November 20th, 2011
While working with dogs I have discovered that many people DO understand the concept of pack mentality and the importance of being the leader. What I have found is that people with behavioral problems with their dogs are able to get the dog to do a few things cooperatively usually when some reward is involved like food. Because the dog will perform a command for a reward they assume that they are the alpha dog, or the leader. What they don’t understand is this: If your dog doesn’t listen to you when he doesn't feel like it or if he shows some kind of aggression to you then certainly you are NOT the alpha. Alpha is ALWAYS ALPHA. That means 24/7. There are no exceptions.
The following scenarios will help illustrate this point further. These will help you become more aware of perhaps how you are falling short. I have created two common scenarios with a dog and then given the dog’s view. I have outlined what your pack status is by your behavior based on what the dog does in response to how you are showing up in the situation.
1. Your dog is on a walk with you and is always in front of you, which you don’t mind. In fact he is always in front. That’s what he likes to do so you want him to be happy and in front he is. Another dog approaches with his owner attached on leash and this dog is anxious and starts barking at your dog. Your dog reacts with jumping and pulling and acts like he wants to lunge and bite the other dog. You see all this about to happen and say, “No!” to your dog. He doesn’t listen to you and lunges. Small dog: "Well at least I can control him physically by yanking him away." Big dog: "He knocks me to the ground and breaks one of my fingers. Why am I doing this? I don’t think we’ll go out on walks any more where there are other dogs."
Does this sound familiar? What does your dog think about you?
Your dog views you as a lesser pack member without status. The whole situation was set up from the beginning so that you were of lesser importance by having him in front. This is glaringly evident when you have a dominant personality dog. Omega types just follow. So when you tried to instill the correction of having him stop lunging he would not comply because he viewed you as a non-authority figure.
Correct way: dog behind you as all good followers do walk. He must comply now based on pack order rules, which are hard-wired into his DNA. No rules means he can do what he wants. If you need help learning how to get your dog to walk behind you contact me: Susan@channelanimal.com or 949 309 0808 PST
2. It’s time to eat and you put your dog's food bowl down after having her sit and wait. You release her from the command. She starts to eat and you decide to pet her from behind while she’s eating. She turns her head and growls at you. You try to take her dish away and she snaps at you and gives you one scary look saying, “I will bite you if you try that again.” You coil away from your dog in fear and disbelief of what just happened. You watched all the TV shows. You know you’re alpha because she sits and waits for you to feed her. (You say) you stopped having her sleep on your bed at night. She tried to bite your husband and son but why would she bite you? You show her so much love and affection and spend the whole day with her. She panics when you leave her. She is also afraid of strangers and won’t stop barking at them. Maybe there is some medical problem…it couldn’t be behavioral because you know you’re alpha. Or are you?
Does this sound familiar? What does your dog think about you?
Your dog views you as perhaps a lover, a mate, a pal, or a playmate. But definitely not alpha.
True respect from your dog comes with always giving physical space and focused attention to you. This dog was given power early on and now does not want to relinquish it. Who wants to give up power? This is a typical imbalance of power in the human/canine relationship. A power struggle is full on and your dog is winning. What will happen when you dog attacks you? Or maybe a small child? Who's fault is it? What do you do about this serious problem?
There are two main problems going on here: 1. You have given your dog top position in pack status. Clearly she is not an omega type dog, or a happy go lucky pack member. You have a dominant canine-ality. This dog is either an alpha or beta type. This type challenges you for position. 2.: You are not being honest with yourself about the value the dog is providing you for your emotions. You have some difficult emotional and mental patterns such as depression, fear, crying spells, alcohol and or drug use, and addictive negative thinking (to varying degrees) which you are sharing with the dog. She perceives this as weakness. Alpha dogs are calm, confident, powerful and always considering the needs of the whole before self-centeredness. Your dog is now afraid because it is up to her alone to provide the survival of the entire pack since the other members are emotionally imbalanced. Imagine how much stress this creates for her. No wonder she is so upset. This dog is in need of being reprogrammed in rehabilitation to know their place s a follower and de-stress through physical and mental exercising. The owners need a mental, emotional and spiritual overhaul in how they relate to the world of affects. This is no easy undertaking
I recommend meditation to calm human minds and reprogramming their thoughts for success, recognizing their own power within. Getting out of victimization and into self-responsibility is a big challenge but well worth the efforts. In accepting responsibility of showing up as weak, wiping the slate clean and starting anew through the power of affirmative thought and increased self-awareness through contemplative inquiry, intro-spection and meditation a new relationship can be created. Beginning anew with the dog, that's been rehabilitated, with some knowledge about achieving alpha status they can work together as a loving owner of a dominant canine-alitied dog. This is a tall order and it takes 100% commitment. The questions you need to ask yourself are: "How much do I love my dog? What am I willing to do to prove it? What am I afraid of by not making these important changes? What good is trying to come into my life through learning how to become alpha?"
For phone consultations or one-on-one work with your dog or spiritual guidance email: Susan Hill susan@channelanimal.com
For canine rehabilitation email Brandon Fouche: brandon@brandonfouche.com. Tell him Susan Hill sent you.