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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 puppy, he was given a secure place in his litter's
pack and because of that security, he was free to concentrate on growing,
learning, playing, loving and just being a dog. Your dog doesn't really
want the responsibility of being alpha, having to make the decisions and
defend his position at the top. He wants a leader to follow and worship so
he can have the freedom of just being a dog again.
How to become leader of your pack:
Your dog watches you constantly and reads your body language. He knows if
you're insecure, uncomfortable in a leadership role or won't enforce a
command. This behavior confuses him, makes -him- insecure and if he's a
natural leader or has a social-climbing personality, it'll encourage him
to assume the alpha position and tell -you- what to do.
"Alpha" is an attitude. It involves quiet confidence, dignity,
intelligence, an air of authority. A dog can sense this attitude almost
immediately - it's how his mother acted towards him. Watch a professional
trainer or a good obedience instructor. They stand tall and use their
voices and eyes to project the idea that they're capable of getting what
they want. They're gentle but firm, loving but tough, all at the same
time. Most dogs are immediately submissive towards this type of
personality because they recognize and respect alpha when they see it.
Practice being alpha. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Walk
tall. Practice using a new tone of voice, one that's deep and firm. Don't
ask your dog to do something - tell him. There's a difference. He knows
the difference, too! Remember that, as alpha, you're entitled to make the
rules and give the orders. Your dog understands that instinctively.
With most dogs, just this change in your attitude and an obedience
training course will be enough to turn things around. With a dog that's
already taken over the household and has enforced his position by growling
or biting and has been allowed to get away with it, you'll need to do more
than just decide to be alpha. The dog is going to need an attitude
adjustment as well.
Natural leaders and social climbers aren't going to want to give up their
alpha position. Your sudden change in behavior is going to shock and
threaten them. Your dog might act even more aggressively than before. An
alpha dog will instinctively respond to challenges to his authority. It's
his nature to want to put down revolutionary uprisings by the peasants!
Don't worry, there's a way around it.
An alpha dog already knows that he can beat you in a physical fight so
returning his aggression with violence of your own won't work. Until
you've successfully established your position as alpha, corrections like
hitting, shaking, or using the "rollover" techniques described in some
books will not work and can be downright dangerous to you. An alpha dog
will respond to these methods with violence and you could be seriously hurt.
What you need to do is use your -brain- ! You're smarter than he is and
you can outthink him. You'll also need to be stubborner than he is. What
I'm about to describe here is an effective, non-violent method of removing
your dog from alpha status and putting him back at the bottom of the
family totem pole where he belongs and where he needs to be. In order for
this method to work, your whole family has to be involved. It requires an
attitude adjustment from everyone and a new way of working with your dog.
This is serious business. A dog that bites or threatens people is a
-dangerous- dog, no matter how much you love him. If treating your dog
like a dog and not an equal seems harsh to you, keep in mind that our
society no longer tolerates dangerous dogs. Lawsuits from dog bites are
now settling for millions of dollars - you could lose your home and
everything else you own if your dog injures someone. You or your children
could be permanently disfigured. And your dog could lose his life. That's
the bottom line.
Canine Boot Camp for Alpha Attitude Adjustment
From this day forward, you're going to teach your dog that he is a -dog-,
not a miniature human being in a furry suit. His mother taught him how to
be a dog once and how to take orders. Along the way, through lack of
training or misunderstood intentions, he's forgotten. With your help,
he's going to remember what he is and how he fits into the world. Before
long, he's even going to like it!
Dogs were bred to look to humans for food, companionship and guidance. An
alpha dog doesn't ask for what he wants, he demands it. He lets you know
in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go out,
that he wants to play and be petted and that he wants these things -right
now-. 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.
If your dog doesn't already know the simple command SIT, teach it to him.
Reward him with praise and a tidbit. Don't go overboard with the praise. A
simple "Good boy!" in a happy voice is enough. Now, every time your dog
wants something - his dinner, a trip outside, a walk, some attention,
anything - tell him (remember don't ask him, -tell- him) to SIT first.
When he does, praise him with a "Good Boy!", then tell him OKAY and give
him whatever it is he wants as a reward. If he refuses to SIT, walk away
and ignore him. No SIT, no reward. If you don't think he understands the
command, work on his training some more. If he just doesn't want to obey,
ignore him - DON'T give him what he wants or reward him in any fashion.
Make him sit before giving him his dinner, make him sit at the door before
going outside, make him sit in front of you to be petted, make him sit
before giving him his toy. If you normally leave food out for him all the
time, stop. Go to a twice daily feeding and -you- decide what time of day
he'll be fed. Make him sit for his dinner. If he won't obey the command -
no dinner. Walk away and ignore him. Bring the food out later and tell him
again to SIT. If he understands the command, don't tell him more than
once. He heard you the first time. Give commands from a standing position
and use a deep, firm tone of voice.
If the dog respects certain members of the family but not others, let the
others be the ones to feed him and bring the good things to his life for
now. Show them how to make him obey the SIT command and how to walk away
and ignore him if he won't do as he's told. It's important that your whole
family follows this program. Dogs are like kids - if they can't have their
way with Mom, they'll go ask Dad. In your dog's case, if he finds a member
of the family that he can dominate, he'll continue to do so. You want your
dog to learn that he has to respect and obey everyone. Remember - his
place is at the bottom of the totem pole. Bouncing him from the top spot
helps but if he thinks he's anywhere in the middle, you're still going to
have problems.
Think - you know your dog and know what he's likely to do under most
circumstances. Stay a step ahead of him and anticipate his behavior so you
can avoid or correct it. If he gets into the trash and growls when
scolded, make the trash can inaccessible. If he likes to bolt out the door
ahead of you, put a leash on him. Make him sit and wait while you open the
door and give him permission - OKAY! - to go out. If your alpha dog
doesn't like to come when he's called (and he probably doesn't!), don't
let him outside off leash. Without a leash, you have no control over him
and he knows it.
Petting and attention: Alpha dogs are used to being fussed over. In a real
dog pack, subordinate dogs are forever touching, licking and grooming the
alpha dog. It's a show of respect and submission. For now, until his
attitude has shown improvement, cut down on the amount of cuddling your
dog gets. When he wants attention, make him SIT first, give him a few kind
words and pats, then stop. Go back to whatever it was you were doing and
ignore him. If he pesters you, tell him NO! in a firm voice and ignore him
some more. Pet him when -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.
To find a qualified trainer or behaviorist near you, contact your
veterinarian or the UK Kennel Club for a list of obedience training
clubs in your area.
The Kennel Club
Clarges Street,
London SW1
0870 606 6750
Related Reading:
Mother Knows Best - Carol Lea Benjamin
Dog Problems - Carol Lea Benjamin
Dogs Love To Please - September B. Morn
Psychological Dog Training - Clarence Meisterfield
----This article was written by Vicki Rodenberg, Chairman of the Chow Chow
Club Inc.'s Welfare Committee. Uploaded with permission from the author,
it may be reproduced for non-profit purposes with author's credit given
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Just A Dog.
From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, its just a dog", or "thats a lot of money for just a dog".
They dont understand the distance travelled, the time spent or the costs
involved for " just a dog".
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog".
Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog", but l
did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog",
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me
comfort , and the reason to overcome the day.
If you too think, its "just a dog", then you probably understand phases
like , "just a friend", "just a sunrise", "just a promise"...
"Just a dog", brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" l get up early, take long walks, and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, its not "just a dog" but an embodiment of
all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out the best in me and diverts my thoughts away from
myself and the worries of the day..
I hope that someday they can understand that its not "just a dog", but
the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being just a woman (or man ) ..
So the next time you hear the phase "just a dog", smile because "they just dont understand "
AUTHOR UNKNOWN...
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