The biggest dog in a group isn’t always the one in charge. Dogs have complex social relationships, and body size alone doesn’t determine which dog others will follow or give way to.
A study of five groups of free-ranging dogs found that older dogs often held higher social positions. In two groups, age was a better predictor of social rank than body size.
Even a large, young dog may give way to a smaller, older companion. Social experience, confidence, and established relationships can all play a role.
This shows that dog social behavior is more complicated than simply being the biggest or strongest.
