Growling at your dog so you can be alpha dog?

[Am_I_There_Yet]

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

I LOVE that show! I haven't missed one yet!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

This is exactly why I don't have a dog.

Cats let you know VERY clearly when they are ticked off.

TOV

 

[Sammy]

Can someone explain how exactly to do this "Alpha roll"?? I've never even heard of this before now. Do you just grab the dog and flip him on his back? Sounds dangerous!

Sammy

 

[poochie]

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.

Sounds just like a golden we had a few years ago, any position is a invitation for a good nap!!!

 

[Evil Queen]

I just have to give the look to the youngest one. The older one has known for his 14 years I'm the "alpha".

Now the boys can mostly just give a look, but sometimes need to be verbal.

 

[Hixski]

I have a golden retreiver. He growls at us when he has gotten a toy stuck somewhere. He growls to tell us to come get it for him. You know, kind of like, "Lassie, is Timmy in the well"? We actually say that and he goes running to wherever he wants us to go.

 

[hiwaygal]

Can someone explain how exactly to do this "Alpha roll"?? I've never even heard of this before now. Do you just grab the dog and flip him on his back? Sounds dangerous!

Sammy

It IS dangerous and I wouldn't recommend ANYONE try this unless they are experienced in using this technique...especially on a breed with known "aggressive tendencies".

Even the techniques Cesar Milan uses are fairly non-confrontational and non-aggressive and there is that little disclaimer at the beginning of the show.

I have never heard of growling at your dog, but I have heard about grabbing them (sort of a pinch) at the scruff of the neck and gently shaking them...like a mother dog would do to her pups. It's never worked for me.

In my experience, training is rarely something you do once and forget about it. It must be reinforced frequently, even just a couple of commands a day.

Many folks have had success with the "Nothing in Life is Free" method of training.

Just remember that if you decide to do a basic obedience class, there is no certification for most (if not all) dog trainers. They teach/do what has worked best for them. Their techniques may not work for your dog. Ask a trainer to sit in on a class or two to make sure his techniques fit your needs. Ask them to explain their methods of correction and submission and make sure they fit you and your dogs needs.

 

[kayeandjim00]

Most trainers are pretty upfront with what their training style is. We go to a class that's a "power of the pack" style which is what we are looking for. I have a dog that needs to be reminded A LOT who's the boss but we have had him only 3 months. Our lab is 3 and we have NO problems with her - she's never needed the Alpha Roll, a look is good enough on the very rare occasion she's needed a reprimand - mainly when they are play fighting too much. I agree with the poster who said training is a daily thing. We work on commands everyday and they ALWAYS have to be calm/submissive and relaxed before they eat which means a down or sit for a while to relax them. As a result we have no food issues. You totally have to be aware of your dogs cues. One is fear aggressive - I can see immediately when we are going to have a problem because he tenses up long before he growls. Dogs are a lot of work but well worth it. I think you just can't take a chance on the fact that your dog would think for a minute he's the boss because it leads to so many problems!!

 

[Aidensmom]

I have had an "alpha" dog (had him for 13 years until he died), who saw ONLY me as being more "alpha" than him. I had 4 dogs at the time, so he truly was alpha among them. I taught him as a puppy I was in charge, and a look was all I ever needed to do, but I would NEVER have growled at him, he would have seen that as a challenge, and would have been dangerous. I can't believe people use that as a method.

 

[WDW LOVR]

I have never heard of growling at your dog, but I have heard about grabbing them (sort of a pinch) at the scruff of the neck and gently shaking them...like a mother dog would do to her pups. It's never worked for me.

This is the technique we used with our lab and it worked perfectly. During his "teen" years he would get confrontational some times, just testing the limits and I could scruff his neck and he was a puppy all over again.

I also always make him wait for me to walk out the door before him or walk in the door before him.

He's the best dog in the world. Now if we could only do something about the shedding

 

[minkydog]

When we got Minky we knew he would grow into a large dog. Of coure, we didn't think he'd be 75lb of Poodle, but he is now. We started off with the alpha roll from the first day we brought him home. My youngest DS is very handicapped and I wanted to be sure that Minky always saw himself submissive even to Christian, who will never be a "master" or a threat to anyone. It worked. That dog is attentive to DS and watches him closely. Christian can crawl into his crate, take his bowl, drink his water and play with Minky's toys without a problem. Minky's like the Tar Baby: he say nuthin'.

That dog knows his place in the family. I don't have to yell, all I have to do is look at him. He knows when he's crossed the line and he'll put himself in his crate when he's been bad. I think if I growled at him he'd cry and wet himself. And then I'd have to endure slobbery dog kisses for 2hrs.

 

[Desma]

I have a lab retriever mix I got her when she was 7 weeks old and yes I growl at her and will bite her ear and she does what she's suppose to she looks at me as alpha dog leader of the pack and has never been aggressive. Sounds weird but I've always been a dog lover and growling was just instinct main thing to remember when using this technique always growl as your looking in their eyes never close to their face and gradually make yourself bigger over top of them never do it as a game though and teach them other ways as well. My dog knows my tones of voice also knows the looks in my eyes I use all techniques and only resort to growling when she refuses to listen the other ways or needs to calm down around the baby or back up and not beg for food while I eat. Different people have opinions about doing this and I think as long as you love your dog and they know it you both can understand each other do not use the growling biting technique if you wish to bite hard and hurt them this would cause aggression and rightfully so always remember they have a lot of sharp teeth and with any animal can be unpredictable I have years of experience and only really recommend this if you got the dog as a puppy and they truly are part of your pack

 

[Mizzoufan]

I have a lab retriever mix I got her when she was 7 weeks old and yes I growl at her and will bite her ear and she does what she's suppose to she looks at me as alpha dog leader of the pack and has never been aggressive. Sounds weird but I've always been a dog lover and growling was just instinct main thing to remember when using this technique always growl as your looking in their eyes never close to their face and gradually make yourself bigger over top of them never do it as a game though and teach them other ways as well. My dog knows my tones of voice also knows the looks in my eyes I use all techniques and only resort to growling when she refuses to listen the other ways or needs to calm down around the baby or back up and not beg for food while I eat. Different people have opinions about doing this and I think as long as you love your dog and they know it you both can understand each other do not use the growling biting technique if you wish to bite hard and hurt them this would cause aggression and rightfully so always remember they have a lot of sharp teeth and with any animal can be unpredictable I have years of experience and only really recommend this if you got the dog as a puppy and they truly are part of your pack

wonder what happens if you growl at a zombie ?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I have always used to the Alpha roll.
I agree though it defineitly depends on the breed and temperment.

We also start at a young age with food training. The kids at any time could pick up the food bowl, toy, treats without reaction.
I have a pup and a 12 year old who is so not an alpha. So we also made sure the pup didnt bully our old girl.

I hate seeing videos like on americas home video of dogs growling or snapping. There is nothing funny about that and can turn bad quick.

 

[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.

I thought I would requote myself since somebody dug this up.

Dogs are now 11. The insecure dog is on Prozac. I stayed at my sister's for 2+ months recently and he was a totally different dog. He was so HAPPY!

So in conclusion, he needs 100% structure to be totally happy. Plus she lived in a single story, had 4 cats for entertainment, as well as squirrels, rabbits, and birds. And it was more social over there.

Now we are back home and he misses my sister so much. He really hates this house. We have hardwood and it freaks him out.

 

[pocomom]

My boarder collie/husky mixes would probably pee and hide if I growled at them. A lot if "experts" that spend a lot if time discussing ALPHA roles are buying in to pseudo science. Dogs are not wolves they have been breed over hundreds of years to interact with humans differently( and wolves don't function exactly like how they say either). Yes some dogs are more inclined to be the boss-and they need to Trust and Respect their owner to accept them as the boss. We had a wolf-dog. We were told he needs to know it is a good thing you are in charge. Being the source of his food, caring for and loving him, teaching him to follow our commands. He was a very good, obedient, boy and never aggressive with us. Not all dogs are easy, but this seems like the old bite the baby to teach it not to bite. And if I was a dog and all of sudden my owner started growling at me I would think he lost it, lol, and it would certainly affect my trust.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is exactly why I don't have a dog.

Cats let you know VERY clearly when they are ticked off.

TOV

Yeah, I know my cat is the alpha in the house. I accept my role and we all get along.

 

[mickeyboat]

LOL! I almost wet my pants when I saw Papa Deuce posted a thread.

Anyway, to answer the questions, we have never had to growl at our four year old lab to get her to do something. We have never had to raise our voices. We don't even have to talk sternly to her. She wants to please us, and will do whatever we ask. We have trained her using treats and positive reinforcement, and it has worked like a charm. I don't think we are dog whisperers, though, I just think she has a great temperament.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

We had a rott and we had him trained and we still growled and used the alpha roll with him. It was interesting to see an 8 month pregnant woman on top of a 115# dog. My neighbor freaked out and I had to growl at her lol!!! Just kidding. Sort of.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I have three dogs currently, and over my lifetime I've had another four, plus the dogs we had as kids. I think this "alpha dog" stuff is, frankly, silly and have never done it, and we've never had any problems with aggression at all. My dogs have been labs, border collies, and mixed breeds. (Currently have a lab and two border collies.)