How To Become Top Dog - A Dog Owner's Guide To Sanity

Peeing on the carpet, knocking you down, or stealing dinner offthe counter are all signs that your dog doesn't respect yourrules. In other words, you are not the Alpha Dog.

If you ever want to have a peaceful and happy relationship withyour dog, you need to learn how to become top dog.

It's not just a silly phrase. Dogs have a heirarchial rankingsystem. In simple reality, the only two ranks you need to knowof are top dog , and not top dog.... The Ruler, and the RuleFollower. Naturally you don't want to be caught in the trap ofbeing subject to your dog.

You want your dog to respect you and obey you. Don't confuse thetwo. A dog may obey you out of fear, but not respect you. Thatis a dangerous situation to be in. Have you ever seen the movieIron Will? If not, watch it. It gives some great insight.

There's a dog sled driver who beats his dogs into submission andtreats them terribly. They respond to his beatings and he has awinning team, but at the first sign of weakness, they turn onhim and... well it wasn't pretty.

Of course that's a dramatization and worse case scenario.Frankly, I think anyone who beats dogs has it coming. It's justnot necessary to rule with an iron fist.

Most dogs are receptive to attitudes that are as basic andprimal as fighting, but are much less violent.

For example, simply giving commands and being consistent goes along way. If your dog is always made aware of what is and whatis not acceptable, you will have a greater chance of success.

When your dog disobeys, scold him and send him to his quarters-whether it be a dog bed, a kennel, going outside or just aspecific place in the house.

Don't allow him to beg for food. Doing this gives him theimpression that it's okay to whine to get what he wants.

It's not.

If and when a dog should bite you, and you have had this dog anddon't believe him to be wild or sick, then you have to takeaction to ensure he knows that it will not be accepted. (Ifthere is any indication of disorientation of your dog at thistime, call a vet. Dogs can bite if they are sick, hurt orscared. You should seek professional advice.)

Appropriate action would not be to scold or hit the dog butrather to grab his head firmly, not in anger or rage but in calmcontrol, and bite him on the ear. Don't try to break the skin orreally hurt the dog. You are just making a point here that youare the leader and he needs to respect you.

It is also highly recommended that you train your dog to walkwith you on a leash, at your heel level. This puts the dog in anactive submissive role on a regular basis and helps you toenforce that you are the boss.

I would suggest getting a book or training video to get moredetails on the topic, or research dog forums for advice fromother owners who prefer to train themselves and not send theirdogs to obedience school.

Remember that if you want to be the top dog, you have to takecontrol. Leadership is essential in a dog's life. You are theone who gets to choose who that leader is.

About the author:About the Author:

Tina Spriggs is an expert dog lover whose lifelong interest incanines provides the motivation for her site. To learn moreabout dogs or to find gifts and toys for them visit her site atDogGifts and Toys for Dog Lovers.

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

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