Dog Training Secret #1 - Don't Start Until You Know This

Before you begin your dog training, there is a very basic premise that needs to be understood, or you will not have much success .

Family dogs have been a part of my entire life. You may know the kind. They were mutts that came about as a result of wandering male and female dogs meeting clandestinely.

Don't get me wrong, we loved all of them, and they were fun to have in the house, but dog training was not a part of their early years. We would teach them to beg for a treat and maybe even get them to play dead (one of them, anyway). But if there was no treat in sight, the dog had a mind of its own.

Our family wasn't into dog training at all. It wasn't a high priority for us. It was just a dog.

But all that changed the minute I got my first dog in my own home. What an adorable puppy she was! But aren't they all? Over the first few months, she grew from a lovable pup to a rambunctious liability. All I can say is, "bad dog." That's what she had become.

Bad dogs are the ones who don't do anything that Lassie would do. They bark incessantly, jump up on guests, chew up shoes, pillows, and all other household items, and, of course, they run away and won't come when called.

When I came to realize what she had become, it was quite shocking. I figured all I had to do was be a friend and give her treats, and she would be my loving, obedient companion. But that's not how it played out.

Help was needed, or I would be getting rid of her. I began to look up information on the Web about dog obedience and dog training.

There is one thing every dog owner must know in order to be able to train their own dog and have the happy, healthy relationship they desire. (it was clear that I knew nothing about this):

(Drum roll, please) The Alpha Dog Concept

It occured to me that I had seen the term "Alpha dog" in books and movies about teams of huskies that pulled sleds in Alaska. The idea is that dogs have a natural tendency to travel in packs, and one dog will be #1, the Alpha Dog.

It is that top dog that gets the best of everything, from being able to eat first to having the prime spot of territory (like the center of your best carpet).

The dog owner needs to know this. There is no pack in your house, but your dog still has the natural tendency to either be the number one dog or have someone else be that top dog. YOU need to be the top dog in your house. Otherwise, your dog will grab the spot (my dog had already done this).

It's a fairly simple concept, really. You need a role reversal.

Find out more about the Alpha Dog Syndrome and dog obedience at www.dogtrainingatlanta.org.