Undomesticated dogs live together in dog packs. Only one dog is the leader within the pack. In your home your dog considers your family to be his pack. It is natural for a dog to want to be the pack leader. Your dog will take on the position of the alpha dog if you do not demonstrate leadership.
All the chief decisions, for the pack, are made by the alpha dog. The alpha dog is the focus of attention for the dogs in the pack. The role as the leader of the pack is constantly protected by the alpha dog. Usually the alpha leader will never give up his position voluntarily.
Who is the alpha dog in your family? If you don’t assume a leadership role your dog will try to establish himself as the leader . An alpha dog can be either male or female, gender does not matter.. Since females tend to be smaller in size male dogs are more often the alpha leader. A female dog will take on the role of alpha dog if you do not assume the leadership role. A dog that has taken on the role of the alpha dog leader can make living within the bounds of a human family intolerable.
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When your dog feels that he is the alpha dog within your family he will exhibit bad or destructive behavior. If your dog thinks he is the alpha dog he will be difficult to control and will tend to show aggressive behavior towards other dogs.
If your dog begins to think of himself as your equal it is because he is confused as to who is the alpha dog. The qualities of an alpha dog leader must be demonstrated by you at all times. The alpha qualities are displayed by voice tones, body language and an attitude of confidence. The alpha dog leader must be comfortable with the role as leader.
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The role of the alpha dog is retained through small deliberate acts. One of these small acts is that the alpha leader is the first dog, in the pack, to eat. This could mean that there is little left to eat when it is the pack’s turn to eat. The alpha dog does not go around the pack, he will show his dominance by nudging his way through the pack. Those things within the pack’s area of influence are controlled by the alpha dog.
Why is the role of the alpha dog within a dog pack necessary to understand? Why should you be concerned with the dog pack hierarchy within your own family? The answer is simple. Being the alpha dog leader does not and should not require the use of force or being abusive in any way, physically or verbally. As you emulate the practices of an alpha dog you will become the alpha dog leader to your dog.
The best time to establish yourself as the alpha dog is with a puppy. This is especially true if that adult dog has been its own alpha dog leader. Even though it is easy to establish alpha leadership with a puppy you must continually work to maintain that role. Being an alpha dog requires a twenty-four hour commitment.
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