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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:
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- (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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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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