I currently have a 6 month old GSD whom has been a handfull to raise , but not in an negative sense or more difficult than some other GSDs I have raised. he does show alot of dominence in his character but he has not been any harder to raise then other GSDs I have raised and trained (in schutzhund and one in SAR). The breeder would only allow this pup to go to a "working" home and to a handler that would work the dog rather then a "pet home or an in-experienced handler". The breeder competes in schutzhund on national level (by that I mean her focus in her breeding program is on working GSD) and I have received several pup from her over the years. She categorized this pup as a "true alpha male" as opposed to an alpha male. The pup scored mostly ones in his testing (though I realized these testings are not necessarily accurate) unlike other pups I have received from her that scored 2s and 3s. He was also the alpha of the litter. The odd thing was that my vet upon the pups first visits warned me that this was a very dominant male and never let my guards down with him. Both the vet and the breeder used the term "a true Alpha male". From day one that i have had the pup I have tried to follow every recommendation I have received and read from trainer as well as this site.
Some of the things are
Pup never enters first, humans do, pup sleeps in a seperate room and in his kennel,hummans eat first, pup fed seperately from humans and other canines), he has to work for any food or treat he gets (such has to sit or down for his food) and so on
Other members of the family (humans that is) also are asked to follow the same rules. however I did see him literaly take food from my wife mouth while she was sitting at the dinner table. he pushed himself between the table and her chest and took away(out of her mouth) from her what she was eating. She thought it was funny , I did not. I grabed him by the fur and scolled him harshly and took the food out of his mouth. To me that was blatant domination. Other than that no other incidents. When playing ball or tug he is extremely pushy and very ball crazy. he will obey sitz command, will do a down but not without grumbling.
My entire point to all of this is I want to know if there is really such a dinstinction between and alpha male and a "true alpha male" and am I going overboard trying do all everything to keep him in "check".
He does not seem any more difficult to handle than other GSds I have handled. On the last visit to the vet , the vet did ask me what I was doing with him and that he had seen a "big change in his attitude".
thank you for your time and patience