How do you define "being alpha"....

[Timber1]

Holy cow, I could not agree with you more and the subsequent posts. This "Alpha" thing has been so over used that I wanted to post the exact question and comments you did.

[SunCzarina]

It is an over used phrase. I'm the pack leader. Like the wolf leader, I bring home the food and put it on the table. However, I am not a wolf and neither is my dog.

Never really gave much thought to the whole leader issue until Luther came along. I'd had GSDs growing up, then Rex, who was a chilly dog. Luther was 2 years old, spent 5 months at a shelter and was bent on world domination.

I had a lot to learn about asserting my authority over him, hard head as that dog was. I remember doing a volhard test and being shocked at what 9s and 10s meant. I had no clue before Luther about things like 'fence dog', barrier aggression etc.

My DDH was more doer than thinker, he spoke with police trainers and other hard guys. He tried doing alpha rolls, pinning the dog to the wall, all kinds of nonsense that mostly got him a black and blue forearm that lasted 6 months.

I took the tack of NILIF, kneeing him for trying to get through the door before me, kneeing the dog in the chest when he jumped on me - after pinching his toes didn't work, list would go on. I took Luther EVERYWHERE and socialized him endlessly. I also put him in time out when ever he needed it - which was a lot in the first few months.

Luther came around and respected me. He turned into the funniest most soulful dog who was more intune with me that any I'd had before him. Although to the day he died, he still tried to get through the doorway before me!

By the time Morgan moved in 2 years later, the leadership roll was firmly in my mind. She was messed up from what happened to her as a baby but still a hardhead. Never had a problem with her testing me becuase I laid it out for her from day one. I am in charge. You work for me. Thank you. Good girl. Here, have some prosciutto.

[zyppi]

Quote:I personally think "being Alpha" is more about being a calm, confident leader who can and will lay down the law when necessary with a firm but appropriate correction

I agree.

[onyx'girl]

I agree also~ looking at the leerburg puppy pack structure videos proves that.

[Brightelf]

I agree, too! I have learned some hard, humbling lessons this year, especially as of late. I have learned we need to tailor how we offer leadership to the leadership needs of our dogs. Weak-nerved dogs may need more work on lead to feel relaxed, strong-minded dogs may need initially firmer corrections, etc.

If you were the boss of a company and had to do performance reviews with both your employees, Edith Bunker and Yosimite Sam..... you'd need to offer criticism, kudos, and instructions to each in very different ways.

[LisaT]

Great thread. I am so tired of "alpha" and "dominance". They are so misused in dog training that they have lost what their true meanings, in my opinion.

I think the above posts are right on.

What I see on a lot of training boards is justification for the need for dominance and being alpha. The argument usually goes something like, "dogs are individuals and you have to modify the training to the type of dog. that is, some dogs require more dominance and you have to be the alpha". This arguments is then used to justify the harsher techniques of dog training to try to get the dog to submit more by physical means, than by training and establishing the right relationship.

Hard to train dogs absolutely need different techniques and tools, but I don't think that the definition of terms change, only the techniques. I think that often these terms take on a more violent definition in some circles, and they use the dog's behaviour to justify that. I don't know if I'm explaining this well at all.

In terms of alpha, one of the few things I do agree with Cesar Milan, is a calm, assertive nature. I think it also means being able to apply a consistent leadership program, suited to the dog, to develp a partnership.

[middleofnowhere]

I've got to the point it's "alpha smaplha" & let's not even go there with domiance. I look through these threads and want to scream because I am so very very tired of the terms and the concepts that usually accompany them. I want to work with my dogs and come closer to understanding my dogs. The less intent I am on dominance and "alpha" crappolla, the better my dogs respond. It may be just because I don't have anything to prove, maybe because when I let go of those ideas, I let go of the "contest of wills."

[LisaT]

Originally Posted By: middleofnowhere...The less intent I am on dominance and "alpha" crappolla, the better my dogs respond. It may be just because I don't have anything to prove, maybe because when I let go of those ideas, I let go of the "contest of wills."

I have had the same experience!

[thor wgsd]

Slightly unrelated, but the other day I had my puppy (4 months) in the park and we met a GSD - 2 years old, huge (way bigger than standards), off leash with a an old lady(!) - the nicest dog ever) as soon as we met him thor did an "alpha roll"... Remember I am new at this, but for me it kind of proved the whole it's not natural to force an "alpha roll", I already "knew", I just liked seeing it live. Afterwards they were real buddies and they played real well together until the lady had to go, the dog didn't want to leave, but when she said so he understood... Man, I really hope mine is that nice when he grows up.

[LisaT]

It sure is nice to see those things in person, isn't it?

One of my old trainers used to work in a doggie daycare center. She *really* got to see pack behaviour.

Part of the *nice* behaviour is genetics, but I suspect that most of it is socialization and consistent training.

Good luck with your pup -- what a fun age