It is common sense to think that people are in control of their dogs. We feed our dogs, walk them on a leash, tell them to sit and stay, and give them the love and affection they crave. But some dogs display dominant behavioral traits, insist on doing things their way and try to take power away from their masters. These are called Alpha dogs.
An Alpha dog is predisposed to be the leader of the pack and expect to be in charge. If your dog routinely tries to intimidate you or other dogs, is aggressive around food or generally disobedient, you probably have an Alpha dog.
Ultimately, well-trained dogs should believe their owner is the Alpha, not them. Some people think they can regain Alpha status over their dogs by being mean and aggressive. This can put even more strain on the dog/owner relationship and lead to more problems.
Here are some good ways for you to gain control over your Alpha dog once again.
Play games with your dog that encourage cooperative behavior. Fetch is a great example. When you throw a ball or stick for your dog to retrieve, the game can only continue if the dog brings the object back to you. This shows the dog that you are not an adversarial figure.
Do not play tug-of-war with your dominant dog. This game encourages adversarial behavior, pitting you and your dog against each other. And if your dog routinely wins tug-of-war matches, he is learning that he is stronger than you and that his teeth are powerful, which will encourage more disobedience and aggression.
In a pack situation, one of the ways Alpha dogs express their dominance is by eating before all other dogs. If you can, try to feed your Alpha dog a few minutes after you begin eating your own meal. This will teach the dog that you come first in the pack and encourage patience and obedience.
Do not be overly affectionate to your dog. One very common mistake people make with Alpha dogs is constantly petting, rewarding and using baby talk with the dog. Doing so gives the dog a very powerful message -that he doesn't need to earn your respect and love. This will lead an Alpha dog to yet more dominant, disobedient acts.
Use your affection and attention as a training tool. As you teach your dog to come, sit, stay and heel, reward him with a moment of your affection for each success. Treats can be a powerful incentive too, but the best way to teach your a href="http://www.barkbusters.ca/">dog obedience is by using yourself as an incentive, rather than a treat that you can run out of. Dogs absolutely love our attention, and when you use it as a reward you will see definite results.
Use your dog's sense of territory to show your dominance. Keep certain areas of the house off limits to the dog, and keep the dog off certain pieces of furniture. If the dog breaks these boundaries, show him that he has encroached on your territory. When you go through doors and thresholds, walk ahead of your dog. The pack leader always walks in front. By placing yourself in front of your dog, you will show your Alpha status.
Hopefully this article will help you sort out your dog dominance issues. Remember, the best way to train your dog to respect you is to start young.
To many people, pets are like members of the family. They are often given gifts at Christmas and on other observed holidays, taken on family vacations, and treated like those around them. They are capable of giving back as much love as they are given, and that is why it is important that dog owners be responsible both in how they treat their pets, and in how they allow them to behave.
While it is certainly true that a dog owner cannot necessarily keep a dog from behaving a certain way, there are steps that can be taken to insure the dog will behave in an acceptable manner. Likewise, it is just as important to be sure you are responsible for how your dog reacts to various surroundings.
If you own a dog that will reside outside, be sure it is properly contained. The best way to do this is to put up a fence. This keeps the dog within specified boundaries, while allowing him or her to still walk, run, or play. If you are going to have an outside pet, try to be sure you have adequate space for your dog to play, because, like humans, dogs need their exercise. It is just as important for their health as it is for peace of mind.
If you are unable to build a fence, when outside, your dog should be properly chained so as to insure his or her safety, as well as the safety of others. If chained, the dog should still have enough room to move around, and should not be restrained in a way that is painful or harmful to the animal. Failure to properly restrain a dog can result in his or her running away, unduly attacking another person, or being injured or killed by a car.
If your dog resides mostly indoors, it is important to make sure he or she is well-behaved. This is important even if your dog resides mostly outdoors, but you do want him or her to respond favorably to commands given by you, and to get along well with all who live in the household. Give your dog as much love and affection as you can, as this helps to promote a healthy relationship between you and your pet. Treat your dog well and he or she will most likely respond the same to you.
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