Top Dog Tussles
Trudy writes: Our dog, Sam, is 3-1/2 years old and despite my efforts, she’s getting worse trying to hold Alpha rank. My husband and son refuse to "eat from Sam's bowl" to establish alpha, but are willing to use the 5 minute technique and walking away technique.
Since I am home most of the day by myself, I need to take control. Should I be the only one to "eat from the bowl" when everyone else is not home--and then place her in another room when the family eats together? I really want to "own the bowl" without Sam thinking she is second in command.
And is the 5 minute greeting technique sufficient with Sam being 3-1/2 years old? Thanks.
Kingdom of Pets Replies:
There are multiple ways of establishing Alpha dog status in a pack, many of which can be incorporated easily into the everyday routine. Although this may seem tedious, they need to be continually reinforced, otherwise Sam may think that there is a chance for her to push for the Alpha position. In the wild, the younger dogs will try and challenge the Alpha dog if it feels like there may be a chance of it taking over as leader and ousting the older dog. This is why it is important for you to keep the message clear to Sam that you are above her in the hierarchy and will stay there too.
The bonus book "Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog" is highly recommended as it gives many simple suggestions regarding how to establish yourself and your family as the "pack" leaders.
In addition, if your dog is displaying signs of food bowl aggression, the bonus book "Quick Guide to Dog Aggression" covers the steps you can take to eliminate this issue in detail.
Although the 5 minute greeting/walking away technique alone may not be enough to send the message to your dog that you are dominant, it is certainly a big step in the right direction. Here are a few more things to add to that technique to reinforce your status as Alpha dog.
- If she is sleeping or lying on the floor in your path, make her move so that you can pass by. This is because the Alpha dog always has the right of way.
- Don't allow her to walk through doorways ahead of you. Instead, make her sit and wait before letting her in or out of the house. The Alpha dog should be the leader at all times, including when out on a walk. She should not pull on the leash at all, instead allowing you to lead to where you want to go. To get this point across, you may want to walk her around the house on a leash first, making her wait while you walk through the doorways ahead of her.
- At mealtimes feed Sam last, after all the people in the household have finished, because the Alpha dog gets first pick of the meal before the rest of the pack. This technique is similar to eating from Sam's bowl, but is one that the whole family can use.
- As leader of the pack, you must be the one to make decisions. Only take Sam for a walk when you want to go for one, not when she demands it. The same applies if she comes up to you asking for attention, which you should only give to her if she has obeyed a command. When playing games, it is up to you to decide what toy you will play with and how long the game will last. It is important also to remember to take the toy away with you when you are finished.
- Ideally, Sam should not be allowed to jump onto the furniture or beds, especially if she hasn’t been invited to do so.
- Sam should not be fed scraps from the table or be allowed to pester you when you are eating. In order for your dog to value food as a treat and respond well to your commands in the future, she must realize that tidbits don’t come whenever she asks for them, instead she has to earn them.
- When you give a command make sure you are in a position to enforce it. You should expect to give the command once only and be obeyed immediately. If Sam does not listen straightaway, use the Alarm-No-Command technique as described in the Alpha Dog bonus book to reprimand her.
- When she is misbehaving, don’t yell at her. Calmly remove Sam from the action, which is where she wants to be, and put her into a ‘time-out area’ such as a bathroom or separate room for 5 minutes. By excluding her from all attention, you are doing exactly what her mother would have done to reprimand her. Sam will not like being left out so this will make it clear to her that being naughty isn't the way to get attention.
If everyone in your household applies these simple rules consistently, Sam will soon get to know her place at the bottom of the pack. She will become more relaxed and happier, because she is sure of her role in the household. This in turn will lead to her being much more responsive and obedient, which will be beneficial for your relationship in general.
All the best,
Daniel Stevens and the Secrets to Dog Training Team
"Secrets to Dog Training - STOP Dog Behavior Problems!"
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/
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