From this day forward, you’re going to teach your dog that he is a dog, not a miniature human being in a furry suit. His mother taught him to be a dog once and how to take orders. Along the way, through lack of training or misunderstood intentions, he’s forgotten. With your help, he’s going to remember what he is and how he fits into the world. Before long – he’s even going to like it!
Dogs were bred to look to human’s for food, companionship and guidance. An Alpha Dog doesn’t ask for what he wants, he demands it! He lets you know in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go out, that he wants to play and be petted and that he wants these things right now. You’re going to teach him that from now on, he has to earn what he gets. No more free rides! This is going to be a shock to his system at first but you’ll be surprised how quickly he’ll catch on and that he’ll actually become eager to please you.
If your dog doesn’t already know the simple command SIT, teach it to him. Reward him with praise and a tidbit. Don’t go overboard with the praise. A simple “Good Boy!” in a happy voice is enough. Now, every time your dog wants something – his dinner, a trip outside, a walk, some attention, anything – tell him (remember don’t ask him, TELL HIM) to SIT first. When he does, praise him with a “Good Boy!”, then tell him OKAY and give him whatever it is he wants as a reward. If he refuses to SIT, walk away and ignore him. NO SIT, NO REWARD. If you don’t think he understands the command, work on his training some more. If he just doesn’t want to obey, ignore him – DON’T give him what he wants or reward him in any fashion.
Make him sit before giving him his dinner, make him sit at the door before going outside, make him sit in front of you to be petted, make him sit before giving him his toy. If you normally leave food out for him all the time, stop. Go to a twice-daily feeding and you decide what time of day he’ll be fed. Make him sit for his dinner. If he won’t obey the command – no dinner. Walk away and ignore him. Bring the food out later and tell him again to SIT. If he understands the command, don’t tell him more than once. He heard you the first time. Give commands from a standing position and use a deep, firm tone of voice.
If the dog respects certain members of the family but not others, let the others be the ones to feed him and bring good things to his life for now. Show them how to make him obey the SIT command and how to walk away and ignore him if he won’t do as he’s told. It’s important that your whole family follows this program. Dogs are like kids – if they can’t have their way with Mom, they’ll go ask Dad. In your dog’s case, if he finds a member of the family that he can dominate, he’ll continue to do so. You want your dog to learn that he has to respect and obey everyone. REMEMBER: his place is at the bottom of the totem pole. Bouncing him from the top spot helps but if he thinks he’s anywhere in the middle, you’re still going to have problems!
THINK
You know your dog and know what he’s likely to do under most circumstances. Stay a step ahead of him and anticipate his behavior so you can avoid or correct it. If he gets into the trash and growls when scolded, make the trash can inaccessible. If he likes to bolt out the door ahead of you, put a leash on him. Make him sit and wait while you open the door and give him permission – OKAY! – to go out. If your Alpha Dog doesn’t like to come when he’s called (and he probably doesn’t) don’t let him outside off the leash. Without a leash, you have no control over him and he knows it!