by Barry Eaton

An essential foundation text which discusses this now controversial issue. Absolutely vital reading for owners who thought their dog was trying to take over the world, and for students who are looking for modern interpretations of rank and heirarchy.

INTRODUCTION

Over the past few years, research has been carried out resulting in new theories as to how our pet dogs perceive us humans, particularly in a dog/owner relationship. There have been a number of books and papers that have started to dispel the idea that our pet dogs, given the chance, would try to raise their status in their human ‘pack’.

My purpose here is to pull the new research and theories together, and combined with my own ideas on the subject, produce an overview of an alternative view of ‘dominance’. In other words, do some dogs really want to raise their status within a human ‘pack’? Is it fact or fiction? I have a feeling that the end result may raise as many questions as it answers, but we need to open our minds and consider that perhaps there is an alternative view to the pack hierarchy rules and that dogs are not plotting to overthrow mankind!

Contents