When might a dog display submissive behavior?

A dog may display submissive behavior in the presence of a larger or more dominant dog as a social strategy to de-escalate potential conflict and show that it poses no threat. This behavior is part of the dog's natural communication system, helping to maintain harmony within social hierarchies of canine interactions. By exhibiting submissive postures, such as lowering its head or body, a dog signals to the dominant individual that it recognizes its status and intends to be non-aggressive.

In contrast, a dog that feels confident and strong would typically display dominant behaviors rather than submissive ones, as it would not feel the need to appease or yield to a perceived threat. While fear can trigger submissive behavior, it is not the sole reason, as many dogs may exhibit submissive actions simply as a response to the presence of a more powerful dog, regardless of their own emotional state. The assertion that all dogs are always dominant misrepresents the complex social dynamics at play in canine interactions, where both dominance and submission can coexist based on various factors including size, individual temperament, and social context.