Dogs are pack animals and they look up to and obey the leader of the pack. That leader needs to be you.  You do not want to argue with your pet about who gets to sit on the couch or to contest whose steak it really is.

Remember, the pack leader gets the best of everything: food, the best place to sit, and the best toy. The leader also gets to be first in everything - he gets to eat first, to leave first and to get attention first. Although many dogs fit easily into the "owner as alpha" mindset, some need a bit of training.

The first thing to remember is that you cannot treat your dog as if he were the alpha in the household. That means not letting him have whatever he wants when he wants it, not expecting him to obey commands, not letting him take your chair or eat your food.

This is not a size thing; even very small dogs can think they are the alpha dog, if you let them. Alpha dogs control the pack physically - that means that if he is crossed or made to do something he does not want to do, he may become aggressive. So, how do you establish that you are the alpha dog at your house?

Your dog watches you and reads your body language - "Alpha" is an attitude. An alpha is confident and acts with authority. If your dog thinks you are insecure or won't enforce a command, he may decide that he has to take over. You need to tell your pet what to do, not ask him to do it. You need to use a firm, slow, and low-pitched voice. This is not a physical contest. It is psychological. And, you are smarter.

Vicki Rodenberg De Gruy, Chairman of the Chow Chow Club Inc.'s Welfare Committee in her article "Who’s In Charge Here?" published in Canis Major tells us that, "Dogs were bred to look to humans for food, companionship and guidance. You're going to teach him that from now on, he has to earn what he gets. No more free rides. This is going to be a shock to his system at first but you'll be surprised how quickly he'll catch on and that he'll actually become eager to please you." You can read the entire article including setting up a doggie boot camp at Canis Major.

Alpha Dog Article

Posted by Barbara.