How To Make Sure Dog Bonds With Me, Not Family?

Question

I am planning to get a dog this summer. We already have a dog who is very attached to my mother, but he is not cuddly and friendly, so I would like a dog of my own.

This new dog is going to move with me when I leave home in three or four years. I am mildly worried that this new dog (not going to be a puppy--more like 2-4 years old) will bond more with my mother than me. It seems possible because my mother has a higher 'alpha' ranking than I do.

How can I prevent this and make sure he bonds more deeply with me?

My current plan is to get him at the start of the summer. I will not be working this summer, or taking summer classes at uni, so I'll have lots of time to spend with him while my mother and the rest of my family will not be at home.

I will probably also take him on walks (and not let anyone else in my family take him, or only let them take him infrequently) around our neighborhood and at the local park.

Thanks!

I am not asking if I should get a dog--I my current plan -is- to get a dog.

Also I am already taking classes at my university, and have been for two years as well as working part time--I'm pretty sure I can handle a pet ;).

Lastly, I am not the kind of person who gets a pet and spends five minutes with them every day. I already have a fish and several gerbils that I take excellent care of, and I spend a fair amount of time with my mother's dog--but he's her dog, and would rather be with her.

Thanks for all of the great answers so far :D.

Answer 1

Your mother's "Alpha" ranking has nothing to do with who your dog bonds too. Your dog will bond to you if he likes you. Your dog will bond to you if he recognizes that all good things come from you.

How to achieve this? You are the one to take him to a Positive Reinforcement training class. You are the one to feed him all of the time. You are the one who walks him and attends to his needs.

Alpha, in the dog world, merely refers to the one who has priority access to the resources. Make sure that is you and your dog will know you are his leader. but you have to be a Ghandi leader, not a Saddam Hussein leader.

Answer 2

Well if you believe that you have a lower 'alpha' ranking than your mother, I would wait on a dog. I have a Siberian Husky and he does not listen to my mother because I have the alpha ranking. As a breed standard, he can have a destructive behavior if left unchecked. My dog knows I'm the boss, and knows that when he does something bad he'll be punished, something good --rewarded. My mother's dog digs in the trash etc. and all she says is bad dog. It's all about training your dog to respect you. Cuddling is great but only when the dog has earned it.

I recommend that you buy a book on the breed of dog that you would like to get or ask around at pet places to see what kind of dog is right for you. :)

Answer 3

the only time a dogs may be a one-person dogs is that if he lives with in basic terms one person. And in case you think of approximately it, if dogs bonded to in basic terms one person, how ought to hundreds of thousands of dogs be effectively re-homed consistent with annum? Your chum's subject is hassle-free. dogs many times % mom or dad as their famous notwithstanding if the mum and dad are not abode each and each of the time--those are the authority figures. The dogs could no longer care much less approximately who will pay the expenses--he would not comprehend approximately money--and you haven't any longer have been given any say in who he will % as his famous person. He makes a decision that for himself. And while you will be jealous of any interest he provides different persons, possibilities are high very intense which will only make him stay away from you. "i do no longer prefer to spend a ton of money and hours on a puppy in basic terms to have it adore somebody else better than me." Then do by no ability get a dogs except you reside thoroughly by ability of your self.

Answer 4

I totally agree with answer number one but also watch him with your mother's dog. Sometimes dogs like to bond with each other rather than humans. This is not always the case especially with older dogs ( alot more frequent with pups) but I thought it might be good to warn you that people might not be your only competition for bonding. Be his ONLY caregiver and definately let him know while you are "alpha" you've got his back like no one else. You should also not appear weak to him when around other people stand up and be alpha no matter what beacuse part of bonding means having his respect and he won't respect you if he sees that others don't.

Answer 5

You can't. And frankly, this isn't a great idea. What happens after college when you are working 8 hours a day? What happens when you *are* taking college? Are you going to doggie day care him for the rest of his life, so that you can play with him for a few hours before bed time?

Keep the dog that you currently have and wait until you are out of college and have a better idea of your future to get ANY kind of animal.

Answer 6

Two things are keys to bonding, as far as I have read and seen:
1) who feeds the dog
2) who walks the dog

Nothing else matters much. If you feed the dog (you are the bringer of all food) then he/she is your dog, regardless of who shows affection. You are the food bringer, therefore you are his pack leader. Try to avoid having other family members substitute, especially the first few weeks. Same with walks. Good luck!

Answer 7

It's important for the dog to be around others in your family, but fine for it to bond mostly to you. Take the dog on all of its walks, make it work for its food (sits and down stays for its bowl before it is released to go eat), train it all yourself and go to obedience or some other performance sport like agility, rally, flyball, etc. My Belgian Malinois loves my husband, but we train together in Schutzhund and have a better bond.

Answer 8

The start off is to be the only one who feeds him. that includes treats and snacks. i suspect your mother might spoil him if you let her.
also, be the only to take him out for a wee, or walks.
spend time just sitting with him. handle his delicate areas like ears and tummy. it will create confidence in you with him. also put your fingers in his mouth. lie next to him, look into his eyes. puppies wont mind that. adult dogs might feel intimidated by it.
also you need to establish that you are his alpha. here's a gr8 site i discovered, that covers lots of subjects re this ;http://www.peteducation.com/default.cfm
good luck. if you want any more info, drop me a mail.

Answer 9

Well, you could make sure you cuddle with him a lot (my dog LOVES my mom, he gets so sad when she leaves). Work those fingers right and that dog will be your friend for life! hehe a good rub gets a long way. Sit and watch tv next to him and you could bond by walking or teaching tricks.

Answer 10

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