How to Be Alpha Dog

How to Be Alpha Dog

• Step 1:
  There are four steps to becoming Alpha--the four steps are:
  1. Control the games you play with your dog.
  2. Control the food and feeding times.
  3. Control the sleeping areas.
  4. Control the social contact between you and your dog.
• Step 2:
  The great English dog trainer John Rogerson contends that if you want to control your dog you need to control the games. He is 100 percent correct. Dogs quickly train their owners by learning how to steal things. Dogs love to steal a pair of socks and watch their owners chase them all over the house.
  
  When you play with your dog always make sure that you are in charge. If you play tug, always make sure that you win the tug game. Don't let your dog pull the toy away from you.
  
  If your dog likes to steal socks, keep a leash on your dog in the house. This way when your dog steals the socks and takes off, all you need to do is step on the leash and stop the game.
• Step 3:
  Feed your dog once or twice a day. Have your dog do a short sit-stay for meals. This way you communicate that you are in charge of the food and feeding times.
• Step 4:
  You can allow your dog on the couch and bed, but your dog has to understand that you are in control of the sleeping areas. If your dog is on the couch and you give the command "Off" your dog should immediately jump off the couch.
  
  If your dog doesn't your dog should lose the privilege of getting on the furniture.
• Step 5:
  Control the social contact between you and your dog. A lot of dogs smack their owners with their paw or bark to get attention. If your dog does that have your dog perform a quick command like "Sit" or "Down." This way you are in control of the social contact.