At Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, we meet hundreds of wonderful dogs every year, each with their own personality, quirks, and needs. One of the more persistent questions we hear from visitors and adopters is: “Is it true that dogs are just domesticated wolves?” And, more importantly: “Should we treat them like pack animals fighting for dominance?”
These are perfectly reasonable questions – after all, dogs do look a lot like wolves in some ways. But when it comes to training, behaviour, and everyday life, the answer is much more nuanced. In fact, thinking of dogs as little wolves trying to climb a pack ladder can do more harm than good.
Let’s dig into the science, challenge the myths, and explore what all of this means for the way we care for and train our dogs today.
The science of dog origins – does it really matter?
The origin story of our domestic dogs is still being pieced together by researchers. Did they evolve directly from grey wolves? From jackals? Or perhaps from an early ancestor common to both?
It’s a fascinating area of study – but in the day-to-day reality of being a dog owner, it’s not the most helpful lens to use. Whether your pup is a terrier, a Lab, or a rescued crossbreed, the more important question is: What does your dog need from you now, today?
Because despite the evolutionary connections, dogs are not wolves. And the training philosophies based on dominance, status, or outdated ‘pack leader’ thinking can often misunderstand the emotional lives of our dogs entirely.
How the ‘dominance’ myth took hold
Many people still believe that dogs naturally strive to be the boss – constantly trying to assert control over others, whether it’s the other dog in the household or the human they live with. You can find this belief tucked into all sorts of old-school training ideas, from gundog techniques passed down generations to TV dog trainers promoting tough-love, alpha-style approaches.
It’s a powerful narrative. But in our experience, it doesn’t hold up.
Let’s put it into perspective. There are millions of dogs across the world. Are we really saying each and every one is vying to take over? Of course not. Just as people come in all temperaments – some born leaders, some laid-back, some followers – dogs are individuals too.
That’s not to say dogs don’t form social orders. Dogs that live together do develop a sense of structure and cooperation, and some more confident individuals may naturally guide the group. But that’s a far cry from the aggressive, dominance-driven model we’ve been sold.
Even the word dominance itself has become twisted. When we ask dog owners what they think it means, the most common answers are “controlling” or “aggressive”. Yet the definition in the Collins English Dictionary is simply “having primary authority or influence”. There’s no mention of violence or conflict. The word has been culturally corrupted – and so has our understanding of canine behaviour.
Where it all began: captive wolves and misunderstood studies
Much of the misunderstanding goes back to a study from the 1940s by biologist Rudolf Schenkel. He observed captive wolves and described their facial expressions, body language, and behaviour – particularly during the breeding season, when tensions were naturally higher. It’s from this research that the terms “Alpha”, “Beta”, and “Omega” were popularised.
But here’s the crucial bit: Schenkel’s wolves were kept in a highly unnatural environment. Ten adult wolves, unrelated and unfamiliar with one another, were held in a 10-by-20-metre enclosure – a far cry from the wild.
In nature, wolf packs are family units. Typically, they consist of a breeding pair (mum and dad) and their offspring. As the young grow, they usually leave to start their own family groups before they reach breeding age. When resources are abundant, a daughter might stay with her parents and raise pups alongside her mother – often with a young male from outside the group.
So when wolves are healthy, free, and following natural behaviour, you don’t see constant jostling for power. There’s no Game of Thrones hierarchy. It’s a family raising its young.
But place those same animals in a confined space with no freedom to leave, and everything changes. Just like on Big Brother – put strangers in a box and tensions will boil over. It’s no surprise conflict happens. But those observations don’t reflect what real wolf packs – or dogs – are like in the real world.
Dogs are not wolves – and that’s a good thing
Our dogs may share some ancestry with wolves, but over thousands of years, we’ve bred them to be something else entirely.
Domestic dogs have been shaped to live alongside humans. They stay emotionally juvenile for much of their lives, socialise with unfamiliar dogs, and depend on us for food, comfort, stimulation and security. Most adult dogs can live peacefully together, show affection to strangers, and form close bonds with us. They are not out to ‘dominate’ us – they are trying to understand us, feel safe, and be part of the group.
What they crave is structure, routine, enrichment, a warm place to sleep, good food, affection, and a clear understanding of what’s expected of them. In return, they offer companionship, loyalty, and no small amount of emotional support.
They are emotional beings – and like us, they want to be understood. They deserve kindness, clarity and protection, not outdated ideas that frame them as little dictators waiting to take over the sofa.
So what should training look like?
Here’s the truth: good training isn’t about proving who’s in charge. It’s about communication, consistency, and mutual respect.
So if you ask your dog to sit and wait at the door, do it for safety – not to show who’s boss. If you feed your dog before you eat, that’s perfectly fine – especially if, like many of us, you want to eat in peace and then collapse onto the sofa.
And yes, it’s OK if your dog gets on the sofa. Ours do too. We curl up together in the evening, and it’s one of life’s quiet little joys. It doesn’t mean your dog is ‘dominating’ you – it means they love being close. And we love that about them.
When we let go of the dominance narrative, we open the door to better relationships with our dogs. We see them not as would-be alphas, but as intelligent, sensitive, social beings who thrive when we meet them with understanding and empathy.
So the next time someone tells you to “show your dog who’s boss”, remember this: your dog isn’t trying to overthrow your household. They’re trying to feel secure in it. Be their guide, not their rival.
From everyone here at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary – including our happily sofa-sharing rescue dogs – thank you for loving dogs for who they really are.