As the domestic descendants of the wolves of the wild dogs are pack animals by nature. This means that they instinctively will look to join the nearest pack whether it is a herd of cows or a group of humans. It’s this very nature that makes it very easy to get along with almost all kinds of animals as well as humans.
Being natural pack animals is also the reason why dogs are natural leaders and when joining a new pack a dog will either come to respect the authority of the one it sees as the leader of the pack or it may assume the role of the alpha male.
If you just recently adopted a puppy or an adult dog your goal should be to accomplish the former because as the owner you should be the alpha male.
Unfortunately this is easier said than done, especially because dogs as mentioned earlier are natural leaders.
How to Establish Your Role as the Alpha
Professional trainers know that it’s useless to try and train a dog unless it recognizes you as their alpha. If you fail to establish your role as the leader your dog will assume that he is the alpha and that is only going to complicate things.
Here are a few things to prevent that from happening:
- Always lead the way… In the wild the alpha is always in front because he assumes the responsibility of providing for the pack. Thus leading the way will make your dog see that you are in control. When walking or jogging always be in front of your dog or be by its side. Even when going in and out of the house or other establishments you have to establish control by always being the first to go in and out.
- Praise your dog well, but do it quickly… Tell your dog that it did a good job of sitting patiently as you fix your things after your morning walk. But don’t fawn over just because he followed your orders.
- Learn to reprimand and care with authority… Putting your hands on your dog quickly and firmly shows that you are confident and that you are in control. Being nervous or guilty will do you no good as your dog can pick up on such feelings. Also, hands on doesn’t mean hitting your dog. It could simply mean something as assisting your dog to sit down or a collar shake. If your dog behaves badly do a quick tap and a quick hug, that’s the alpha way.
- Never repeat yourself… A dog’s hearing is much more sensitive than that of a human’s so repeating yourself will only make them see you as a lesser being. Command them once and if they don’t follow through see No. 3.
- Be a role model… The alpha is always calm, confident and intelligent. Exhibiting such qualities will make sure that your dog will look up to you, which in turn will help firmly establish you as the alpha in its eyes.
- Establish a pecking order… Of course, since you’re the alpha you get to eat first. But if you own multiple dogs you have to establish a pecking order where you feed the top dog first while the others have to wait their turns. Following through is a sign that you’re exerting your authority as the lead dog.
By taking control, being fair and consistent you give your dog a much needed structure to follow, something that dogs instinctively will be more than happy to do.