it. The publisher’s site blocked access, and we found no free copy or abstract.
→ Reward-Based or Aversive Training: What the Studies Found · → E-Collars, Prong and Choke Collars: The Evidence and the Law
4. Leadership without dominance
What owners want. AVSAB argues that what owners really want is “to obtain the ability to influence their pets to perform behaviors willingly”, which it calls “one accepted definition of leadership”.
What it recommends instead. Training should focus on “reinforcing desirable behaviors, avoiding the reinforcement of undesirable behaviors, and striving to address the underlying emotional state and motivations”. That includes medical and genetic factors.
Our note: Our page on choosing a trainer covers what to ask about methods.
→ Training That Works, and Why: What the Evidence Says About Methods
5. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Dogs are pack animals trying to be alpha” | Not supported. AVSAB says most problem behaviour is accidentally rewarded, not about rank. |
| “Wild wolves fight for alpha status” | Not in Mech’s wild packs. He describes families led by the parents. |
| “Alpha wolves pin others down” | No. AVSAB says lower-ranking wolves roll over themselves. |
| “An alpha roll fixes aggression” | Not supported. AVSAB says fear is the most common cause, and pinning won’t address it. |
| “Dominance training is the accepted standard” | No. AVSAB says the standard of care is not to use dominance theory as a general guide. |
Sources
- Mech LD. Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Can J Zool 1999. ⚠️ abstract read. Field observation and literature review. DOI
- American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals. 2008. ⚠️ not peer-reviewed. Professional society position statement. The copy AVSAB links now has the same text (read 5 November 2026)
- Herron ME, Shofer FS, Reisner IR. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2009. ⚠️ not read. The publisher’s site blocked access
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.