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 alway 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
dogwould 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, 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 andsnapping
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 couchwithout a fight, deny him
access to he 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 American
Kennel Club for a list of obedience training clubs in your area.
The American Kennel Club
51 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010> (212) 696-8200
Dr. Gary Landsberg
Doncaster Animal Clinic
99 Henderson Ave
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L3T 2K9
(416) 881-2922
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.
Pelo
