BEING A GOOD PACK LEADER
The terms, “alpha male” and “alpha person” are popular concepts trending today. They mean the person who is dominant in a group, the person who calls the shots, to whom the members of the group look for guidance. The term is applicable also to dogs. Because dogs are descended from animals that ran in packs, dogs are calmest and happiest when they know who is in charge. If your dog feels like he is in charge, most likely your house is chaotic, with a lot of barking, jumping, and running around. However, if he thinks you are in charge, peace will abound and everyone, including the dog, will be happy. He will be happy because he won’t be confused; he will know his position in the family.
Is Your Dog the Dominant One?
Does your dog bark when the doorbell rings? Climb up on the sofa, even though each time he does, you push him off? Rush at his bowl when you feed him? Tear around the house when your family is sitting at the supper table or trying to watch television? If so, then he thinks he’s the leader in your pack.
Here are the tell-tale signs that he believes he’s in control:
- Demanding behavior
- Begging at the table
- Stubbornness
- Dog acts as if he is guarding you when another human approaches, but what he’s actually doing is “claiming” to own you.
- When on a leash, your dog is persistent about being in front of you
- Does not obey commands that he knows
- Does not like to be left alone and becomes overly excited when his owner returns home
- Jumps on humans
- Persistent about being on a particular piece of furniture, even after being commanded not to
So, What Can You Do?
What you shouldn’t do is hit, yell at, or punish him. Dogs don’t experience guilt or shame; only fear and confusion. You will have to learn how to use positive reinforcement instead of aversion therapy. How do you do that?
- Have the right energy. Dogs communicate through energy, and that’s why a squirrel knows to be afraid of a dog, but not a human on a park bench. Your dog can sense your feelings without you saying a word. If you are calm and confident, the dog will perceive you to be in control. But if you are anxious or indecisive, your dog will think you lack control and therefore believe he needs to take over.
- Be consistent. Dogs learn by experience. If he is never given food at the table, he will not ask for food at the table. But if you give him a scrap every now and again, he will consistently beg.
- Create the rules. Dogs actually want you to tell them what to do – otherwise, they can become confused and anxious. So first, decide on the boundaries you want observed, e.g., never on the couch, never in a certain room, no barking when the doorbell rings. Next, enforce these boundaries, ignoring when she oversteps them and rewarding when she observes. However, if she doesn't do as you wish, be patient, remain calm, and NEVER punish the dog if he breaks the rule. Don’t punish negative behavior; reward positive behavior.
- Be a good leader. Your job as leader is to not only provide for your dog’s physical needs, but it’s important to fulfill their psychological needs as well. Dogs need exercise to drain their energy, discipline to provide clarity, and affection as a reward for calm behavior.
Training in this manner should change their feelings about the trigger from negative to positive. But remember too that it’s important to give your dog plenty of exercise and stimulation. Just like humans, dogs that are bored or have bottled up energy may exhibit that in unwanted ways. If after all of this you are still having trouble with your pup, or your dog has bitten or injured someone, email us for more help at
Do You Have an "Alpha Dog"?
Some dogs are born dominant, and they will naturally be more headstrong, stubborn, and pushy. This is a natural behavior, but it can lead to problems if it’s not properly handled. Here are some ways to make sure you snag the role of alpha instead of your furry friend.
- Never tolerate growling from your dog. That is a sign of alpha dog behavior. Firmly tell your dog "No!"
- Don't let your dog sleep in your bed. The bed is a dominant spot. Your dog should sleep in a doggie bed on the floor beside your bed.
- Don't let your dog walk through the door in front of you. You should go first and then give him permission to come in.
- If your dog is always leaning on you, putting his paw on you, etc., he is not being affectionate. That is a display of alpha dog behavior. You need to be the one to initiate touch.
- If your dog behaves aggressively toward you or other family members, talk to your vet or an animal behaviorist. Don't allow the behavior to continue. The longer it goes on, the harder it will be to correct.
- Teaching your dog basic commands (sit, stay, come here, lie down) reinforces the fact that you are in charge. If you have difficulty training your dog, consider taking him to an obedience class. We offer FREE training for Mutts adopters and affordable training classes for the public.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and nothing is free. Be patient. If at first you don’t succeed, try many more times. Don’t be discouraged if your dog appears to be slow catching on to what you want. It’s not because the dog is selfish and determined to have his own way at all cost. It’s because he’s never been taught the correct thing to do.
If all else fails and you are ready to take him back to the shelter please contact us at
