How do you assert dominance over a dog

Animals select pack leaders because they instinctually know who is strong and who can best lead them. A pack leader is concerned for the pack, not for himself. The pack leaders natural instincts are protection and direction for the entire pack.

In return, the pack completely trusts the pack leader, the parent. Your dog should earn everything — work for a living just like we do. Control all aspects of his feeding arrangements — we must eat first, even if it is a bite of a something.

Have him move out of your way a few times a day. Do not let him pull on leash. Control access to all doorways and narrow openings. Always make him complete a few commands.

Do not let him jump on you or others, ever. Do not let him take positions above you. Play — Control games; whether it is fetch, tug, keep a way etc. Never let him bite you. If you are not the Pack Leader yourself this can cause problems, as a dominant dog will gravitate toward being in charge given the chance. However, if you take the steps to establish yourself as leader of the pack, you can have a wonderful and balanced relationship with a dominant dog.

Here are five things to keep in mind when dealing with an alpha dog. Dogs will not follow unstable energy. This is even truer of alpha dogs, who will try to correct what they see as unbalanced behavior. This is why, when dealing with a dominant dog, you have to be even calmer and more assertive than normally. Set Rules, Boundaries, and Limitations Again, rules, boundaries, and limitations are even more important for dominant dogs because it focuses their dominance and gives them a way to express their confidence without using it on you.

With dominant dogs, you can take it a step further with things like agility training , which allows them to use up excess energy while leading themselves through the obstacle course. Remember, in the pack, the leaders do not approach the followers.

The followers come to the leaders. If your dog is dominant, the best approach is to ignore her. Some other common signs of Dominant behavior include:. Another important sign of dominant behavior is the refusal to listen to their owners commands and respond by growling, jumping, barking, nipping, or other inappropriate behavior. Additionally, they commonly have a high level of food and toy aggression, also known as guarding.

Despite speculation, dominant behavior is not a normal personality trait in any breed of dog. In many cases, pet owners unknowingly create the behavior by failing to discipline them when they first show signs of dominant behavior towards children or other animals.

By failing to discipline them, their behavior gradually escalates. Other causes for dominant behavior include:. Another important reason dogs display dominant behavior is in response to an underlying health condition. Underlying health conditions can cause a dog to have hormonal or mood imbalances and poor eyesight or hearing. These conditions can cause a dog to displaying dominant behavior such as biting, growling, and barking in respond to the pain and irritability these conditions cause.

In most cases, dominant behavior occurs when a dog has reached maturity, somewhere between one and three years old. Treatment for a dog who shows dominant behavior depends on several factors. Every pet owner should have their dog examined by a veterinarian, to determine if they suffer from any underlying health conditions.

The veterinarian will treat any health conditions to see if it improves their overall behavior. For dogs who do not have an underlying health condition, dog obedience training and proper training guidelines for the owners to follow at home, offers an effective solution.

We offer Dog Training in Fredericksburg that not only corrects dominant behavior, but it helps pet owners bond with their pet and learn new techniques to keep the behavior at bay. Mike, our experienced trainer will retrain your dog through our dog obedience training program.

Curbing aggressive, dominant behavior and teaching dog owners the appropriate response to give, if the behavior returns. Almost 11 year old shar pei who is blind and deaf has become very stubborn when walking. Has been blind since birth and deaf last four years. Otherwise, a happy dog that makes it around house with no problem. Walking is a battle. I would be hesitant if I was blind and deaf also. Sounds like hearing helped compensate for being deaf.

Now losing both there are only soo many other things dogs can do. Sniffing takes longer due to other senses being gone. If you would like to give us a call at in the morning we can discuss your specific situation to figure out what kind of training would be best for your dog. Have a wonderful rest of your evening! Our new puppy is fine with the other people in my family, but with me he nips and barks. My aunt came over after about 2 wks my dogs havent seen her.

Now my bull dog keeps trying to mount my terrior dog every since my aunt showed up. She gives both dogs the same amount of attention but my bull dog wont stop trying to mount my terrior. In the wild, it is often the Alpha who leads the hunt. They are directly responsible for making sure that the pack is fed. The same should apply at home. Your dog should never have access to treats or food without you. Keep things locked up tight. When dinnertime rolls around, make your dog wait for their food.

The last thing they should be doing is going in for a bite before you even have a chance to set the bowl down. As mentioned earlier, it's a good idea to eat before you feed your pet. Then, make them sit and stay as you prepare the meal. Set the bowl down and have your dog wait before you give them the "OK" that they can start eating. The same applies to toys. While it may seem cruel to deprive your dog of toys, it's a great way to assert your dominance.

Instead of leaving toys out at all hours of the day, keep them stowed away. Bring them out when your dog is being good. If they start acting up, you can take them away to show that you mean business. This tip is often a point of contention among some owners. While many people love to share their beds with their dogs, it's not a good idea if you're trying to assert your dominance. Your private space should be yours and yours alone. While it's great to cuddle up next to your dog, this should be done in a place that you don't sleep.

Letting your dog sleep on your bed with you makes your authority a bit murkier. You see, the Alpha always has the best sleeping spot.

Everyone else cuddles together for warmth. Sleeping on your bed may make your dog view you as a littermate rather than the Alpha. The same applies to the couch. If your dog tries to jump up on your personal space, give them a firm "Off! Alphas just aren't the leader, they're also the voice of reason. They set the rules and make corrections when necessary. One of the biggest problems that owners face in terms of training is slipping on the rules.

The moment that you fail to address an infraction is the moment that you provide an opening for your dog to challenge your rules. Obedience training should be fair, yet consistent. If you establish that your dog is not allowed to go into a certain part of your home, this rule should be kept up throughout their life.

If you give your dog a stern warning when they beg for food, you should be doing this each and every time they do so. Furthermore, training should go beyond their puppy years. Many owners think that once their dog has the basics, they can stop teaching their dog new things.

Your dog is smart.