It can be hard to imagine your cute little miniature Dachshund as anything but a domesticated pet. But, even with over 250 years of domestication and breeding (and for some breeds hundreds more years), every dog still has the basic, instinctual needs of a pack animal in their DNA. In the wild, there is nothing quite as dangerous as a wolf. On its own, a wolf is menacing and dangerous, but in a pack, it is nearly unstoppable.
And that is how dogs survive – they group together and work with each other to find food, survive cold weather and avoid predators. Believe it or not, in your living room, a dog will revert to the same instinctual behaviour – trying to determine their place in the pack.

From the time a dog reaches only a couple of months of age, it will begin testing its surroundings and its owners to determine where it stands in the pack order. That early test of dominance is vital in the wild, allowing stronger, younger dogs to rise up and lead their fellow pack members. By having the strongest pack leader in place, the rest of the pack can be certain they will survive. Your dog wants the same basic thing – an assurance of safety and well-being.

For human beings, a good job and a big house might be all we need to decide that we are taken care of. However, for dogs, it is a matter of body language, assertive behaviour and consistent displays of alpha leadership. By standing up and becoming the undisputed pack leader of your home, you not only tell your dog that you are in charge and they need to obey your commands – you assure them that, by submitting to your dominance, they will be kept safe and well taken care of. This reduces stress, relaxes your dog, and in many cases can alleviate aggressive behaviours such as fighting, food aggression, and chewing.