I’ve written before about why the old idea of dogs as “pack animals” blindly following a dominant “pack leader” is not only incorrect but harmful to dogs. Today, I want to focus on something more subtle and fascinating: the daily social negotiations dogs engage in with each other.
Yes, social dominance does exist in animal groups, but even scientists disagree on what it truly looks like. For simplicity, I define social dominance as competition for access to valuable resources within a group. And by “resources,” I mean anything a dog values—beds, toys, food, even attention.
Let me illustrate with my two dogs, Deuce and Rio, and their “resource negotiations”:
- Beds: They have several beds around the house. Rio claims the “perch” by the window exclusively. Kitchen beds are shared on a first-come, first-served basis. In the bedroom, Deuce usually takes the larger bed but lets Rio have it if she’s there first—a true gentleman!
- Toys: Deuce fiercely guards food-dispensing toys, using a sharp “stare” and high-pitched noise to keep Rio at bay. Rio needs to be coaxed into playing away from him. But with tennis balls? Deuce shares freely, and Rio delights in stealing them—a highlight of her day!
- Chews: When it comes to high-value treats like bully sticks, I call them both to get their chewy. Rio won’t take hers until Deuce has his first—no fights, no growls, just polite waiting and respect.
These examples barely scratch the surface of the complex, often invisible social dance dogs perform. Sometimes, a dog lets another have a resource simply because it’s not as valuable at that moment or to maintain peace and friendship.
Of course, some dogs resort to bullying to get what they want. But the norm? Dogs prefer to negotiate quietly rather than fight.
If anything, we humans could learn a lot from how dogs navigate their social world—using negotiation over force.
And this? It’s just the tip of the social dominance iceberg. There’s so much more to explore.