Instructions
Alphas Always Go First
Walk your dog daily, ensuring that you are always leading the way. Do not allow the dog to pull you, as this means it is deciding where to go and at what pace. Alphas decide when and where the pack sniffs and eliminates. Choose where you allow your dog to roam off-course. This reinforces your position as top dog.
Eat before your dog does. Ignore it when you are sitting at the table. Feed the dog only after you have finished and refrain from giving it scraps from the table. Ask the dog to sit or lie down before giving it its meal. You should be able to remove the dog's food dish at any time without protest, even if the dog hasn't finished eating.
Go through doorways before allowing your dog through. Lead the way through hallways, down staircases and through gates. If the dog attempts to push past you, block the opening with your body and use "sit" and "stay" to instruct the dog to wait. When new people come to the door, greet them before the dog does and make it clear that you will investigate the newcomers and receive their attention first. That is part of the alpha's role in the pack.
Territory
Step over a dog that is lying in your way rather than walk around it. If you cannot step over it, make it move out of your way. This applies to a spot in the hallway, in front of your chair or in an entranceway. Alphas are in charge of the pack's territory, and the dog should yield to you.
Decide when to begin and when to end a game with your dog. Teach your dog a command such as "drop it" or "give" so that you may always take away a toy without engaging in a game of tug-of-war or chase. Dogs have very strong mouths, and if you lose a game of tug-of-war this may register as weakness, challenging your position as alpha. Make the dog bring the toy to you and let it go willingly, as all possessions belong to the alpha.
Put a doggie bed on the floor where your dog can sleep. Do not let it sleep on the bed with you, as this is the alpha's main territory.
Give your dog lots of attention, but make it clear that you decide when the affection ends. Do not respond to a dog that bunts your hand or puts its paws on you. Work your way toward being able to rub the dog's belly, ears, toes and snout. Achieving alpha status can make it much easier to clip a dog's toenails or clean its ears.
Maintain a calm, assertive attitude. Stand tall over your dog, look it directly in the eyes and make it clear that you will move where you want to. Straddle the dog during grooming and refrain from yelling or hitting your dog. Leaders are calm and kind, but they are the top dog. Treat your dog consistently in this way so there is no confusion as to who is the alpha.
How to Establish Alpha Status
Dogs are pack animals that require a clear structure of leadership in order to feel safe and secure. An alpha is the pack leader, and an owner must establish alpha status in order to retain leadership over a dog. Achieving alpha status may not come naturally to a dog owner. It is a goal that requires consistency and education.