During dog training, become the Alpha leader with these 5 methods
Regenna Deruso
The first thing you should do when you want to start training your dog is to make sure that your dog sees you as the leader of the pack. This will make teaching him so much easier as he is already in a follower state of mind and will do what you want.
You see, dogs work in a pack hierarchy mentality where there is one leader and many followers. The leader of the pack is the dog who gets first dibs on everything from toys to food and does whatever he feels like doing. The leader will make all the decisions for the pack and the other dogs, being followers, will do whatever the leader will allow them to do. So, it is essential that your dog see you as the leader before you begin training, and he will then listen to you and obey your commands much faster. Here are 5 techniques you can start putting into practice to make your dog learn that you are the leader of the pack and he is just the follower.
One of the simplest ways to get your dog to realize that you are the leader of the pack is in the way your feed your dog. Your dog's meal time is excellent training ground and will not take any longer that it usually does to feed him. The first rule is you must eat first and your dog must see you eating first. Once you are done, then you can begin to prepare your dogs food. Place his food into his bowl, swish it around with your hands to distribute your scent all over his food, make him sit, and then feed him. By doing this every time your dog eats, he will soon learn that you are the alpha of the pack because the alpha always eats first. Plus, you are further enforcing your status in the pack by placing your scent all over his food. In basic dog language you are claiming that the food is yours and that you are letting your dog eat your food.
Another way to show your dog who is boss is to simply ignore him when you come home. I know this sounds mean and that you just want to show your beloved dog how much you missed him, but your dog does not see it that way. You see, in a pack, when someone comes in, the leader is always greeted first and with much praise. So, when you come home and you immediately show your dog affection, you are basically telling him that he is the leader of your family pack. When you come home, ignore the dog and greet the other people in your household first. Then when your dog is calm, call him over to you and shower him with affection and love. This simple change will let your dog know that he is not the alpha of the pack.
Another characteristic a leader of a pack shows is that he makes all the decisions. So, by you letting your dog do what he wants when he wants to do it, is proving that he is the leader and you are the follower. This one training tip will take a bit longer for you to learn simply because it involves working with your dog in everything he does all day long. What you need to do is make all the decisions for him. Yes, this sounds simple enough but it can get a bit tricky, epically when your dog is used to doing it his way. If he wants to play, say no and wait until he gives up by either lying down or doing something else. Then call him over, pick up his favorite toy and ask him if he wants to play. If he wants some pets and love, just look at him and then look away, wait until he gives up, and then call him over for some loves. Just try to make sure that you are making all the decisions for your dog and this will show him that you are the leader and he must follow you.
Bedtime is an additional technique where you can show your dog that you are the leader of your pack. When it comes to bedtime, the alpha pack leader always gets the highest sleeping spot because he is the one who looks out for the rest of the pack. So, when you allow your dog to sleep with you on the bed, you are reinforcing that he is the pack leader and you are not. It is ok to allow him to be on the bed with you at night while you are watching TV, but when it is time to sleep you need to make him go to his own bed on the floor. This will help strengthen your position as the pack leader.
The last way you can assure your dog that you are the leader is through massages and grooming. What you need to do is make your dog lie down on his side and then gently brush him and rub his belly. This is also great quality time for both you and your pet. This works well because when a dog lies down on his side, he is showing total submission. An alpha dog will never assume this position with a dog who is subordinate to him. So, by making him lie on his side, you are letting him know that you are the leader and he is the follower. If you do this regularly, you dog will look forward to his grooming sessions and will have no problem submitting to you.
When you put these five methods presented above into practice, your dog will soon begin to learn that you are the leader and he is the follower. Once he learns this lesson, your regular training sessions will go much more smoothly and easier since he already knows you are the leader and he place is to follow and do what ever you want him to do.
About the Author:
Start learning how to make your dog do what he is told by visiting this great dog obedience training resource which provides a complete detailed case study on some great dog teaching methods, and is packed with just about all the information you'll ever need on dog psychology, canine communication how-to's, practical advice for dealing with problem behaviors, and detailed step-by-step guides to obedience training.
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