The concept of dominance in animal behavior should be understood through the lens of resource access rather than human sociological definitions, which can lead to misunderstandings in pet care. When a dog moves into your space quickly, it may see itself as the leader in the relationship, but this interpretation can be contentious as we often lack the language to understand animal behavior accurately.

When we observe animal behavior, we should avoid labeling it as dominance and instead look for alternative explanations based on the animal's behavior and context.

Understanding how animals perceive threats is crucial, as well-intentioned human interactions can be perceived as predatory by animals, leading to fear or avoidance behaviors.

Feral dogs in the wild form linear dominance hierarchies regarding access to resources, which can shift depending on the resource, indicating that these hierarchies are fluid and variable.

Secure attachment in dogs allows them to self-regulate better after stress, while insecure attachment can lead to clinginess or avoidance behaviors.

Dogs have innate mechanisms for recognizing self versus other species, which prevents them from attempting to mate with different species unless it's a dominance behavior.

Recent studies indicate that neutering can lead to behavioral changes in dogs, including increased fear and reactivity, particularly if done at a young age.

Dogs often walk beside or behind their owners, and if a dog walks in front, it does not necessarily mean it is the leader; this is a common misconception among dog owners.

Dogs display different facial expressions based on their emotional state, and studies have shown that they can exhibit distinct facial configurations in response to various stimuli, such as their owner's return or loud noises.