WHO'S
IN CHARGE HERE?
A Lesson in Becoming Alpha
by Vicki DeGruy
"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 "roll over" 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 more stubborn 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 because -he- wants you to. 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 frizbee
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 irresistible 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 FOR 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 our 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!
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