How do I teach my dog that I'm the ALPHA?

Question

I have a 4 month old puppy that I've had for a month. I'm trying to figure out the way to teach him that I'm the ALPHA. Can me and my husband both be the alpha or is he going to only listen to one of us? I've read so many conflicting things and I've tried a few things I've read but my puppy is either stubborn or I'm probably doing it wrong.

Answer 1

You should watch dog whisperer, he always has some good tips.

Answer 2

You don't need to prove anything to your dog. This whole idea of 'alpha' is just way over blown. You control all the resources your dog needs or wants and by training your dog to perform certain behaviors, before he can have them, you are better than alpha, you're god! Dogs can be stubborn, but most often and I'd say always with a young dog, they just don't understand what you want from them. Instead of punishing your dog or doing anything that hurts or scares it (and believe me it won't know why you're doing it) reward your dog with good treats or play or praise when it does what you like. Dogs repeat behaviors they get rewarded for and get better at behaviors they get to practice. In the dog or wolf world dogs don't assert their leadership, they just are the leaders, and the best ones are followed not because they have bullied or scared other dogs/wolves into following them.

If you don't have any training classes around at least read a couple of good training books. You'll find a list of them here

www.fearfuldogs.com/books.html

Answer 3

Yes, your dog can, and should regard both of you, as well as any other person in your household, as above them in the hierarchy. You do not do this by smacking, hitting, alpha rolling, or watching Cesar Milan (he does a lot of awful things). A leader will discipline when required, but only to extent that the behavior warrants. They won't bite when a simple growl will do. You don't teach the dog that you're the leader, you demonstrate it and win their acceptance. This is especially true if you have a powerful breed that is highly dominant to begin with. When you say your puppy is stubborn, I interpret that to mean that he is independent, which is a characteristic of a lot of very intelligent, independent, dominant dogs. With this kind of dog, it's risky to try to force compliance. It's much better to win acceptance.

Step 1. Begin to try to learn to think like a dog. They can't, don't, think like humans, and when you expect them to, you're already lost in the undergrowth. You should educate yourself about the social lives of dogs by reading as much as you can about pack structure and dog behavior in general. A good source of books on virtually every aspect of dog behavior, training, or whatever, is Dogwise (URL below).

2. Obedience work. The subordinates always follow the leader's direction. Training your dog in at least a few basic things - sit, stay, down, come goes a long way to instilling the notion that they have to follow your orders.

3. Dominance Training: There are many good exercises that you can use to exhibit dominance toward your dog without resorting to harsh or physically aversive methods, which basically teach your dog to be aggressive, or fearful, depending upon the dog. Controlling the resources, especially the food, as mentioned by Misa M. is a primary way to establish leadership. The NILIF (Nothing In LIfe Is Free) method is an excellent way to do this (link below). Plus, there are a variety of other exercises and techniques you can use. Again, there are lots of excellent books on dominance and dominance training.

Finally, being the leader is also a matter of attitude. You have to act like the leader, act confidently, and be consistent in your interactions with your "pack". If you relax your leadership role, a dominant dog may decide it's time to challenge, and that's frequently when trouble happens.

Some authors I recommend include Coren, McConnell, Fennel, Benjamin, and McAuliffe. Various titles by these writers are available from Dogwise.

Good luck with your dog.

Edit: I'll echo something greekosuave mentioned. There are appropriate punishment or discipline methods. These mimic the way a mother dog would discipline a pup, or a superior a subordinate. The pin that he mentioned is one of them. There are others. That's part of what I meant by learning to think like a dog.

Further note on Cesar Milan. As I said, the advocates a lot of stuff, like alpha rolls, that the best trainers abandoned a long time ago. And the good thing he recommends, have been around for a long time before he came onto the scene. Don't be misled - he's not the greatest trainer on the planet, he just plays that role on TV.

Answer 4

You can teach the dog that he is lower in rank than both you and your husband, as well as your children if you have any, or other pets like cats. Here are a few easy steps to show the dog you are in charge:

1. You always go through doorways first, make the dog wait till you are through. Also, when you take the dog for a walk, don't let him walk in front of you, have him walk at your side or a little behind.

2. When you first come home, and he wants to greet you, remember this rule from Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, "No touch, no talk, no eye contact". Wait until the dog is calm and submissive before you give a greeting or affection. Same if the dog is showing signs of nervousness or anxiety - don't talk to him, even if you want to reassure him. Talking to the dog reinforces whatever behavior the dog is engaged in.

3. When meal time comes around, make sure you eat first and he knows it. After you have eaten, and you put food out for him, make him sit and wait until you say ok before he goes to the dish - so that he gets food only when calm and submissive. If you give him a treat, make him sit and do whatever tricks he has learned to earn the treat.

Answer 5

Yes, both you and your hubby can be dominant over the dog. Actually, all humans should be dominant over the dog. Most of how it gets taught is everyday stuff, like the dog eats after you do, goes through doorways after the people, and the humans get the best seating areas. You get to take away food and treats and the dog can't fuss.

At four months, it should not be much of an issue. When the dog hits maturity, about 6 to 10 months for a large-breed dog, expect that to be more work.

Answer 6

Someone mentioned Alpha Rolling and Alpha Male and Alpha Female.

I agree.

There is such thing as Alpha female. your dog will obey both of you, but the Alpha Male will always dominate. (while in the same presence) My Rottweilers will always look at me before doing anything my wife tells them to do. (90% percent of the time)

Do obtain Alpha Male status, I did have pin them down the first times they tried to growl at me. No hitting was involved. I grabbed them by their scruff, pinned them down, looked them in the eye until THEY looked away or whined and then let them go. Puppies will play rough and nip or play bite. If it gets too hard you do tell them No! or ah loud noise like Ah! and again with the pin.

I do not hit my dogs, but I will pin them and yell at them when needed. The same way the leader of a pack would.

Training them will also set the status. I use the repetition, consistency and reward or praise method. With praising him, he knows he is pleasing you (the master)

I know I will get negativity from this, but dogs are primitive. (hence alpha male, the individual in the community whom the others follow and defer to.)

Answer 7

No, you and your husband cannot BOTH be alphas, BUT you can both be HIGHER in the "pack" than your dog.

Some tips:
Always feed yourselves first and then the dog. Make sure your dog sees you eating.

Make the dog sit and wait for its food, then give the release command.

Make the dog move out of your way, do not walk around the dog.

Make the dog sit or drop for treats.

Always walk though doorways or opening first.

STAY AWAY from Alpha Rolls.
Ham Rolls on the other hand are OK.

Answer 8

You can both be the alpha. As soon as the dog does something you don't want it to do stop it. Make the dog submit to you. You both need to work together on this so you are both the pack leader. Check out the DVD's the Dog Whisperer has out. You can get them at Netflex and Blockbusters.

Answer 9

There's the Alpha male and the Alpha female, so yes he'll listen to both of you. Start small, make him sit before you'll put his food bowl down in front of him. Make him give you his toy if he wants you to play. When you take him out to poop, make him sit down and wait while you watch him with your hand on the door knob, then let him out. When he comes back in praise him, have him sit down and pick up his front paws one at a time (so he gets used to having his paws handled for nail clippings). Then give him a verbal ok to go do his own thing--you stay in control. You call him and expect him to come. He'll listen to the Alpha female as well as the Alpha male. You're his pack.

Answer 10

Before you start speaking to your puppy ALL IN CAPS, take a look at this:
http://dogpublic.com/articles/article.aspx?sid=14&pid=1640

When I hear people talking about who is alpha, and why it is that they are alpha, and when they are alpha, and how it is that they came to be alpha - well, it really is a waste of time.
Far better to control your dog's resources, be the source of fun, games, and rewards for your dog (think NILIF) and keep it positive. People who want to "Be The Boss!!!!!" usually end up being harsh punishers who don't actually train their dogs to do anything but be afraid of them.

***Edit : What is a "good choke collar"? I'd really like to know. I have never seen one.

***You are getting terrible advice on here. I strongly urge you to take a class and learn a little bit about positive training. All of this alpha rolling is outdated, neanderthal crap that should be ignored.
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/articles/2007/11/23/dominance-submission-and-the-alpha-role/

Answer 11

A four month old puppy is not going to learn much. If you want him to be YOUR dog, then you groom him, you pet him, and you feed him. Just don't ever let him get away with HIM trying to take control. If he does something bad, slap his rump with a rolled up newspaper. Remember that his attention span is very short and you need to respond quickly.
After he gets 9 months to a year old, YOU teach him things you want him to know, whether it is obedience or just staying down off the furniture. In the mean time, keep him away from it.
If you try to teach too much you might really confuse him.