Dog training has been reshaped by a wave of new science and new fashions alike. We've gone from a world of pack leaders and constant competition to one of pure peaceful collaboration — both extremes oversimplify a reality that's far more complex and situational. This ethogram gives you the tools to read it properly.

What an imposing behaviour actually is

Dogs use posture and behaviour to make a statement about their self-perceived power and status — but only by reading the context and the real outcome of an interaction can you tell whether that statement actually held up.

Exclusive possession of a resource often discourages competition on its own: if a dog holds a toy or a bone, a more confident dog may simply choose not to contest it. That's exactly why it matters to separate the motivation to compete from the outcome of an interaction — a dog that avoids a confrontation isn't necessarily the one who'd lose it.

Take a look inside

Some sample pages from "Ethogram of Imposing Behaviours of the Dog". Click an image to open it full-size in a new tab.

Who this ethogram is for

The authors

Alexa Capra

Bibliographical and scientific research, video footage. This ethogram brings together years of research and direct fieldwork on dogs' social communication.

• Daniele Robotti — photographs, editing

This ethogram, or the whole series