Who's
In Charge ...
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 out think him. You'll also need to be stubborner
than he is. What I'm about to describe here is an effective,
nonviolent 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 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 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
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.
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.
For more information about Chow Chows, their behavior, and
training, contact:
The Chow Chow Club, Inc.
Welfare Committee
9828 E. County A
Janesville, WI 53546
