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Alpha, Beta, You!
By Lynn Whittaker, Bow Wow U
So, you have finally made the decision to bring a dog into your home. As you are looking at Fido in your living room, attempting to gain perspective into the furry creature that is sitting in front of you, it is important to remember he or she might be doing the same thing. As we may think of our dogs as humans in disguise, they too, perhaps, see us as odd dogs.
Descendants of the wolf, dogs have a social order, consisting of dogs that are top dogs, dogs that challenge, dogs that are submissive and those that are completely satisfied with their pack position, as humans may. We both survive by surpassing others to gain security, shelter, food, companionship, rights, and pack leadership. We are also both capable of feeling emotions, jealousy, tolerance, and anger towards each other in our own species. Because of so many shared similarities, it’s no wonder that the dog was one of the first animals to be invited to share fireside with a human, making them among the first to be allowed into the house; hence the birth of man’s best friend.
From the campsite to the suburban home, dogs have climbed their way up the ladder of inter-species success. In spite of human intervention, the elements of a dog’s ancestry can still be seen in our modern-day pets, but overall the dog is our best friend because of their willingness to communicate with us, and live within our "pack."
An important factor to remember after bringing a dog into the home is to begin forming a relationship with your new family member right away. They need companionship, as well as mental and physical stimulation to reach their full potential. They love and appreciate rewards, and can develop terrible habits when bored or in the absence of normal routine. Dogs are always learning. Whether they are enrolled in obedience (which is always recommended) or not, they are learning good, as well as not so good, habits.
Every dog has its own personality, learning capabilities, tolerance, intelligence and trainability. We would like to think of our new found furry friend as human, however, they are dogs, have teeth and are capable of biting. They have the senses of a hunter, ready to challenge, and take charge. Though they share the similarities, they differ from us in many ways.
Dogs think logically and their logic comes from a simpler place than ours. Like their ancestors the wolves, they are pack oriented. They are respectful and respond to their leader. Their primary interests are food and survival. These things can be an advantage when training. Rewarding good behavior means a tasty piece of kibble or even positive attention. Using the dog’s desires in your training routine can only enforce your bonds together.
Whether you have obtained a puppy, young adult or a senior dog, its never too late to teach a dog that he or she must obey all human members of the family, must abide by rules established in the household, and above all, must respect its master. Together you can form life long bonds with your new family member, if you remember and enforce that you are the alpha, the leader of the house.
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