Who’s the Boss, Part 2: “Alpha Dog Training” with your Labrador
In my last post, I began outlining the importance of “Alpha dog training” with your Labrador. These steps may sound silly, but they are imperative to forming a good relationship with your Labrador and will make training much easier.
So here are some steps that you can begin to take to establish this relationship with your Lab:
There are several easy methods of establishing your Alpha position over your Labrador Retriever that you can do easily. The first involves food: eating is a very important signal in “dog culture”– as I said in the first part of this article, wild dogs will submit the first food the pack has caught to the Alpha dog. Therefore, always eat your meals BEFORE you feed your Labrador. This will train him to expect his food last, and will plainly communicate to your Lab that you are in the Alpha position.
Another way you can establish this relationship is by keeping all their toys on a shelf or some other place that is visible but out of reach. Then, and only when you feel like playing with your Labrador, you can take the toys down and let your dog enjoy them. When you two are done playing, make sure to take the toys and put them back on the shelf. Of course, it’s a good idea to always allow your Labrador access to a few toys to satisfy his or her boredom, but keeping most of the toys out of reach is an extremely clear signal to your Labrador that you are in control. This is not deprivation– it is simply another method of training your Labrador to accept his inferior rank in your household’s hierarchy.
This third technique is a little less time-consuming. Get in the habit of gently holding your Labrador’s muzzle with your hand around it for a few seconds while holding his gaze. This signal is almost identical to an Alpha wolf’s actions when “training” the members of his pack to respect him: he takes their muzzles firmly in his own and holds their mouths closed for a few moments. This powerful signal will greatly boost your Alpha status with your Labrador. Remember to do this gently, but firmly so that your Labrador understands the point you are trying to communicate.
Feel free to comment with questions or comments. Until my next post, I hope these tips were helpful in your training endeavors!
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