Alpha, Beta, You!

So, you have finally settled on the idea of adding a canine companion to your household. It is important to keep in mind that while you are looking at Fido in the living room of your house, trying to get a better understanding of the furry creature that is sitting in front of you, Fido may very well be doing the same thing to himself or herself. It’s possible that our dogs view us as peculiar canines in the same way that we consider them to be humans in disguise.

Dogs, who are descendants of the wolf, have a social order that consists of dogs that are dominant, dogs that challenge dominant dogs, dogs that are submissive, and dogs that are completely content with their position within the pack, similar to how humans can feel about their own position. Both of us are able to stay alive thanks to our ability to outdo other individuals in order to acquire safety, shelter, food, companionship, rights, and pack leadership. In our own species, we are both capable of feeling emotions, such as jealousy, tolerance, and anger toward one another. Moreover, we are both able to tolerate one another. It should come as no surprise that the dog was one of the first animals to be invited to share fireside with a human, which made them among the first to be allowed into the house; thus, the birth of man’s best friend. The dog and the human have so many shared similarities that it is no wonder that the dog was one of the first animals to be invited to share fireside with a human.

Dogs have successfully navigated their way up the inter-species success ladder, making their way from the campground to the suburban home. Dogs are our best friends because they are willing to communicate with us and live as part of our “pack,” despite the fact that humans have had a significant impact on the evolution of our domesticated canine companions. However, some aspects of a dog’s ancestry can still be found in our modern-day pets.

When you first bring a dog into your home, it is essential to start developing a relationship with your new family member as soon as possible. This is a very important step to take. To realize their full potential, they require not only intellectual and physical stimulation, but also the company of others. They are very appreciative of rewards and love receiving them, but when they are bored or when they do not have a normal routine, they are prone to developing bad habits. Dogs never stop acquiring new knowledge. Whether they are enrolled in obedience (which is always recommended) or not, they are learning both positive and not-so-positive habits regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in obedience.

Each dog has its own distinct personality, capacity for learning, tolerance, level of intelligence, and ability to be trained. Although it would be nice to consider our newly discovered furry friends to be human, the fact remains that they are dogs, which means that they have teeth and are capable of biting. They have the keen perceptions of a hunter and are always ready to step up and take the lead. Despite the fact that they are comparable to us in some respects, they are distinct from us in many others.

Dogs have a logical way of thinking, but their logic stems from a much more straightforward place than ours does. Wolves, much like their ancestors, are social animals that live in packs. They treat their leader with deference and are attentive to his needs. Their primary concerns are obtaining food and maintaining their lives. When it comes to training, these things can be helpful in various ways. A tasty piece of kibble or even just positive attention can serve as a motivating reward for good behavior. The use of the dog’s desires in the training routine can only serve to strengthen the bonds between you and the dog.

It is never too late to teach a dog that he or she must obey all human members of the family, must abide by rules established in the household, and most importantly, must respect its master. This is true regardless of whether you have obtained a puppy, young adult, or senior dog. You and your new family member have the potential to form bonds that will last a lifetime if you always keep in mind and insist that you are the alpha, the head of the household.