Yes, she wants to please you  -  all members of the pack want to please the Alpha Dog. 

 

The Alpha Dog Rules the House

It is not hard to understand the concept of the Alpha Dog.  We all understand that organizations have leaders and all pack animals have an Alpha.  Dogs are pack animals, so they either look for a leader or try to be the leader.  Every pack needs an Alpha.  In a pack, there may be both a male Alpha and a female Alpha. 

The first step in any dog training is to establish that the humans are the leaders and the dog is not the Alpha.  This is the first step in obedience training, toilet training, dog whispering, agility training, or whatever dog training you want to name.  Establish yourself as the Alpha, and everything else gets easier. 

When you are training a dog, you need to think like a dog.  So, just for fun, below you can think like a dog and see the Alpha Dog issues "from a dog's point of view." 

The Alpha Dog Eats First

The Alpha Dog eats first.  After that I can eat.  I have to wait my turn.  Sometimes there

 are many dogs that eat before me.  I tried to nudge them out in the past, but I did not win that battle.  That's the way it works.  The Alpha eats first, then the other higher ranking dogs, and then me.  I would not challenge the Alpha Dog.  I don't want to upset him.  I want to make him happy.  He is established, and he is clearly in charge. 

Don't Get in the Way of the Alpha Dog

The Alpha Dog is in charge.  Wherever he takes me, I will follow.  If he crosses my path, I get out of the way.  If he wants to sit in my spot, then I will move for him, so he can sit.  After all, he is the Alpha.   

I Follow the Alpha Dog's Instructions

The Alpha Dog is in charge.  When he wants me to get something, I get it.  If he wants me to jump, I jump.  Life is easier with the Alpha around.  I don't have to think about what we should do next.  I don't have to make the important decisions.  I don't have to worry about all the others in the pack.  The Alpha takes good care of me.  I eat well when it is my turn.  I am safe here.  I want to keep the Alpha happy and it is not hard for me to do that. 

The Alpha likes me and treats me well.  Sometimes the Alpha plays with me and we have a lot of fun.  I love that! 

Maybe I Could Be the Alpha Dog

If the Alpha Dog leaves, then maybe I can be the Alpha.  Am I willing to fight the others to get the chance to be the Alpha?  I'm not sure, maybe I am.  Or maybe it would be easier to just look to for the next Alpha.  I'll decide that only after the Alpha gives up his position. 

Maybe I could just move up in the ranks of the other dogs.  Do all humans rank above me?  Maybe, I'm not sure.  Am I willing to fight a human for higher rank?  What if a new dog shows up, or a new human?  What would I do then?  I don't know yet.  It depends on who shows up. 

The Human is the Alpha Dog

The above is a fun example of how a dog thinks.  Thinking like a dog is your best way to understand what is needed to be successful in dog training. 

The Alpha eats first, so you, the dog owner should eat first before feeding your dog. 

All lower ranking dogs make room for the Alpha, so you should make your dog move out of your way.  If she is lying down in the hallway, don't step over her, make her move.  If she is in your way in the kitchen, nudge her out of the way. 

The Alpha gets the good sleeping spot.  So don't let your dog sleep on your bed.  That bed is for the Alpha and letting your dog sleep there will confuse your dog into thinking that he is the Alpha (or at least number 2). 

The Alpha gives the instructions, so you should tell your dog what to do and expect her to do it.  In addition to the Alpha, there are other higher ranking dogs.  The personality of your dog will determine if she will challenge the other "dogs" in your house for rank.  You need to make sure that your dog knows that all humans rank above her.  In particular, the children in the house.  You can do this by having your children execute the commands that you teach your dog.  Your dog's experience of taking commands from the children will reinforce his rank as being below the children. 

These concepts are particularly important for a puppy or new dog in the house.  Once you have clearly established yourself and all the humans as higher in rank, then you can consider backing off on some of the methods, but you are better off with it clear that all humans outrank all dogs. 

The Dog Trainer and the Alpha Challenge

It is possible that the Alpha Dog will get challenged also.  Some dogs have the personality that they will even challenge the Alpha.  This is one of the strong arguments for doing the dog training yourself at home rather than hiring a dog trainer.  (Dog trainers will tell you that this is not really a problem, but then, the trainer is just trying to be the Alpha dog and tell you what to do! J) 

If you hire a dog trainer, then he is the Alpha to your dog.  Then he turns the Alpha role over to you.  For some dog personalities, this is an opportunity for an Alpha challenge.  For other dog personalities, it is confusing to get a new Alpha that doesn't give instructions the same way the old Alpha gave instructions.  Either way, it is just better for your dog for you to do the training yourself.  If you were a dog, what would you think?  J

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