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

[lixy]

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

I practice NILIF with my dogs, and have clear rules about what I expect and what is and is not allowed around the house. Keefer has impulse control issues and extreme prey drive so he needs constant reminders of how things work.
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You know, thinking about it right now, most of what I do with my dogs isn't so much about wanting to be alpha or dominant over them, or trying to earn their respect or impose my leadership on them, it's really more about teaching them good manners and impulse control - sitting and waiting to be released to go through doors rather than rushing through willy nilly (not for potties though, I let them right out in the morning when they've got to GO!), sitting before putting the leash on, sitting and maintaining eye contact when I've got a biscuit or bully stick or some other treat to give them, waiting in the car before being released to get out, sitting for ball play, before taking the leashes off at the park, etc. Those things - controlling the stuff they want and imposing rules about how they may earn it - may HELP earn their respect for my leadership, but it's not really done with that in mind.

I really think this is how I operate with my dogs. My husband and my in-laws think that I am too strict with the dogs, but I need to set clear boundaries that they understand and know to follow. Not so much with my Border Collie, as she is a relatively soft dog, but my very large, Marmaduke-like GSD Chaos will (purposely or not) walk all over anybody that will let him get away with it. That includes my husband, in-laws, and any visitor that I'm not actively managing. He'll barrel past people on the stairs, knock them out of the way as they're opening the door or going through a doorway, won't listen to basic commands unless there's a treat in it for him, etc. Speaking of treats, I am the only one who can feed him ones that are appropriately sized. My in-laws, (aka fantastic daily dogsitters ) feel they must feed Chaos giant-sized treats, and still will usually throw them to him, in fear of Chaos lunging for it and snaring their fingers. Even my husband feels the need to throw treats to him. I, on the other hand can feed him a treat the size of a grain of salt between my thumb and forefinger, and he will take it slowly and gently. He waits for me to finish climbing/descending the stairs before following, and never knocks into me no matter how excited he is. He also does not annoy me while I'm eating, and will wait until invited to play or for affection. And this is because I am the only one who consistently shows him that I am in charge.

Just an FYI, being in charge does NOT mean that I am physically hands-on forceful with my dog. The physical aspect of our interactions is purely my body language. All it takes is a freeze, a hard look, or an occupancy of my personal space with my body stance. If neccessary, I will add a low growl or a quick verbal correction, usually "DOG". I do not need to TOUCH him. So, in my case as least, demanding respect (or being "dominant", or "alpha", or whatever the lastest term is) over one's pushy dog absolutely does NOT require the use of physical contact.

I do sometimes worry that I could be damaging my relationship with my Chaos when I read posts on here about dogs that obey because they think they HAVE to, rather than want to. I hope that is not the case. When I am engaging my dogs with a training/learning session, rather than just general everyday household manners, there is a clicker as well as treats galore, and they are always very eager. At those times, there are no "looks" or use of body language; it is always positive reinforcement when they get known requests right, and negative punishment (walking away) when then don't.

But overall, I am still demonstrating my authority, or acting like the "alpha", so who knows if they are obeying because they want to, or because they they think they have to.

My cat, on the other hand, is free to demand exactly as he chooses; one cannot deny a cat...

[jakeandrenee]

If another dog starts to put its head over Keef's neck, I get between them and break it up immediately before he tells the dog off himself.

He doesn't seem aggressive more playful but What does that mean? What is he trying to say to the other puppies???

[holland]

If you liked the Farley Mowatt book another one he wrote was the "Dog who wouldn't be"-funny book long time since I read it-With the exception of a few times I don't feel I need to be the alpha with Rorie. She loves to work and when we are doing something training wise she really wants to try and figure it out. When she is not listening it is usually she was having fun and has figured out it is time to go and doesn't want to and over time I have figured out how to handle it

[Chicagocanine]

I don't consider myself to be "alpha" because I am not a dog.

[doggiedad]

i've never worried or thought about being alfa.
i train and socialize my dogs and things seem
to fall in place.

when i get up in the morning my dog often
eats before me. when i feed him the only
thing he has to do is wait outside of the kitchen
while i prepare his meal. as everyone else i open
and hold the door for my dog even if i step
out of the door first i still have to hold
the door open for him.

now that i think about my dog is the alfa one.

here's why:

i bring him his food twice a day. <
i give him fresh water several times a day.<
i drive him to the dog park, the woods,
the Pet Store, the Vet and everywhere else
he needs to go while he sits in the back seat of the car <
i pay all of his bills. <
i bathe him and dry him off with fine cotton
towels. <
he has full roam of the house. <
he sleeps in our bed when he wants too. <
what am i forgetting? <

we co-exist with our dog and it's a good life
for all of us.

[kidkhmer]

I read a lot of info about the GSD breed before taking the plunge and there was this whole DOMINATE your dog thing everywhere. Of course I get the " show them who is boss / be the leader of the pack " thingy but one of the things that was constantly mentioned was DO NOT EVER LET YOUR DOGS UP ON THE FURNITURE ETC. Then I came here and bloody ****.....seems like everyone is sleeping with their dogs on the bed ! I have seen so many photos of dogs here lying on couches and on chairs etc

Here in Cambodia we can buy these great cane chairs called Papasan chairs. They look like a mini satellite dish. About a week ago my little pup Karma started jumping into it and rolling around and I would make her get out of it. Last night after her long muddy walk along the banks of the Mekong River here in Phnom Penh we had a nice hot shower together ( she loves hot water ! ) and after a good slathering of tea-tree shampoo and a drying off she was as clean as a whistle. Whilst we sat down for dinner Karma sat nearby and looked at the chair and then looked at me and then looked at the chair and then looked at me and then looked at the chair and then looked at me. In the end I thought "bugger domination....if she wants her own chair.....she got it ". I pointed and set "KARMA -IN YOUR CHAIR " and she bounded in and was asleep within minutes.

It is now hers to do with as she will. Karma sleeps next to me in an open doored crate or on the cool tiles of our Aircon'd room but she will never get on the bed ( check that ; Sunday morning hugs are OK ! ) nor will she ever be allowed on the couch.

You can't be a dictator all the time ! In fact if anything as I enter middle-age this puppy is teaching me to be less hard-arse and more patient.

[Jelpy]

I'm afraid in my case "Alpha" means they let me answer the door.

Jelpy

[Heagler870]

This post is really old and I haven't read every post but I thought I would put in my .02 cents. Alpha is just the first letter of the Greek alphabet. It just signifies someone to be before someone/something else. To me being "Alpha" over your dog is just to be their leader, not a dictator of sorts. Being your dogs or kids Alpha may or may not be the same thing as a dictatorship. I can lead my dog without being a dictator. Someone else can be a total dictator over their dog, but they're complete losers for doing it. That's no way to treat a dog, you don't give a dog respect by being a dictator. But people do it non-the-less. I want my dog to follow me instead of me following my dog. That's what Alpha means to me.

[DanielleKeith]

Great discussion. The wolf pack, alpha theory is ridiculous and always has been. These aren't wolves, they are domesticated animals many centuries removed from the wild. That is like saying that I am a barbaric gaul like in the Roman times just because I maybe descended from them. Whatever. Anyways, has anyone here ever seen the look on a shepherd puppy's face after you've forced them to be on their back and stared them in the eyes? I have. It's the saddest thing and you can see the confidence and pride of the breed just drain out of their faces. I will NEVER force dominate or alpha whatever with a German Shepherd. These are the most stunning, intelligent, and proud creatures with good reason, and it is a shame there are people that apply idiot training methods to these dogs. I AGREE With all of you totally and I'm so glad to see there are so many other shepherd people who truly love their pets, not buy a lawn ornament to rot in their yard and irritate the neighbors.

[RudeDogTraining]

I 110% agree. People don't know what they are talking about most of the time when they say "you need to be alpha", or "you need to be the pack leader", or any of that garbage. I say it's garbage because people destroyed the meaning of it...kind of like how the F word is used so nonchalantly these days. To me, being alpha means setting an example, and being able to provide. The dog should feel confident in you, and not fear you. Personally my methods and techniques I tell my clients is "you aren't the dog's mother, nor are you a dog yourself, so you shouldn't try to mimic what you see on TV" because 9.9 times out of 10, they are wrong. Someone told me they use a prong collar because its supposed to mimic the mother biting the scruff (which is total b/s to begin with but I disregarded that and said): "You aren't the dog's mother. You are it's owner." With that said, people should provide guidance to their dog. Show the dog how to properly do something when you ask, and not make it do what you ask, or force them to do what you ask. And a good bridge between human communication and canine communication is through food reward for motivation. You see compulsive trainers that use "alpha" and "pack leader" every other word, and totally throw out the idea of motivating with food, but they fail to realize that the food treats aren't going to be used for the rest of the dog's life either. I've watched Cesar Millan and I think he's an idiot, and the people he teaches "his methods" to are clueless. I don't mean to be bias, but no dog should be forced to do anything...it should choose to. (sorry if i went off on a bit of a tangent!)