Bringing a puppy into your home is an exciting event. While all puppies are adorable, they are also very energetic and can quickly become a handful if they are not properly trained. If you want to take control of your puppy’s behavior, you must understand how to be a leader in their eyes. Dominating your puppy is a process that will require patience and consistency. It is important to understand the basics of dog behavior and how to establish ground rules that your puppy will understand and obey. With the right steps, you will be able to create a happy and obedient pup who knows his place in the household. In this blog post, we will explore the best ways to establish yourself as the leader in your puppy’s eyes and how to effectively dominate your pup. With the right strategies and guidance, you can easily become the leader of your pack and keep a happy and obedient pup.
They May Appear Similar, But Dogs Are Not Wolves
A Swiss animal behaviorist named Rudolph Schenkel studied the behavior of wolves in captivity during the 1930s and 1940s, and his research served as the foundation for the dominance theory. Schenkel deduced from his observations that wolves were constantly competing to outrank one another in the social hierarchy of the pack. The dominant wolf, known as the “alpha,” who aggressively restrained the others and demanded the most respect, emerged as the winner.
The issue is that wolves in captivity exhibit behavior that is very dissimilar from wolves in the wild. Wild wolf packs typically include a mating pair and their young, but they may also contain two or three additional wolf families. There is very little aggression within the pack because it cooperates to hunt and take care of the young instead of engaging in competition. Like human children, when young wolves mature, they eventually leave the pack to start their own families.
Wolves in captivity behave very differently. Adult wolves go through a lot of stress when they are compelled to coexist for years on end without being able to separate from one another. Some of the strongest wolves turn into “bullies” who act aggressively to maintain the group hierarchy as a result of the tension and competition over resources.
Sadly, the outcomes of this study were then used to improve domesticated dogs. But here’s the thing: dogs are not wolves. They are, in fact, quite different species. The findings of Schenkel’s studies were ultimately refuted, but by that time, the dominance theory in dogs had gained widespread acceptance.
Dominance-based training is based on a single, straightforward principle: control your dog before he has a chance to control you. Because all dogs spend their days merely searching for human weaknesses, they can either psychologically manipulate us and mess with our minds, engage in telepathic mind control, or steal our car keys.
Let’s think this through for a minute. We give our dogs food, a warm, safe place to live, medical care, toys, playtime, walks outside, mental stimulation, and (hopefully) all the love they can handle. What more could they take that they don’t already have? Dogs and humans get along so well because we don’t compete with them for social status, and they are aware of this.
Unfortunately, the misguided behavior modification strategies used in dominance-based training to stop dogs from establishing their superiority over humans typically involve the use of punishment, intimidation, and fear, which is the exact opposite of what dogs actually require to be happy, healthy, well-behaved, and well-adjusted companions.
These “training” techniques include the use of:
Unfortunately, most behavioral issues in dogs result from insecurity, fear, and a need for safety and comfort rather than an effort to dominate and dominate us. Alpha rolls and muzzle grabs are ineffective at convincing our dogs that we are in charge. Instead, they only serve to increase our aggression, lack of control, and unreliability, which adds to the anxiety our dogs already feel.
According to studies, dogs who are pinned to the ground on their sides or backs as punishment release a sudden surge of the stress hormone cortisol. When this occurs, the amygdala in the dog’s brain activates, preparing it for either fight or flight. The amygdala is activated when the brain is solely concerned with survival, which immediately silences all other rational thought, including the capacity for learning.
When this occurs, the dog may literally shut down because of his anxiety or fear. In the videos you see of dogs appearing to submit or to be calm while being held on their sides, the dogs are anything but calm. Actually, they freeze in anticipation of the threat dissipating because they are so insecure, enraged, or afraid. The reason why so many trainers and dog owners who attempt to use this training method end up getting bitten is because if they are repeatedly pushed past this point, they can lash out and bite.
Don’t Force Affection
Dominant dogs are naturally more aloof and solitary. Keep in mind that in a pack, leaders do not approach followers. The followers come to the leaders. When humans pursue their dogs to give affection when they aren’t “cuddly” enough, they often fall into a trap that puts the dogs in charge. The best course of action if your dog is aggressive is to ignore her She will come to you for attention when she needs it, which strengthens your position as the pack leader.
Always make him complete a few commands.
Before letting him play off leash, always have him follow a few commands, and periodically call him back while he is doing so. Invite him over, have him sit, and then let him go play again. Reward him if he responds right away.
FAQ
How do you show dominance to a puppy?
- Alpha rolls (pincing a dog to the ground while rolling him onto his back to demonstrate “who’s boss”)
- Grabbing his muzzle and holding it tightly.
- Shaking him by the scruff of the neck.
- Cuffing him under the chin.
- Training devices that cause pain, such as choke, prong, or shock collars
How do I show my puppy I am the Alpha?
Several times a day, request that he move out of your way. If he’s lying down in a hallway, gently shuffling your feet through him will cause him to get up and move. The alpha never walks around his littermates. Be the parent and refuse to let your dog treat you like a sibling.
Should you dominate your puppy?
Carlo Siracusa, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist at Penn Vet, believes all the talk about dominance in dog training is exaggerated and questions whether dogs actually want their human to be the alpha dog. “The outcome of dominance-based training is more aggression,” Siracusa said.
How do you discipline a puppy that won’t listen?
- Be consistent. …
- Be prompt. …
- Be firm. …
- Use positive reinforcement. …
- Give timeouts. …
- Don’t use physical punishment. …
- Don’t stare down, drag, or hold down your puppy. …
- Don’t shout or scream.