A dog's social system has a pecking order. The leader of the pack is the "alpha." He (or she) gets the best of everything - the best food, the best place to sleep, the best toy, etc. The alpha also gets to be first in everything - he gets to eat first, to leave first and to get attention first. All the other dogs in the pack respect the alpha dog's wishes. An alpha dog doesn't ask for what he wants, he demands it. He lets you know in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go out, that he wants to play or be petted and that he wants these things right now.

Your family is your dog's pack. Most dogs fit easily into the lower levels of their human pack's pecking order and don't make trouble. They do what they're told and don't challenge authority. Other dogs don't fit in quite as well. Some are natural leaders, others are social climbers always looking for ways to get a little closer to the top of the family ladder. These dogs can become problems to an unsuspecting family that's not aware of their natural pack instincts. Some families unknowingly encourage their dogs to take over the pack. They treat their dogs as equals, not as subordinates. They give them special privileges like being allowed to sleep on the bed or couch. They let them get away with disobeying commands. In a real dog pack, only the alpha dog would get this kind of treatment.

Dogs need - and want - leaders. They have an instinctive need to fit into a pack. They want the security of knowing their place and what's expected of them. Most of them don't want to be alpha - they want someone else to give orders and make decisions. But if his humans don't provide that leadership, the dog will take over the role himself. To reclaim your family's rightful place as leaders of the pack, your dog needs to learn how to be a subordinate, not an equal. He knew this once, as a baby puppy, because his mother taught him. She showed him very early in life that she was alpha and that he had to respect her. It's time to refresh his memory! Before you can remove your dog from his alpha position, you must become alpha and earn his respect. Alpha is an attitude. It involves confidence, dignity, intelligence, an air of authority. A dog can sense this attitude almost immediately - it's how his mother acted toward him.

Since your dog has been used to getting what he wants on demand, it's likely to take more than just a change in your attitude to make him mind better. He's been getting a free ride for a long time but you're going to teach him that from now on, he has to earn what he gets. This will be a shock to his system at first but you'll be surprised how quickly he'll catch on and that he'll actually become eager to please you.

Where does your dog sleep? Not in your bedroom and especially not on your bed! Your bedroom is a special place - it's your den. An alpha dog thinks he has a right to sleep in your den because he considers himself your equal. Until your dog's alpha problems are fully under control, the bedroom should be off-limits. The same goes for sleeping on furniture. If you can't keep him off the couch without a fight, deny him access to the room.

If your alpha program is successful, your dog should start looking to you for directions and permission. He'll show an eagerness to please. Watch how your dog approaches and greets you. A dog that accepts humans as superiors will approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or off to the sides. He'll "shrink" his whole body a little in a show of submission. Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays this submissive posture to some of them, but not others, those are the ones who need to work harder on their own alpha techniques.

Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new position in the family, you should take him through another obedience course with a qualified trainer. Obedience training is a lifelong process. Obedience commands need to be practiced and incorporated into your daily life. In a dog pack, the alpha animal uses occasional reminders to reinforce his authority. Certain commands, like DOWN/STAY, are especially effective reminders of a dog's place in the family pack order and who's really in charge. A well-trained dog that's secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and confident. He knows what's expected of him. He knows his limits and who his leaders are. He's free to be your loving companion and not your boss!

For Example.. The adult biting dog

This is the category where you hear on the news about a dog who "turned on his master." In reality, the owner was never the master; and the problem did not develop over night. These dogs have gradually reached the status of pack leader. In the dog's eyes he owns the house, and all the possessions within, and it is his responsibility to protect his pack. If they gave in to the younger dog's play bites and stopped doing obedience or grooming because the dog didn't like it, the humans in the family may be demoted to subordinate pack members.

Dogs who achieve pack leadership will relish an opportunity to bite, drawing blood if necessary, if they perceive a human as getting out of line. Dogs who have reached this stage are dangerous and a liability suit waiting to happen. Most of these dogs end up euthanized or given away (to a good home); in the latter case, the problem is passed on to an unwitting new owner.

All is not lost, and dogs who reach this stage can be corrected. A qualified obedience instructor or dog behaviorist must intervene. The humans in the family must adopt a new regimen of behaviors to interact with the dog. The professional's suggestions must be followed to the letter, because there is little margin for error. This modification period is usually more hard work than the humans care to undertake, and Fido will find the process unpleasant too. Special considerations must also be taken during the retraining, to confine Fido to prevent him from seriously biting someone. The family must also understand that the changes in day-to-day living with Fido will apply for the rest of his life.

Yes, dogs bite, and for appropriate 'dog' reasons. Correcting the problem early, learning to communicate, and establishing a proper relationship will prevent heartache later.

Author UNKNOWN