How do you know if you dog thinks he/she is alpha?

Question

My fiance owns a 6yr. old basset. We have been living together for about 4 or 5 months. The basset listens to me sometimes but then other times my fiance has to repeat what I have already told the dog to do like for instance sometimes we'll eat in bed(I'm 25weeks pregnant and our chairs make my already hurt back hurt more) and the dog(who usually sleeps on the bed and lays there during the day) will jump up and just put his face in my food not my fiance's just mine he's even gone so far to lick it before. I tell him to stop or no and he doesn't my fiance tells him to and SOMETIMES he'll just leave and lay at the end of the bed. Now I know this dog has and is spoiled but it really needs to stop(there is a baby coming) but he is a very stubborn dog. Oh and when we go for walks he usually walks without a leash because our apartment is gated so there is just no flying cars going by and he stays close by. But when I take him for a walk I take a leash with me cause he doesn't listen but..

he will get a hold of a sent and being a hound will follow it and yank me towards it if I am not going that way.

I'm talking thinking he's alpha to me not other dogs

Oh he's not aggressive at all he just lays on the bed with me all day or we'll go on walks. He's really lazy and just sleeps

Answer 1

Dogs definately have a pecking order. It appears your dog thinks your husband is alpha, and since you came along later the dog tries to keep himself above you in the pecking order. It's important (as silly as it sounds) that you and your husband work with the dog so that your husband makes it clear that you are next in line to him, or his equal. Dogs really have no sense of "co-alpha dog," so your husband is going to have to show the dog that you're ahead of him. Your husband should always show that he is listening to you around the dog, make sure that he addresses you before the dog and pays attention to you first, and do other things that establish you as next in line. As dumb as it may seem, these things will help establish the order in the dog's head. You should always be firm and "in charge" around the dog and eventually the dog will figure it out and begin to defer to you more and more. It will take some time. (And wow, natjaran is definately NOT a dog owner.)

Answer 2

My personal oponion is that a dog should NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE BED AT ALL!!!! I have 2 huge German Shepherds and they know that they are not allowed on the bed unless they are invited on there - and then they usually jump down within a few minutes. They are mainly outside dogs who come in once in a while - they are also not housebroken.
Try putting a gate across the door way and putting a bed down for the dog to sleep on with an article of your fiances clothing.
As for the pulling - Victoria Stillwell - on Its Me or the Dog on Animal Planet uses this trick- when the dog pulls toward something quickly turn and walk the dog the other way. Then if the dog does the same thing turn around again. Keep repeating the process so that the dog will have to remained focused on YOU!!!! Make sure that you praise the dog for going with you.
Hope this of some help.

Answer 3

I don't know much about bassets, but if your fiance has owned him for 6 yrs then the dog is more likely going to listen to your fiance, AKA alpha. he is his master that's why the dog doesn't listen to you most of the time, it is good that he reinforces your commands, but soon he will have to let you start being more in command, especially since your going to have a newborn, just be more stren and demanding when it comes to him doing things wrong. watch how your fiance handles him, (his tones, movements, actions etc.) and start copying him. I hope this makes sense and helped even if just little. I have a female German Shepard and there are 7 of us in the house and I am her master she listens to me all the time even with just certain looks, I wont even have to say anything at all, but with others she decides if she is going to listen or not

Answer 4

i believe that he is the alpha of the pack
he considers you and your fiance pack members
if you want to gain leadership
you and your fiance should walk him w. a leash
when you walk the dog make sure he doesn't go ahead of you he can walk behind you and next to you
but when you walk him it you should be in a relax state of mind
and you shouldn't be forceful with the leash and only pull on the leash when he does something wrong
i cant really explain
you should watch the dog whisperer in the national geographic channel

Answer 5

Your fiance is the alpha male. Most dogs will listen to the alfa man or female in the house. I have to female dogs that listen to me wonderfully and they sometimes ignore my husband. I also have a male dog that listening to my husband, and makes me mad most of the time because it won't listen to me, like the other two dogs do. You're going to have to give the dog time to respect you,, I understand a baby's coming and I would say that If by then the dog still hasn't learned to listen to you you may have to cage him or her if you and the baby are the only ones home.

Answer 6

You are correct, your dog is spoiled and not disciplined. Give him separate bed and give food before you eat. Dogs on the bed will give you infection since there will be large number of insects and parasites on their body, especially when you are pregnant.

Dogs do not think like us. They are after food and if of correct age and season sex. They do not have a sixth sense like us otherwise they will be ruling us.

Answer 7

if he humps the other dogs.