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The Alpha Dog

You Have To Be The Alpha Dog

Dog Training's One Unarguable Universal Fundamental.

I borrowed the above phrase from Jack Nicklaus (with a small adjustment). In Jack's book, "Golf My Way" it is the title of one of his most important early chapters. He says, "If you can't or won't learn to keep your head steady throughout the swing, .. there is nothing that I - or anyone else - can do for your golf game"

The One Unarguable, Universal Fundamental about Dog Training is:

YOU HAVE TO BE THE ALPHA DOG. If you can't or won't make the effort to be the dominant partner in your relationship with your dog, you will never be really successful in training him.

Surely, it's a matter of common sense. Your dog must Respect You, Trust You and Love You  -  in that order! Only then will he pay attention to you and do what you tell him  -  first time and every time!

Dogs are pack animals and in the pack there is a well-defined hierarchy, The Alpha Male is The Boss, closely followed by the Alpha Female. Every dog has aspirations to be the alpha animal, or at least, to work his way up the pecking order. If you allow, or even encourage your dog to feel that he is the boss, then why should he take orders from an underling?

This doesn't mean that dog training has to involve a reign of terror. Your dog should never be afraid of you. Let's repeat it, He Should Respect You. After all, he is dependent on you for all his needs. You provide food and shelter, exercise, affection and stimulation. He gets these how and when You decide.

Feeding is a prime example. If you let him jump all over you as soon as you reach for his feeding bowl, he is the one calling the shots. But if you make him sit or lie down, at least a few feet away, until you put the dish on the floor, then he will soon get the message who is in charge. Of course, you must persist with this routine each and every time - and Don't Give In!

Once your dog realises this, he'll be putty in your hands. Dogs are essentially eager to please and really enjoy the praise and rewards that come with good behavior.

If you have an extended family, with children in the home, then the dog must realise and accept his position in that situation. In his eyes, it's a pack, isn't it?

We have two case studies, with dogs of our own, where the first dog was in our family with three young children and the second when they were teenagers. In those days, our dog training expertise was not very extensive, especially with the first dog. Read the studies and learn from our mistakes.

Case Studies         Enjoy.