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WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?
A LESSON IN BECOMING ALPHA
"My dog just tried to bite me! All I did was tell him to move over so
I could sit on the couch next to him."
"My dog got into the trash can and, when I scolded her, she growled
at me.
What's wrong with her? I thought she loved me!"
"Our dog is very affectionate most of the time, but when we try to
make him do something he doesn't want to do, he snaps at us."
What do these three dogs have in common? Are they nasty or downright
vicious? No - they're "alpha". They've taken over the leadership of the
families that love them. Instead of taking orders from their people, these
dogs are giving orders! Your dog can love you very much and still try to
dominate you or other members of your family.
Dogs are social creatures and believers in social order. A dog's social
system is a "pack" with a well-defined pecking order. The leader of the
pack is the alpha, supreme boss, Top Dog. He (or she) gets the best of
everything - the best food, the best place to sleep, the best toy, etc.
The leader also gets to be first in everything - he gets to eat first,
to leave first and to get attention first. All the other dogs in the pack
respect the alpha dog's wishes. Any dog that challenges the alpha's authority
gets a swift physical reminder of just where his place in the pack really
is.
Your family is your dog's "pack". Many dogs fit easily into the lower
levels of their human pack's pecking order and don't make waves. They do
what they're told and don't challenge authority. Other dogs don't fit in
quite as well. Some of them are natural born leaders and are always challenging
their human alpha's. Other dogs are social climbers - they're always looking
for ways to get a little closer to the top of the family ladder. These
natural leaders and the social climbers can become problems to an unsuspecting
family that's not aware of the dog's natural pack instincts.
Some families encourage their dogs to take over the "pack" without realizing
it. They treat their dogs as equals, not as subordinates. They give them
special privileges like being allowed to sleep on the bed or couch. They
don't train their dogs and let them get away with disobeying commands.
In a real dog pack, no one but the alpha dog would get this kind of treatment.
Alpha doesn't have anything to do with size. The tiniest Chihuahua can
be a canine Hitler. In fact, the smaller the dog, the more people tend
to baby them and cater to them - making the dog feel even more dominant
and in control of his humans.
Alpha dogs often seem to make good pets. They're confident, smarter
than average, and affectionate. They can be wonderful with children and
good with strangers. Everything seems to be great with the relationship
- until someone crosses him or makes him do something he doesn't want to
do. Then, suddenly, this wonderful dog growls or tries to bite someone
and no one understands why.
In a real dog pack, the alpha dog doesn't have to answer to anyone.
No one gives him orders or tells him what to do. The other dogs in the
pack respect his position. If another dog is foolish enough to challenge
the alpha by trying to take his bone or his favorite sleeping place, the
alpha dog will quickly put him in his place with a hard stare or a growl.
If this doesn't work, the alpha dog will enforce his leadership with his
teeth. This is all natural, instinctive behavior - in a dog's world. In
a human family, though, this behavior is unacceptable and dangerous.
Dogs need and want leaders. They have an instinctive need to fit into
a pack. They want the security of knowing their place and what's expected
of them. Most of them don't want to be alpha - they want someone else to
give the orders and make the decisions. If his humans don't provide that
leadership, the dog will take over the role himself. If you've allowed
your dog to become alpha, you're at his mercy and as a leader, he may be
either a benevolent king or a tyrant!
If you think your dog is alpha in your household, he probably is. If
your dog respects only one or two members of the family but dominates the
others, you still have a problem. The dog's place should be at the -bottom-
of your human family's pack order, not at the top or somewhere in between.
In order to reclaim your family's rightful place as leaders of the pack,
your dog needs some lessons in how to be a subordinate, not an equal. You're
going to show him what it means to be a dog again. Your dog's mother showed
him very early in life
that -she- was alpha and that he had to respect her. As a pen you want
to, not just because he wants you to. Also, for the time being, don't get
down on the floor or on your knees to pet your dog. That, too, is a show
of submission. Give praise, petting and rewards from a position that's
higher than the dog.
GAMES:
If you or anyone in your family wrestles, rough-houses or plays tug
of war with your dog, stop! These games encourage dogs to dominate people
physically and to use their teeth. In a dog pack or in a litter, these
games are more than just playing - they help to establish pack order based
on physical strength. Your dog is already probably stronger and quicker
than you are. Rough, physical games prove that to him. He doesn't need
to be reminded of it!
Find new games for him to play. Hide & seek, fetch or frisbee catching
are more appropriate. Make sure you're the one who starts and ends the
game, not the dog. Stop playing before the dog gets bored and is inclined
to try to keep the ball or frisbee.
WHERE DOES YOUR DOG SLEEP?
Not in your bedroom and especially not on your bed! Your bedroom is
a special place - it's your "den". An alpha dog thinks he has a right to
sleep in your den because he considers himself your equal. In fact, he
may have already taken over your bed, refusing to get off when told or
growling and snapping when anyone asks him to make room for the humans.
Until your dog's alpha problems are fully under control, the bedroom should
be off-limits! The same goes for sleeping on furniture. If you can't keep
him off the couch without a fight, deny him access to the room until his
behavior and training has improved.
CRATE-TRAINING:
Dog crates have 1,000 uses and working with an alpha dog is one of
them.It's a great place for your dog to sleep at night, to eat in and just
to stay in when he needs to chill out and be reminded that he's a dog.
The crate is your dog's "den". Start crate training by feeding him his
dinner in his crate. Close the door and let him stay there for an hour
afterwards. If he throws a tantrum, ignore him. Don't let your dog out
of his crate until he's quiet and settled. At bedtime, show him an irresistable
goodie, tell him to SIT and when he does, throw the goodie into the crate.
When he dives in for the treat, tell him what a good boy he is and close
the door.
GRADUATING FROM BOOT CAMP: WHAT'S NEXT?
Just like in the army, boot camp is really just an introduction to a
new career and new way of doing things. A tour through boot camp isn't
going to solve your alpha dog's problems forever. It's a way to get basic
respect from a dog who's been bullying you without having to resort to
physical force.
How long should boot camp last? That depends on the dog. Some will show
an improvement right away, others may take much longer. For really tough
cookies, natural leaders that need constant reminders of their place in
the pack, Alpha Dog Boot Camp will become a way of life. Social climbers
may need periodic trips through boot camp if you get lax and accidentally
let them climb back up a notch or two in the family pack order.
How do you know if you're making a difference? If boot camp has been
successful, your dog should start looking to you for directions and permission.
He'll show an eagerness to please. Watch how your dog approaches and greets
you. Does he come to you "standing tall", with his head and ears held high
and erect? It may look impressive and proud but it means he's still alpha
and you still have problems! A dog who accepts humans as superiors will
approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or off to
the sides. He'll "shrink" his whole body a little in a show of submission.
Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays this
submissive posture to some of them, but not others, those are the ones
who still need to work on their own alpha posture and methods. They should
take him back through another tour of boot camp with support from the rest
of the family.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING:
Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new
position in the family, you should take him through an obedience course
with a qualified trainer. All dogs need to be trained and alpha dogs need
training most of all! You don't have to wait until he's through with boot
camp to start this training but it's important that he respects at least
one member of the family and is willing to take direction from them.
Obedience class teaches you to train your dog. It teaches you how to
be alpha, how to enforce commands and rules, how to get respect and to
keep it. All family members who are old enough to understand and control
the dog should participate in the class.
Obedience training is a lifelong process. One obedience course does
not a trained dog make! Obedience commands need to be practiced and incorporated
into your daily life. In a dog pack, the alpha animal uses occasional reminders
to reinforce his authority. Certain commands, like DOWN/STAY, are especially
effective, nonviolent reminders of a dog's place in the family pack order
and who's really in charge here.
A well-trained obedient dog is a happy dog and a joy to live with. Dogs
want to please and need a job to do. Training gives them the opportunity
to do both. A well-trained dog has more freedom. He can go more places
and do more things with you because he knows how to behave. A well-trained
dog that's secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and
confident. He knows what's expected of him. He knows his limits and who
his leaders are. He's free from the responsibility of running the household
and making decisions. He's free to be your loving companion and not your
boss. He's free to be a dog - what he was born to be and what he always
wanted to be in the first place!
WHEN YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP
If your dog has already injured you or someone else or if you are afraid
of your dog, you should consult with a qualified professional dog trainer
or behaviorist before starting Canine Boot Camp. Your dog should also have
an exam by your vet to make sure there are no physical causes for his behavior.
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