Unlike human beings, dogs have a class system. There is the
dominant dog (known as the alpha), the #2 dog, the #3 dog and so on. While many
pet owners want to treat their dogs as equal, it is actually healthier for your
dog to know its place in the hierarchy so that it can respond accordingly. An
owner that tries to treat their dog like a member of the family and not like a
pet can easily have a dog that has poor behaviors, does not listen to commands,
and may even be aggressive.
Ways to Tell if You Have a Dominant Dog
If you see any of the following behaviors, chances are that
you have a dog that thinks it is the dominant one in your family:
1) Dog
shows aggression towards you or your family.
2) Dog
does not listen to commands.
3) Dog
sleeps on your bed without your permission.
4) Dog
puts its paw on your foot (canine sign of dominance).
5) Dog
tries to stand higher than you or push you down.
6) Dog
expects to be fed first and openly tries to steal your food.
7) Dog
tries to mount your leg or body.
8) Dog
growls or barks at you when it wants something or does not get its way.
9) Dog
has “tantrums” where the dog makes waste in your shoes or destroys something of
yours when it is not happy.
Any of these may be signs that you have a dominant dog, and
if you want to curb your dog’s behaviors, you must make sure that you turn your
dominant dog into a submissive dog.
How to Make a Submissive Dog
The first thing you need to do is train your dog on tricks
and commands. Training your dog to sit, stay, lay down and more is a way of
commanding your dog and showing your dog you are in control. The dog will start
to realize that you are in control of their treats, and no dominant dog gets
“commanded’ to do anything, so you must be in control.
Other ways to reduce dominance in your dog include:
ˇ
Eat something in front of your dog before you
feed it – alpha dogs always eat first.
ˇ
Put your dog on some type of feeding schedule so
that it knows your are in control of its eating.
ˇ
Command your dog before giving them anything,
including food, toys, and treats.
ˇ
Never let your dog on your bed. The dominant dog
gets its choice of sleeping arrangements.
ˇ
Ignore demands, barking, etc. Pets play and get
affection only when you decide to give it.
ˇ
Do not back down from bad behavior – It may put
you at risk for aggression, but only submissive dogs back down. The dominant
dog refuses to lose in a battle/argument.
It will take a little while, but over time when you do these
behaviors, your dog will start to learn its place. A submissive dog is not only
more well behaved, it is healthier and more affectionate as well.
