Alpha Dog Advice: Taming Your Dog's Inner Wolf

We've all seen it, the "spirited" little dog at the park that chases after everyone and snaps at their heels while the owner wrings their hands in the background, wheedling, "Now, Mitzi, we mustn’t do that, you silly girl." But it's not Mitzi's fault she's so obnoxious.

The reason why dogs are out so out of control these days is simple - people treat them like people. Newsflash folks; no matter how much we love them, dogs are not people. They're dogs. They're pack animals descended from wolves. Would you let a wolf eat at your kitchen table with you? Dress it up in a pink tutu? Laugh while it snaps and growls at a guest in your house? I didn't think so.

I raised a 150 pound Rottweiler from a pup to the ripe old age of nine. He never really grew up, he always acted like a happy puppy because I treated him like a dog. Rottweilers are a breed that always want to be dominant but I learned several ways to diffuse that instinct without starting a war. Here are some tips to tame your pooch's inner wolf with love.

* Be the boss. This is the cornerstone of every positive interaction you have with your dog. Dogs are pack animals, and want you to be their leader. They need to know where they place in the hierarchy to feel safe and secure. You are not being cruel to your dog by being the boss, you are giving him what he needs to be happy. Here are some ways to do this:

* When your dog is a puppy, handle him constantly. Pick up his feet, run your fingers in between his toes, handle his ears, his mouth, give him regular baths in the tub. Get him used to human touch. It may not be safe to do this with an adult dog that has learned bad habits. Consult a professional dog trainer if you have problems handling your adult dog.

* With your puppy, repeat all of the above while he is eating. Take the food away from him, put it back, handle him while he eats. This teaches him that you are giving him permission to eat, just as a pack leader would do. It also teaches him to trust that you will feed him and he has no need to aggressively protect his food. This can be a dangerous problem in adult dogs, especially with children in the household.