Growling at your dog so you can be alpha dog?

[Papa Deuce]

I was watching this show, where they recommended growling at your dog to assert your alpha position, and then giving praise as soon as he or she backs down. Or you growl at him any time he or she is doing something wrong.

My dog has NEVER tried to be alpha with me. EVER. So last week, when he was doing something I didn't want him to do, I growled at him to see what his reaction would be.

He growled at me.

This is supposed to be an Australian technique. Have you ever done this? And, how did it work? My dog DOES occasionally try to be alpha over my wife, and I was going to recommend this to her, but after he growled at me, I don't think it is a good idea.

 

[sleepyone]

Um, I don't have any dogs but, why not try biting their ear like in the movie "Snow Dogs"? Just kidding.

 

[cardaway]

He didn't need to TRY because he already IS the alpha dog in your family.

 

[Papa Deuce]

He didn't need to TRY because he already IS the alpha dog in your family.

No, not at all. I can actually control my dog by looking at him. Or just pointing. Or, even just moving my head in a certain way.

 

[NikiM20]

I was watching this show, where they recommended growling at your dog to assert your alpha position, and then giving praise as soon as he or she backs down. Or you growl at him any time he or she is doing something wrong.

My dog has NEVER tried to be alpha with me. EVER. So last week, when he was doing something I didn't want him to do, I growled at him to see what his reaction would be.

He growled at me.

This is supposed to be an Australian technique. Have you ever done this? And, how did it work? My dog DOES occasionally try to be alpha over my wife, and I was going to recommend this to her, but after he growled at me, I don't think it is a good idea.

There are some people who try to do the alpha roll where they pin their dog down on its back and then they stay on top of the dog until the dogs quits growling etc

BUT there have been cases where a dog has torn the face up of the person trying to do this.

Good obedience school with your wife taking the dog should help.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Never tried growling. DW Lauri used to train aggressive dogs and said that would be a disaster waiting to happen with the wrong dog.

The only thing we have ever used is the Alpha Roll where you roll the dog over on it's back when it is acting up, pin it down and stare straight into its eyes until it gives up and looks away. You can literally see the submission. Never had a problem after we do that.

You haven't seen anything until you see MeanLaureen tackle a ticked off Irish Wolfhound off her feet and hold that thing down until it gives in.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Never tried growling. DW Lauri used to train aggressive dogs and said that would be a disaster waiting to happen with the wrong dog.

The only thing we have ever used is the Alpha Roll where you roll the dog over on it's back when it is acting up, pin it down and stare straight into its eyes until it gives up and looks away. You can literally see the submission. Never had a problem after we do that.

You haven't seen anything until you see MeanLaureen tackle a ticked off Irish Wolfhound off her feet and hold that thing down until it gives in.

See post above yours.....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Whatever works for your dog, I suppose. We do a variety of techiques. Most of the time we can give them "the look". We have "growled" at them sometimes. Mostly we match the discipline with the action. I think that is a key thing.

I have an alpha wannabe...took alot to assert our dominace over him. He is very insecure and that is why. However once you are the "alpha" they are relieved and happy.
He is coming along but it is slow when it comes to the "unexpected".
An insecure dog is a hard animal to train. Alot of trust has to be there.

 

[kayeandjim00]

I would never growl at my dog - I don't see how that makes me alpha. The alpha doesn't have to "say" they are alpha they just are. We do use the pin down sometimes with our youngest when he gets out of control. Get the dog in an obedience school with your wife as handler. He NEEDS to respect her and she needs to demand it.

 

[reeeoga]

4 and 1/2 years working for a vet (and married to the daughter of that vet).

You do have to show who is Alpha Dog. The way it is done will be different for each dog. Growling works for some. Alpha Roll for others. "The Look" can work (I found that worked on the Larger Dogs).

If the human is not the ALpha (and then Beta) with the dog last, then trouble can follow.

A good School will help a lot.

When my dog was about 1 she went after my wife. I did the "Alpha Roll" and then yelled at her until she peed. We have never had a problem with her, and that was 9 years ago.

I have also done "The Look" with a 180 pound RottWeiller who thought he was ALPHA MALE SUPREAMO MAS-MACHO. After about 3 minutes of him growling and me giving the Look, he backed down and I had no problems with him until I left the job 2 years latter.

 

[eclectics]

Seems like an invitation to get bit, if you ask me.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

The only thing we have ever used is the Alpha Roll where you roll the dog over on it's back when it is acting up, pin it down and stare straight into its eyes until it gives up and looks away. You can literally see the submission. Never had a problem after we do that.

I had to do this to Chloe the other day. She ended up falling asleep in the same position after I let her go. I must have terrorized her.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I would never growl at my dog - I don't see how that makes me alpha. The alpha doesn't have to "say" they are alpha they just are. We do use the pin down sometimes with our youngest when he gets out of control. Get the dog in an obedience school with your wife as handler. He NEEDS to respect her and she needs to demand it.

I don't think my wife or I are "worried". He does listen to her 99.9% of the time. I was just totally surprised by his reaction to me growling. He is a 6 year old Australian Shepperd we have had since he was 8 weeks old.

Actually, many books tell you that dogs verbalize there "alphaness"....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Actually, many books tell you that dogs verbalize there "alphaness"....

Heck no...they do it with body language. They give the look and also their posture to show their dominance, long before they utter a peep. I think that is why so many people get bit. They cannot read their dogs.

 

[doxdogy]

Have never had to do the growl. Usually the look works wonders with them. We had one dacshund that when she would refuse to come in, I would start counting and sure enough in the house she would come running. She knew once I go to ten, she was in TROUBLE.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Heck no...they do it with body language. They give the look and also their posture to show their dominance, long before they utter a peep. I think that is why so many people get bit. They cannot read their dogs.

Well, the actual commercial I saw even said thay do. Hey, I am no expert, but supposedly the guys selling their training plan said that BOTH verbal and body language play a part.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well, the actual commercial I saw even said thay do. Hey, I am no expert, but supposedly the guys selling their training plan said that BOTH verbal and body language play a part.

Yes the dog will growl and bark after he has displayed his posturing and intent focus or SMELL in my dog's case.
I mean to say that the nonverbal cues are very important to pick up on before he barks or growls.
That is probably a better way to put it.

 

[gris gris]

Well in our house all the alpha roll did was establish DH's order in the pack. I'm the alpha. DH used to alpha roll the dog, and now DH is 3rd in charge. Me, dog, DH. Because our dog decided the alpha roll was really wrestling and now associates DH as his playmate

 

[justplaingoofy]

As you can tell from my Sig, we have a very ferosious dog!!

Our dog trainer told us:

- Always to be above him. When you are eye level or lower they may be more dominant. (ex. laying on the floor with him above you, or sitting side by side on the couch or bed, etc)

- Always when entering/exiting the house always be the first one to go through the door.

-Stare the dog down and do not give up until they either divert their eyes or lick their lips.

Recently we found some great info on the National Geographic channel there is a show called "the dog whisperer, with Ceasar Milan".... Its awesome!!

 

[goofy!]

The alpha roll is a controversial training technique, not very popular with some trainers today.

However, owning/showing a rather "alpha" breed, we do the alpha roll. But it has be be done correctly. You don't want it to be seen as just play (the dog wins) or overly heavy handed - (the dog wins again and just gets mad).

I don't think I would ever try "the look" or "a growl" with our breed. It would be seen as a challenge to the dog to see who was alpha. In our breed, with some of the dogs, that would be an open invitation to the emergency room.

Depending on the breed and the individual dog within the breed, the alpha struggle can be a one time thing, or a constant challenge. In our breed, many of the dogs will continuously challenge for alpha position. We tend to alpha roll our dogs randomly, even when they are not challenging us. Keeps them in their place. And they don't mind because they know they get a belly scratch afterwards while on their backs

I have to agree with the posters that said that the best thing is a good obedience class - and more than just puppy obedience. Obedience in itself is subservient and establishes the owner as alpha.