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How To Become The Alpha Dog

As already mentioned, every pack has an alpha dog. He is the undisputed leader who establishes his dominance early on with his fellow pack mates. There may be a few skirmishes but usually the followers accept their roles early on. Each pack member knows his or her place in the hierarchy. They learn to submit to the leader and show it by certain behaviours, such as rolling onto their backs or approaching with their heads held low, ears down, tail wagging and licking the muzzle of the boss.

When you bring a puppy or dog home they are naturally going to try and dominate the new pack which is you and your family if you have one. It�s up to you to show that you are in fact the alpha dog here and earn the dog�s respect, and therefore obedience. The exact methods you use will depend on the dog�s age. You�ll use slightly different strategies for the very young, adolescent and adult dogs. Here are some guidelines:

  1. (These first two are for a small dog or puppy) The first thing to do with your new dog is to sit on the floor and pick him up with your hands holding him just behind his front legs. Hold him out at as far as you can and still be comfortable. Stare into his eyes and if he doesn�t like it make a low guttural sound, your version of a growl. When he relaxes you�ll know you�re making headway. Do this several times over the course of a day and change location each time. You can also vary the time you hold him from about 15 seconds, up to 45 seconds.

  1. Again, sit on the floor only this time the pup will be on his back and held above your lap. Have one of your hands supporting his head, and the other his back. If he�s too big for this, then cradle him in your lap in the same position. Once again, growl if you have to and hold him for as long as you can, up to 45 seconds.

  1. If your puppy is too big for the above you can use this instead. Have him in a down position on the floor. Straddle him from behind with one leg on each side. This means that both of your heads will be facing the same way. Place your hands under his chest just behind his front legs and lace your fingers together. Lift him off the floor (hind legs will still be down) and growl if he tries to get away. Once he relaxes, hold him for the 15 to 45 second time period.

  1. Have your dog lie down on the floor on his side; his legs should point away from your body. Use one hand to hold his neck down and with your other press on the middle of his body. It will most likely take a while for him to calm down and relax. Once he�s settled start talking to him in a soft voice, and then you should praise him enthusiastically. What you�re hoping for is that he�ll show you his belly for a rub. You can also take this time to start handling his paws and checking out his mouth. Keep this up as many times a day as possible until he is used to you handling him.

Using the Stare

In the pack, one way the alpha dog shows his leadership and gets obedience is from making eye contact with the pack members. The others aren�t allowed to stare back at the boss. You can show that you�re the alpha dog by using the stare on your dog. Try to get him to look you in the eyes for a few seconds. Use a friendly demeanour so he won�t think it�s a contest of wills. As soon as he makes eye contact with you, tell him to �watch me� or �look at me�, something he can remember when you want his undivided attention. At the same time be sure to praise him some more.

If your dog is already showing signs that he thinks he�s in charge, don�t try this until you�ve established yourself as leader. In the worst-case scenario he�ll be trying to prove his alpha status and you�ll have a stare-down on your hands. If this happens and you can�t hold his gaze, or even if you blink, then he�s just had confirmation that he�s still the ruler of the pack (you).

Pack Leader

We�ll cover more about this in the training section, but just be aware that there are things you can do on a daily basis to confirm your status. Once you�ve taught him basic obedience commands, be sure to use the simple ones like �sit� or �down� before you give him his meals, take him outside, or even start playing. These exercises will not only lead to a well-behaved dog, it will reinforce the fact that you are the leader of the pack (him or her).

An important component of establishing yourself as the alpha dog is to stay consistent with anything you ask him to do. In other words don�t yell at him one day and talk to him in baby talk the next. Try to maintain an even tone that is friendly, respectful, and assertive enough for him to always know that you�re in charge. Don�t ever let him show anger toward you, such as snapping at you or growling. If he does, take him by the scruff of his neck, and give him a shake, then ignore him for about 15 minutes. Stare him straight in the eyes as you do so.

If you have a dog that frightens you then it�s time to talk to a professional trainer. You don�t want this situation to get out of hand or the relationship will never work. He could also start biting people if the behaviour is ignored.

Expect your dog to challenge your role as leader at some point. It generally happens in late puppy-hood or early adulthood. Just remind him calmly but definitely that you�re the boss and there should be no more problems.

Training not Coercion

Adopting a dog is not something to be done in haste or taken lightly. When you bring your dog home you are making a commitment to sharing your home and your life with him or her. You will both have responsibilities and will build a bond of love or trust together. It isn�t okay to just dump the dog because he won�t obey you. Ninety-nine percent of the time if you train him properly you will have a well-mannered and well-behaved dog.

Gone are the days when you should think of yourself as owning a dog or other animal. Yes, you are the boss, but it doesn�t give you the right to mistreat him or her in any way. This includes hitting, kicking, and yelling, among other abusive behaviors. Not only are you being cruel if you indulge in these practices, you are creating a scared dog who doesn�t respect you and may even turn mean. If you find you can�t train him properly, seek professional help. There are many classes that both you and your dog take together so that you can learn the best techniques for guiding him.

It�s up to you to provide leadership, love, nourishment, medical care, exercise, and fun for your dog. When you make him feel secure and cared for he will be your most loyal of companions.

The Dog Training Masters Home Study Course is recommended for all Dog Owners. Whether you have a dog with training or behavior problems or not, you are sure to enjoy a far better relationship with your dog once you have completed this course. Click here to grab your very own copy NOW!

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