In my experience, a large part of my success in working with both human and canine packs comes from understanding that domesticated dogs are 99% wolf and only 1% breed-specific traits. This is especially true when it comes to how they think and behave. Wolves live by three basic principles: food, water, and space. Domesticated dogs, however, add two more: toys and attention. The foundation of their behavior is built around the same hierarchy and resource management principles that wolves rely on in the wild.
Wolves hunt successfully only about 20-40% of the time, so establishing a pack hierarchy is essential for survival. The dog that gets first access to food is typically the strongest, and the pack’s hierarchy determines who eats when. Space is used to reinforce this hierarchy—if a lower-ranking dog respects the space of a higher-ranking one, the higher-ranking dog can eat in peace. This is crucial for maintaining order in the pack.
In a household, dogs still adhere to this hierarchy, but the “space” they protect is different from the wild. They now use defined spaces like beds, crates, rooms, and yards to establish their positions. If a dog is lying in the middle of the floor and you walk around them, you’re signaling to them that you’re a lower-ranking dog. The higher-ranking dog does not focus on the lower one, but the lower-ranking dog stays aware of the higher-ranking dog’s movements, waiting for the opportunity to access food.
Pack stability is maintained through constant subtle communication: eye contact, body language, and movement. A dog in charge today may lose their position tomorrow due to age or illness, and the next dog in line will rise in rank. If no human in the household asserts themselves as the pack leader, one of the dogs will naturally take on the role. This is why dogs often challenge each other for access to food, water, toys, or attention.
Because humans spend more time stationary at home, dogs can assert dominance by standing in front of us. In canine communication, standing in front of something is a way of claiming ownership and challenging anything they perceive as a threat. This behavior often escalates through eye contact, lip curls, low growling, and nipping. Many people miss the early signs of this escalation, such as the subtle eye contact, and only notice the growl or the lip curl.
When a dog believes their subtle challenges have been ignored, they may escalate to nipping, attempting to move a perceived threat away from their space. About 99% of the time, if the threat retreats, the dog will stop nipping. However, in rare cases—usually due to neurological issues—a dog may escalate further. This reinforces the idea that most dogs are reactive, not aggressive. They’re simply trying to protect what they’ve learned to believe is theirs.
Children are often seen as easy targets by dogs because they cannot control access to resources like food, toys, or space. A dog may feel the need to protect their space from a child, who doesn’t pose a threat to the dog’s resources in the same way an adult might.
One of the most important ways a dog owner can establish leadership is by asserting themselves in small, daily actions, like facing the dog before walking out a door. This simple action reinforces your role as the pack leader. With practice, you can train your dog to focus on you, not the space you’re entering. This is also why dogs often rush to get through doors or upstairs before humans—they’re testing boundaries and asserting control over new spaces.
Dogs, like teenagers, benefit from knowing who is in charge and understanding the consequences of their actions. If we truly love our dogs, we need to understand their language and culture to communicate with them effectively and create a balanced, respectful relationship.