Do You Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed? (cont.)

Regarding dominance, training and behavior "experts" often cite dominance as a cause of everything from aggression to pulling on leash. To be blunt, this is nonsense. Don't take just our word for it, though. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) is so concerned about the misapplication of "dominance" that it has issued a "Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals." The paper points out that most dog behaviors that cause problems have nothing to do with dominance – rather, they're unruly behaviors that have been unintentionally rewarded, while the "right" behaviors haven't been taught. As for aggression, the position paper states flatly: "The most common cause of aggression in dogs is fear."