Unlike humans, dogs are pack animals and hence it is important to understand that they are always aware of their position in the pack. This pack will encompass you, your family, other pets and of course all the dogs in the household.
The Alpha dog or pack leader is seen by your dog as the leader and protector of the whole pack, and it is therefore crucial that you take on this role. Your dog will be healthier and happier if it feels secure in it’s pack, knowing that his leader is doing their job and keeping everyone safe.
The first step to doing this is to know which signals your dog will understand. You will need to consistently communicate “alpha signals” to your dog in a compassionate and respectful way. This does not mean being aggressive, overbearing or bullying your dog but learning the language that a dog understands and using the correct signals.
Mixed signals and inconsistency will confuse your dog and makes him think that the pack leader is ineffective. Your dog will feel burdened to try to take over as alpha to stabilise the pack. If he does this, it is not because he is being “bad”, but that you have given him the wrong signals.
So what are these signals and how do you communicate with them effectively? Firstly….