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Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 9:45pm On Sep 18, 2014 |
A dog that knows his place in his human pack is a happy dog. A dog that does not is a confused dog and can exhibit many unwanted behaviors because of it. 1. The number one way to communicate to a dog that you are his pack leader is to take him for a walk. Not the type of walk most humans take their dogs on but a pack walk, where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human who is holding the lead. This is most important for all dogs, as in a dog's mind, the leader always leads the way. A dog must not be allowed to sniff or eliminate anywhere he wishes, but where you allow him. One marking against a tree is enough for male dogs. The dog should be concentrating on following the human, not worrying about leading the way. This pack-type walk should be done daily. Not only will this release built-up energy, but it will satisfy the dog's instinct to migrate which all dogs possess. Dogs that have excess energy bottled up inside them and that do not have their migration instinct met will develop various instability issues that most people mistake for being breed traits. 2. All humans must eat before the dogs, as the leader always eats first. When you give your dog its food eat a small snack first while he is watching, lay the snack near the dog’s food so that he thinks you are eating out of his bowl (the leader always eats first). 3. No table scraps should be fed to the dogs during a meal. 4. Feedings must be at a scheduled time. (No self-feeding dog food dispensers should be used, as this allows the dog to choose when he eats.) 5. Humans must not let the dog go through any doorways first. Or up or down any stairways first. Dogs must always go through the doorways and up and down stairs after the humans, as the leader of the pack always goes first. If the dog does not stay behind the humans, the dog must be told to "stay" and given the command to "come" after all humans have passed through. (Read Training to find out the necessary basic commands all dogs should know. These commands are vital in the communication between you and your dog and should always be taught.) 6. When you leave the house or the room, even for a minute, ignore the dog for a few minutes upon your return. 7. A simple obedience command such as “sit” should be given before any pleasurable interaction with the dog (i.e., play session, petting, feeding, a walk, etc.). The children should give the dog commands at least once a day and reward with a treat when the command is followed. A simple “sit” will do. No treat should be awarded if the dog does not follow the command. Show your dog he does not get anything for free. His food, water, treats, even praise/love have to be earned by doing something. Even something as little as sit, come, or making him wait for the treat while you hold it in front of him. Make sure the dog takes the treat from your hands gently. Do not tolerate a mouthy dog. 8. You should not lie on the floor to watch TV when the dog is around and no one should roll around the floor playing with the dog, as a human should never put himself in an equal or lesser height position than the dog. 9. You are the one who greets newcomers first, the dog is the last to get attention (the pack leader is the one who greets newcomers and lets the rest know when it is safe to greet the newcomer). 10. If a dog is lying in your path, do not walk around the dog, either make the dog move or step over the dog. 11. During the time you are establishing your higher pack position, no hugs should be given to the dog by you, as a dominant dog may consider this a challenge of power. 12. To a dog in a dominant frame of mind eye contact is a challenge. Whoever averts his gaze first loses. If the human averts first this reinforces the dog’s higher power position. Do not have staring contests with a dog, as if you avert or blink first, it will only reinforce, in the dog’s mind, that he is Top Dog . 13. Ideally, dogs should not sleep in your bed. In the dog world the most comfortable place to sleep is reserved for the higher members of the pack. If a dog is allowed to sleep on the bed, the dog must be invited up and not be allowed to push the humans out of the way. Making them sleep at the foot of the bed rather than, for example, on your pillow is best. 14. Dogs must never be allowed to mouth or bite anyone at any time, including in play. 15. Any attention given to the dog, including petting, should be given when the human decides attention is to be given (absolutely no petting when the dog nudges or paws you or your hand. This would be letting the dog decide and reinforcing, in his mind, that he is higher on the scale than the human.) 16. Games of fetch or play with toys must be started and ended by the human . 17. Very dominant dogs that have a problem with growling should not be allowed to lie on your furniture, as the leader of the pack always gets the most comfortable spot. Dogs belong on the floor. If you do decide to allow your dog on the furniture, you must be the one who decides when he is allowed up and you must be the one who decides when he is to get off, by inviting him up, and telling him to get down. 18. No tug-of-war, as this is a game of power and you may lose the game, giving the dog a reinforcement (in the dog's mind) of top dog. 19. Dogs need to be taught a “drop it” or release command. Any objects the dog has in his possession should be able to be taken away by all humans. 20. Dogs own no possessions, everything belongs to the humans. They are all on "loan" from the human family. You should be able to handle or remove any item at all times from the dog with no problems from the dog. Even if you are taking a chicken bone out of the dog's mouth. 21.Dogs should not be allowed to pull on the leash. When they do this they are leading the way and it is the humans that need to lead the way and show they're higher up in the pack order. (In the wild, the leader of the pack always leads the way; the leader leads the hunt.) 22. When you put his food dish down, he must wait until you give the "OK" to eat it. Place his food on the ground and tell him to wait. If he darts at the food, block him with your body. You can point at him and tell him, "No, wait," however do not speak much. Dogs are, for the most part, silent communicators. They feel one another's energy and your dog can feel yours. Yes, your dog can read your emotions. So stand tall and think "big" and stay confident. Do not be nervous, your dog will sense this and assume you are weak. It is this weakness that triggers a dog to try and take over (for the good of the pack; the pack needs a strong leader). Give the dog a command before giving the food. If a dog does not follow the command (i.e. to sit), he does not eat. Try again in about 20 minutes or longer. Repeat this until the dog listens to the command. When your dog calms down and waits patiently, (ears set back, head lowered even slightly, lying down is good if he is relaxed with his ears back, no signs of growling on his face) invite him to eat his food. The people in the family the dog growls at should feed the dog the majority of the time. 23. Small dogs or puppies that demand to be picked up or put down should not get what they want until they sit or do another acceptable quiet behavior. They should not be put down unless they are settled quietly in your arms. 24. Dogs should never be left unsupervised with children or anyone who cannot maintain leadership over the dog. 25. To reinforce your position even more, you can make your dog lie down and stay there for 20 to 30 minutes a day. Tell him to lie down, then tell him to stay. If he tries to get up, correct him. 26. Last but certainly not least...when you are around your dog avoid emotions such as fear, anxiety, harshness or nervousness. Your dog can sense these emotions and will see you as weak. This will escalate your problem as your dog feels an even stronger need to be your leader. Think Big and Powerful and be calm, assertive, and consistent. Remember, there is no hiding our emotions from our dogs. They can, in a sense, read our minds in reading our emotions. This energy is the universal language of animals. Talk less, using more body language. Picture yourself, in your own mind, as big, powerful and very sure of yourself. Pull your shoulders back and stand up straight. Your dog will feel this. This is your number one resource when it comes to communicating with your dog. Your dog will be happy and secure knowing he has a strong pack leader to care for him. By incorporating all these behaviors in his normal day your dog will realize that you, the human, are alpha over him and he is beneath you. Obedience exercises and classes are great and very useful, however, obedience training alone does not address pack behavior problems. www.dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm?no_redirect=true 6 Likes |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by PapaNnamdi: 10:11pm On Sep 18, 2014 |
even prof wole soyinka no go fit read dis one finish *looks at bingo * *takes a deep breath and comands bingo* SIT!!! *bingo looks at him, shakes its head and goes outside to hustle for bone* guy, dis tin no de work ooh 5 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 10:16pm On Sep 18, 2014 |
PapaNnamdi: even prof wole soyinka no go fit read dis one finish Read and follow the procedures. You will see it works fine and nice. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by julioralph(m): 10:47pm On Sep 18, 2014 |
hmmm nice article. i dont own a dog and I seriously doubt if I will ever own one but.... shebi Oga seun has disproved number 21 before? according to him, dogs pull the leash because they think humans walk too slowly etc etc etc 1 Like |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 6:41am On Sep 19, 2014 |
julioralph: hmmm nice article. Every human have at least a distinct behaviour. likewise dogs. Your presence in this section will make you own one. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by Seun(m): 8:30am On Sep 19, 2014 |
This alpha thing is not based on science. It's outdated. It is considered to be complete nonsense by modern dog trainers e.g. on /r/dogtraining 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by julioralph(m): 7:39pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
mayorall:instead of you to answer the issue I raised you're instead trying to digress. smh for you Seun: This alpha thing is not based on science. It's outdated. It is considered to be complete nonsense by modern dog trainers e.g. on /r/dogtrainingthanks boss. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 8:01pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
julioralph: I don't give rooms to online arguments. Thanks |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 8:03pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
Where my guy kuzee?you really need to read this article by mayor all and put them all in perfect practice before your dogs chase you outer the house and take over your home while you be the one taking commands from them. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by julioralph(m): 8:31pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
mayorall:and i don't give room to those who cannot defend their posts. thanks |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 9:55pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
aguizm: Where my guy kuzee?you really need to read this article by mayor all and put them all in perfect practice before your dogs chase you outer the house and take over your home while you be the one taking commands from them. That boss GSD might be mixed with Pitbull o. jayin jayin oko musu. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 10:46pm On Sep 19, 2014 |
mayorall:. Honestly bro it could be true o cos I have never heared or seen a GSD puppy that's stubborn talk more of even ignoring its owner.That guy better take the alpha male position or he is in for a lonnnnggggg tin.. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:08am On Sep 25, 2014 |
lol. oga boss i de here... am so loving dog with passion |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:18am On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: Where my guy kuzee?you really need to read this article by mayor all and put them all in perfect practice before your dogs chase you outer the house and take over your home while you be the one taking commands from them.lol you laughing bah..nno wahala. nice article though,more to learn from the link oga seun gave, i bet seun has a load of dog in his home.. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:20am On Sep 25, 2014 |
mayorall:guess you are right,the bite from the dog is becomining disheartening these days, what could likely be the cause? |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:22am On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: . Honestly bro it could be true o cos I have never heared or seen a GSD puppy that's stubborn talk more of even ignoring its owner.That guy better take the alpha male position or he is in for a lonnnnggggg tin.. i scare the dog away by pressing a whistle ball,seems they re afraid of sharp sound.. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 5:53am On Sep 25, 2014 |
kuzee: Boss is this real bites or while playing with you?. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:33pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
mayorall:sometimes real bite,sometimes play i got injured with those fang just once,buh seems to be tired of biting now since i bought her a whistle ball |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by tdayof(m): 3:44pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
yeaa @mayorall . got a little lesson from Caesar to the rescue, while taking a wall with a dog if d dog is at the front it seems to be more protective! |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by tdayof(m): 3:45pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
yeaa @mayorall . got a little lesson from Caesar to the rescue, while taking a wall with a dog if d dog is at the front it seems to be more protective! but if he/she is walking behind you it takes you as his master! |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by tdayof(m): 3:48pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
julioralph: hmmm nice article.lool boerboel love walking slow! but my gsd love pulling d leash. I don't really know why |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 5:31pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
kuzee:. Bro forget that whistle blowing because with time its gonna get used to the sound or noise. Regain control of your dog by slapping the hell outer its butts whenever it misbehaves.That was how I got my GSD to behave well especially when am at home. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 5:35pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
My little problem with my about 5 months old GSD is the way it plays with anbody it sees in our compound be you a neighbour or a stranger,once you are in the compound haaaa it will run to you wagging its tail like its known you for years. It only barks on strangers when its in her cage.The tin dey pain me wella |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by Seun(m): 6:24pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: My little problem with my about 5 months old GSD is the way it plays with anbody it sees in our compound be you a neighbour or a stranger,once you are in the compound haaaa it will run to you wagging its tail like its known you for years. It only barks on strangers when its in her cage.The tin dey pain me wellaThat's normal for a puppy. They get more aggressive and territorial as they mature. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 7:30pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: My little problem with my about 5 months old GSD is the way it plays with anbody it sees in our compound be you a neighbour or a stranger,once you are in the compound haaaa it will run to you wagging its tail like its known you for years. It only barks on strangers when its in her cage.The tin dey pain me wellalol,i experience the same,i jux tire wella. instead of barking at strangers,jux waggin tail nd sit |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 7:31pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: . Bro forget that whistle blowing because with time its gonna get used to the sound or noise. Regain control of your dog by slapping the hell outer its butts whenever it misbehaves.That was how I got my GSD to behave well especially when am at home.lol,ur punishment hot o.. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 7:55pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
Seun: That's normal for a puppy. They get more aggressive and territorial as they mature.OK boss, I can now calm myself down because I was beginning to get scared about its behavior thinking I used my hard earned money to buy a vegetable in the body of GSD.Thanks for the info. 1 Like |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by aguizm(m): 7:58pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
kuzee:. My bro as in ehnn.I became scared because with foolish that behaviour dognapping it has become as easy as eating banana. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 8:32pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
kuzee: My brother please train this dog. Take Alpha position. This dog must not grow that way. Your dog needs proper training. Let her know you are the pack leader. No wolve/lion/Chimpazee, Gorilla dares the leaders. Now it's human - animal relationship, train your dogs the way it should be, when she grows she will not depart from it |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 8:38pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
aguizm: My little problem with my about 5 months old GSD is the way it plays with anbody it sees in our compound be you a neighbour or a stranger,once you are in the compound haaaa it will run to you wagging its tail like its known you for years. It only barks on strangers when its in her cage.The tin dey pain me wella Mine barks at visitors, she is on her way to the gate any little sound on the gate. She won't bark if I opened the gate for the visitors but will always bark if any other members of the family opened gate for visitors . It's like she could recognise people with bad intentions, She barks at electricity workers (NEPA) even if I opened the gate. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by mayorall(m): 8:44pm On Sep 25, 2014 |
tdayof: yeaa @mayorall . got a little lesson from Caesar to the rescue, while taking a wall with a dog if d dog is at the front it seems to be more protective! but if he/she is walking behind you it takes you as his master! Walking before you is almost same with working behind you. Both positions make the dog a potential attacker . The best is working with you by reducing the leash length. |
Re: Taking Alpha Position: Letting Your Dog Know You Are The Pack Leader (boss) by kuzee(m): 1:44pm On Sep 26, 2014 |
mayorall:lol..yuh funny gan..hw can i train a dog is the problem with all those alpha position.. i m till a novice..morever what is a treat? it becoming hard for mi to train dem |
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