 Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
#363032 - 06/24/2012 10:22 AM |
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This article basically says don't waste your time being alpha in your pack. She mentions it's a waste of time following irrelevant rules like eating before your dog but that's the only one I see she mentioned nothing bout going through doors gates or down stairs first I'm guessing she sees those as a waste of time also?
http://www.kathysdao.com/articles/Forget_About_Being_Alpha_in_Your_Pack.html
In Ed's pack structure there isn't any use of physical force but taking on the attitude of a leader and has rules like going through doors, gates, before your dog. I'd like to know what Ed thinks of this article.
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363033 - 06/24/2012 10:36 AM |
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I'll throw my 2 cents in. My dogs aren't my paying housemates.
It's my house, my food, my stuff, my money, my rules. Someone has to act as the leader, and if I don't do it, that leaves one of the dogs.
But eating before the dogs, in my lifestyle, would be contrived and silly. I don't make up artificial stuff to practice being the one in charge.
In all the instances where there is a natural demarcation (who moves out of the way, who decides on the route and pace, who follows the commands of whom), I'm the boss. How can it be otherwise?
eta
However, they can be the boss when I ask to live in their den in the woods to get out of the rain, get warm, and share their fresh meat. lol
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363036 - 06/24/2012 11:01 AM |
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So what if breeds came from pariah dogs that came from wolves...they still came from wolves. Yeah wolf packs are a family, just because one is alpha doesn't mean they don't care or listen to lower ranking members. This doesn't meant there should be no structure or discipline, all families should have that.
Pariah dogs run loose in cities and aren't so territorial like wolves, they share the same food sources and do not usually have to hunt DUH. Of course the packs have structure, maybe what goes on between them is too subtle for her. She should watch the pack structure vid with Cindy's pups. LOL
That lady should should try a non leadership approach with Logan, Jethro, Fama, Enzo...etc.
A tired dog is a good dog, a trained dog is a better dog. |
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Tresa Hendrix ]
#363040 - 06/24/2012 03:02 PM |
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There are sooooo many articles written about dog packs, training etc. it is DAUNTING!!
All I know for certain, is that, like Ed and Cindy say, there is no one answer to every dog. They are as different as people- we all know that. Not everything on this site or any other one can apply to everyone's dog and home situation.
It still boils down to figuring out your own dog/dogs, and going from there. I think Leerburg does a great job of trying to help as many varied temperaments/ drives that exist.
We are all here because this is a no-nonsense site with concrete info.
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363041 - 06/24/2012 05:13 PM |
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The dogs eat before us a lot of the time, it suits me because Sam and me get home at different times, more often than not too late for the dogs to wait for their meal, and I like the two of us to eat together, just mum and daughter time, doesn't make any difference to who is in charge, they still have to go to their beds when we eat.
The same as who gets to sit on the sofas, the dogs have to be invited up, that rule applies to in and out of doors and up and down the stairs also.
surely it is down to common sense and house rules, we are in charge, they do as they are told, simple procedure really isn't it?
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363045 - 06/24/2012 06:03 PM |
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We usually all eat together. If Mark is at work, then it is me and Tanka. Tanka has regular times to eat, and I don't. As long as he is respectful, I may even give him a bite of what I am eating. Input?
The way our basement steps are set up, the door is at the top. I make him wait while I step through and put my shoes on, then I release him to go past me and down the steps while I shut the door and follow. I am super particular about always being first through doorways, but in this case it is difficult. I have thought about making him step through and wait while I shut the door and go down, but there is not a landing and I don't want either one of us to fall down the steps.
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363046 - 06/24/2012 08:59 PM |
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leadership has absolutely nothing to do with physical force.
If you're not the Alpha, pack leader, boss, whatever you want to call in, then your dogs are going to run the show.
Pets, working bred dogs, it's no matter. Both will cause havoc in the house if allowed to get their way. The weakest dog can be a PIA if allowed.
Many dogs can be allowed on the couch, sleep in bed with the owner, go through doors first, etc and still be under total control. It's all about what YOU allow and are comfortable with. If you're allowing it because you don't want to hurt your furbaby's feelings, or be "mean" to your dog, then good luck!
old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks |
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Bob Scott ]
#363058 - 06/25/2012 11:07 AM |
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"... leadership has absolutely nothing to do with physical force. ... If you're not the Alpha, pack leader, boss, whatever you want to call in, then your dogs are going to run the show."
And when we leave that role open, most dogs who perceive the need to fill the position are not suited to it. Most dogs are not born to be alpha. (Of course, even the VERY few who are, can't be allowed to be in a house with humans.)
The dog who perceives that he has no strong leader is an insecure dog, IMO.
This is so easy to see when a dog meets up with an assertive human and basically says "See ya" to his wishy-washy furbaby-type owner and tries to join the strong leader human. 
Remember Michael Wise's video of "vacuuming in the pack"? As he marches along with Turbo, completely strange strays see them and just decide to join up.
In a room full of people and some dogs, who are the dogs hanging around? Check it out sometime.
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363067 - 06/24/2012 10:15 PM |
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I like the way Bob put that also.
The two I remember doing that have long passed were eating first and spitting in the food, I thought there were few more silly ones but can't think of them.
Zoey pretty much always eats before we do because we the humans don't have any set eating schedules, she just sits before I put her food down.
She also waits at the door for the OK usually it's me holding the door open and her looking at me for a signal to go, or sits if I hold the handle for for a few seconds knowing the door will open quicker if she sits.
Connie do you have the video link?
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Re: Don't waste time being alpha in your pack article
[Re: Joe Waddington ]
#363069 - 06/24/2012 10:26 PM |
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... Connie do you have the video link?
Yup!
http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=29062&page=1#317555
(Only the white dog is Michael's.)
As he says in the thread:
" I think it is funny how they just wanted somebody to follow. They didn't give a $#!t where we were going, they just wanted to go."
Edited by Connie Sutherland (06/24/2012 10:32 PM)
Edit reason: eta
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