Living with a puppy: Dominating or Collaborating

The dog, as mentioned in the previous articles, is a collaborative social animal. It does not act as an individual but as part of a group. The dog relies on the group and conducts activities that are agreed upon by other members. The co-evolution with humans has also made it possible for the dog to have a partly common communication. For example, as a puppy he is able to “read” our emotions and our non-verbal communication and can learn and memorize different words, has a mixed social group (when he is adopted by a family) and listens to the Pet Parents for directions (an aspect that differentiates him from the wolf 'cousin'). For years there have been talks of dominance/submission and unfortunately, still today, some mistakenly think that the education of the puppy and his management must include prevarication through authoritarian and strict behaviors. In recent decades, studies have confirmed that canines do not see the other family member as a competitor, but as a companion. Within the group, the dog identifies trusted and reliable figures to refer to and to asks for approval regarding the role he must assume (sentinel, controller, coordinator) and on what is expected of him.  
How to communicate with a puppy
An authoritative communication creates a lot of stress for the puppy. Communication and management inconsistencies often make many interactions worrying and favor the development of insecurity and distrust. Furthermore, being authoritarian teaches the dog that communication within the group must be mandatory (we always remember that we are its role models) and can cause, as development progresses, subsequent situations of conflict on resources and on the role to play. Other studies confirm that authoritarian, prohibiting if not completely coercive (which forces and compels, often with verbal and physical punishment) behavior worsens unwanted behaviors, fears, anxious states and aggressive behaviors. It is essential to understand that, just like the education of a minor, the approach to be used with a dog, from the first moments of cohabitation, must be based on authority. The Pet Parent (a point of reference who protects,and helps gain experience to constantly improve), through precise and coherent communication, favors the collaboration of the puppy and lays the foundations for the development as a balanced and competent adult.