does he know i'm alpha?

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by caseycraig

I've trained my puppy using the prong collar. And I'm a fanatic now!
Believe me, the dog respects me and loves me at the same time. With the collar, I have a happy puppy. Not one that's walking around with his tail between his legs and his ears pinned the whole time.

It's simple, if you're dog is doing something you would deem as an "unwanted behavior," you give him three short corrections on the prong collar. (snap snap snap) It doesn't hurt the dog, it's just a little uncomfortable to them. I've heard some people say that it almost simulates the dogs mother's teeth on their neck.

Like I said before, I wouldn't change anything with this training method. I have a puppy who is my buddy, not afraid of me, or strangers for that matter. (And still insanely protective as a puppy.)

So if you want your dog to sit immediately - Tell him to sit, if he doesn't sit after the first time you tell him, correct him and guide his booty into a sit. After he sits, praise him and reinforce the command. Use whatever word you want to let him move from the sit. (mine is free) and then you can go crazy with him.

After time, you can start to set standards on how fast he sits, how long he sits, and whatever else you want.

Right now, when I place my 13 week old puppy into a sit. He knows that he's not going anywhere until I tell him to and he loves it. And then we're buddies and we play and have fun.
You can do this with clicker training, it's just the opposite and takes a little control away from you.

*Disclaimer* No I'm not crazy, and no this isn't dog abuse...

Wow....

[Whiteshepherds]

>>Like I said before, I wouldn't change anything with this training method. I have a puppy who is my buddy, not afraid of me, or strangers for that matter. (And still insanely protective as a puppy.>>

Can you explain what you mean by "insanely protective"?

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by Whiteshepherds

>>Like I said before, I wouldn't change anything with this training method. I have a puppy who is my buddy, not afraid of me, or strangers for that matter. (And still insanely protective as a puppy.>>

Can you explain what you mean by "insanely protective"?

That is what I am wondering about too. By that time it was a 13 week old puppy...

[JakodaCD OA]

I wouldn't be putting a prong collar on a 13 week old puppy who has the attention span of a gnat.

At 13 weeks, I'd be working more on my relationship as in bonding, focus, the most important of commands 'recall' and socialization. At 13 weeks they can learn the basics, and frankly I let mine just be puppies.

At 13 weeks, puppies are NOT 'insanely protective' or even "protective". They have no concept of it.
While you think this is working for you now, one day you may wake up and have a puppy in big time revolt.

I also think the word ALPHA is highly overrated. If you start out with creating a great bond with a puppy, and make yourself the center of that puppies world, everything else falls into place

[aubie]

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

I don't worry about anything much the first month. I want to get to know the dog, I want them to get to know, and most importantly, trust, me. I do basic NILIF but that's about it. Time spent being patient in the beginning is really rewarded after.

Exactly, you've only had the dog for a week or so? Spend some time bonding! I would rather have my dog want to do what I say because it wants to please me, instead of the Alpha crap. Spend some time with your dog, learn about it and in doing so you'll bond and the dog can learn your expectations.

[Whiteshepherds]

Originally Posted by truwrxtacy

I'm not sure what else i can do to let him know i'm alpha. He also pulls on the leash when we walk, I walk him twice a day, after awhile he will stop pulling because he gets tired.any advice would be great
thanks

He may not care that you're alpha, he may not even know what alpha is. That's the problem with dogs...they don't read the same articles and training manuals we do.

There's lots of good advice about Loose Leash Walking in other posts so I won't add to the list. One more thought however....

Tire him out before the walk.
Dogs seem to have the most energy in the early morning. It's not the best time to train loose leash walking because they want to go, go, go! If you can, try walking him (while you're training) at other times or give him some exercise before you start the walk. (15 minutes of fetch etc.)
It's easier to teach a dog to walk nicely when they don't have a night or days worth of pent up energy.

[Catu]

Originally Posted by Whiteshepherds

He may not care that you're alpha, he may not even know what alpha is. That's the problem with dogs...they don't read the same articles and training manuals we do.

Thanks!