Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Just wondering if there are any ways to see if my dog thinks he is the alpha male or if he thinks of me as the alpha male?

From what i have heard its very important to ensure the dog does not think he is alpha male and thinks he is omega (lowest position in the pack - my family). Sometimes he puts his head right down when i tell him off and looks at me with it down. Is this for sympathy?

Is there anthing i can do to make myself and other family members above him in the pack? Do dogs only have one alpha in a pack or can my whole family be alphas? (I have begun to walk in and out the back door before him and try to eat in front of him / before him sometimes).

His attention is poor as soon as we step outside my property. Will he improve when he knows whos boss (although i think he already knows).

He also jumps like crazy when he sees anyone for the first few minutes. Any tips on stopping him from jumping? I have been told to knee him in the chest everytime he jumps to stop him, however i dont want to do this unless i have to.

Thanks.

>>Hi,
>>
>>Just wondering if there are any ways to see if my dog thinks he is the alpha male or if he thinks of me as the alpha male?
>>
>>From what i have heard its very important to ensure the dog does not think he is alpha male and thinks he is omega (lowest position in the pack - my family). Sometimes he puts his head right down when i tell him off and looks at me with it down. Is this for sympathy?
>>
>>Is there anthing i can do to make myself and other family members above him in the pack? Do dogs only have one alpha in a pack or can my whole family be alphas? (I have begun to walk in and out the back door before him and try to eat in front of him / before him sometimes).
>>
>>His attention is poor as soon as we step outside my property. Will he improve when he knows whos boss (although i think he already knows).
>>
>>He also jumps like crazy when he sees anyone for the first few minutes. Any tips on stopping him from jumping? I have been told to knee him in the chest everytime he jumps to stop him, however i dont want to do this unless i have to.
>>
>>Thanks.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You have gotten some incredibly bad advice. At the link below my signature you'll find many articles to help. Read Dominance, Submissiveness, Alpha or Leader?, Jumping Up on People, Training: What Does Your Dog Need? and you'll find others there that will help as well. It's a free educational veterinary site, no advertising, and you do not register there.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

First of all, for the love of god, don't knee your dog. I don't know who told you that, but I definitely wouldn't take their advice on pet ownership again. Work on teaching your dog a strong sit and stay and when they see someone have them sit down and praise them when they do so.

As for the alpha worries. Unless you're noticing some aggression or blunt disobedience this isn't something thats a big problem. Obedience training helps a lot with this, so spend some time sitting and training your dog as often as possible. It helps to build bonds and also will help teach him that you're the boss.

There's a book called "Don't Shoot the Dog." It's great for training house manners in a humane and non threatening way.

I know with big dogs people feel they can push them around and be very physical with them, but in my experience, the more physical you have to be to gain control, the less control you actually have. You also teach your dog to use physical means to control his world and with a dog, that can mean teeth are used and that's a lesson I don't want my dogs to learn. So please, no kneeing a jumping dog.

Instead, teach your dog to not jump up to greet people. How? Training for the scenarios that he jumps up on people. Use your family to help you. First, teach your dog to sit and to sit every time you say the word with lots of distractions around and in many different places. Thsi takes some time, but only about 2 minutes a day for a few weeks. It doesn't have ot be very formal. "Sit" your dog while you do dishes. During commercial breaks on TV. Have everyone in the family able to do it. Treat lavishly for compliance. Now, once the "sit" is proofed, set your dog up in front of a door and have a family member enter. Have your dog on leash and don't let him jump up as the person enters. Use the "sit' command. He ONLY gets attention when sitting. Do absolutly NOTHING except walk away if his rear is off the ground. If you are consistent enough, it takes very few repetitions for a dog to understand there is no reward for breaking a command. Really reward your dog for doing as you ask.

Also, an obedience class is a very wonderful tool to help learn to do this correctly the first time. The whole family can watch the class and all can help with the homework. A well mannered pet is a joy to have around.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Hi,

Just wondering if there are any ways to see if my dog thinks he is the alpha male or if he thinks of me as the alpha male?

From what i have heard its very important to ensure the dog does not think he is alpha male and thinks he is omega (lowest position in the pack - my family). Sometimes he puts his head right down when i tell him off and looks at me with it down. Is this for sympathy?

Is there anthing i can do to make myself and other family members above him in the pack? Do dogs only have one alpha in a pack or can my whole family be alphas? (I have begun to walk in and out the back door before him and try to eat in front of him / before him sometimes).

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It is important that he knows he's not the alpha male in your family. However, never ever show any kind of violence against him. Don't even yell at him. But corrections in a firm voice is more suitable. There are many little subtle things you can do to ensure that he knows who's the boss. Make him sit before giving him his meals and treats. Enter and exit the house before him. Make him sit before letting him in from the backyard. Take his food away from him briefly while he's eating. All these little things will in time let him know that you are alpha. Also, DO NOT let him sleep with you or share the bed with you. Believe it or not, they do not prefer to be the alpha male. They would rather have the security and surety of belonging in a secure pack. Only when they feel that there is no true leader in the family/pack that their instinct will tell them to be alpha.
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His attention is poor as soon as we step outside my property. Will he improve when he knows whos boss (although i think he already knows).

He also jumps like crazy when he sees anyone for the first few minutes. Any tips on stopping him from jumping? I have been told to knee him in the chest everytime he jumps to stop him, however i dont want to do this unless i have to.

Thanks.

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They jump on people because they are excited and just want the attention. We stopped our guy from doing this by NOT giving him the attention that he is seeking when he jumps up on you. Even when you push him away and tell him to stop, that's attention. Instead, cross your arms and turn your back to him and tell him to sit. As soon as he sits, then greet and praise him. Soon he will learn that he'll get the attention he seeks without having to jump up on people. Hope this helps.
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