livoo: What things can I do to show my dog I'm the "Alpha"?
I know this will take time but I need tips. Sometimes my dog will just not listen and I know yelling doesn't help so I never do that. So I need to know what to do to correct my dog and show him I'm the boss. thankyou
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Answers and Views:
Answer by cjrossi
1) calm, assertive behavior. Alphas are self-assured.
2) contemporary obedience training techniques (get books and/or take a course)
3) corrections must be given immediately at the time of the misbehavior – calm, assertive behavior especially important here.
4) YOU control the resources (e.g. feeding, toys, playtime, etc.) Alpha is about resource control.
Alpha is not about dominance
Why won't misperceptions that alpha is about dominance die?
Answer by iROT
Pin him o the ground and speak firmly. If you play tug-o-war, YOU must always win.
Feed him small amounts at a time, don't leave food out. He only eats when you say so. (obviously, still give him enough)
On walks, he walks beside you, never in front. If he pulls switch directions or stop.
Answer by Lisa in reply to iROT
I never thought about it like this. We have a 12-week-old German shepherd who was found on the side of the road by my 18-year-old daughter. Meig (the dog) has ruled the roost until tonight when I read these posts!!!! OMG, What a change in her behavior once I realized that I’m the Alpha, not her. You have given me “LIFE SAVING” skills to deal with the naughty behaviors of this little doggy! Thank you so much!
Answer by ArtFl
You can read the article Why Does My Dog Not Listen to Me. Your puppy/dog doesn’t come to you automatically trusting and respecting you just because you are “human”. To earn his trust and respect; you must set and enforce a consistent set of rules. If there are no defined rules in your household, your puppy will either become confused due to the inconsistency of rules/consequences or become completely out of control, following perfectly normal behavior for the dog world that does not fit into the human world. This will lead to frustration and anger from you, creating frustration and/or aggression from your puppy.
Answer by doglady
You should be consistent and do not unleash anger when disciplining. Remember you're not only the boss…you're the example. If you lose self-control which or get anxious…it bleeds over into how your dog will act and respond to you.
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Elaine M says
Making him sit before you put his food bowl down helps a lot.