Is there such thing as equals in human/dog?

Dogs should never be allowed to consider themselves as alpha over humans. Or even equals for that matter.

However, there are some dogs that do & those dogs are ones that are causing serious problems.

I do wonder about the ability of a dog to see it's self equal or dominant over a human, which is a totally different species.

It would go so far as to suggest that a dog see's US as dogs, or themselves as human, which I'm not sure they do (in reality)...

I wonder if there are any other cases of one species dominating another... And I mean dominating, as in, the behavioural sense!

I wondered if forceful behaviour displayed is domination - like intra species - dog on dog, or whether it is a purely different and seperate type of behaviour, which would never occur if dogs lived with humans. Just a case of... I can so I will... Dogs know fear, and dogs are manipulative - but that does not necessarily mean it is "dominating"...

i think domanance generally means do this when i say or suffer the consiquences. it is like a crocodile will always move out of a hippos way. dominance? respect because it knows its likely to get hurt?
probably both. i think it goes all species. there is just a line you dont cross

if a croc came towards you when your on its turf what do you do and why hehe

I don't think it would equate to a dog viewing us as dogs. It just means dogs have enough empathy to see humans as packmembers. Not dog packmembers . . . but packmembers nonetheless.

My dog always let the cat be the "boss" despite being much larger than the cat. She didn't have to view the cat as a dog to understand that she was below (waaaay below) the cat in the household hierarchy. The cat, of course, placed herself above everyone else as a benevolent dictator.

I do not equate misbehavior with dominance. It's a lack of training. "To be descended from a wolf is not to be a wolf." Where a lot of behavior probems persist is when people are so focused on who's the boss...who can be more dominating..... meanwhile, they're dogs are not being trained, not being reinforced for wanted behavior and so the it continues. "Reward pushy and you'll get pushy."

Is there such thing as equals in human/dog?

I think so, and I don't think it has to be a dominance/alpha thing.

I never answered the question, did I. Being different species, I don't think you can measure or weigh dogs and humans in comparable terms of equal, better than or less than. I don't think one is more or less important than the other.

wow its great to hear what everyone thinks. ^-^

No, I don't think it's possible to be an equal with your dog. I know mine aren't equal to me! If they were, I'd be sharing my bed, home, food and resources evenly with them.

Yes, I'll let the boys on the couch. But if I want to sprawl out, I'll make them move. They certainly don't have the right to make me move if they crave more leg space!

From that point of view, dogs are not our equals. They live with us and share our resources, but certainly not equally. We will feed ourselves ribeye, but the dog gets the cheaper cuts. And people determine the terms and conditions of this shared life. We dictate behavior through training, where we'll live and what they'll eat. We do make some allowances for the dog (such as living in a dog-friendly apartment), but do not let them have control of the situation.

We're not equals.

No equals, no exceptions.
And in Wolf Hiararchy the Alpha male and Alpha Female still aren't equal... they are in charge of of there gender within the pack but it is still one or the other that is completely in charge. They aren't equals.

arnt the top alpha male and female in the wolf pack often mates?

I wanted to add that when my dogs go out & get jobs & start paying their share of the bills & begin to cook for themselves, then I might consider them as equals.

Until then, they are dogs & I am a human & they belong to me.

Alphas mate with alphas.
If your the top of the pack you don't mate with a lesser wolf.