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Auntie Crazy · 12-13-2005, 08:22 PM

Most dog owners know that dogs are hard-wired to live in a specific pecking order within a pack, but I did NOT know until recently that the alpha position actually comes with certain responsibilities that the dog, capable or not, believes it must perform. These responsibilities include protection of the pack, keeping order within the pack, initiating hunts....there are more, but I can't remember them off-hand.

The point is, not all dogs are capable of handling the alpha position's responsibilities, and they can become incredibly stressed (with all the negative behaviors associated with stress) when forced into it. When relegated to a lower position within the pack, however, and freed of those onerous responsibilities, these dogs can become completely different animals, up to and including losing aggressive behavior. They are more relaxed because: 1) they're not in charge any more and 2) they can trust to whoever has become alpha to handle all that "stuff".

Some examples of incidents that cause dogs to believe they are the alpha: they have a sleeping place that you do not use (can you imagine curling up in your Yorkie's little-bitty basket/crate?! *smile!*), while they can sleep in your sleeping place; they pass through doorways before you; they "win" toy-pulling contests, they eat before you do... again, these are just the most common, there are more. And some dogs are more sensitive to alpha prerogatives than others, too.

By no means, Melissatoppins, am I implying that this is the case with you and Molly, I just thought it might be something to look into. Like so many others, I find it hard sometimes not to spoil my Yorkie (she's only five pounds - what harm could it do?!), but when I understood that pampering her might actually contribute to stress in her life, well, it made it a lot easier to make her wait for her food, ask her to sit while I opened the door, etc. *smile*

I truly wish you the very best! It's terribly difficult when we love a pet that just doesn't seem to love us back. And please have hope - I've read of dogs much older than yours coming back from even worse behaviors. It's really a rare dog (in my understanding) that is aggressive like this without an underlying cause that can't be changed.

12-13-2005, 08:22 PM	#16
Auntie Crazy Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tim-buc-too Posts: 31	Most dog owners know that dogs are hard-wired to live in a specific pecking order within a pack, but I did NOT know until recently that the alpha position actually comes with certain responsibilities that the dog, capable or not, believes it must perform. These responsibilities include protection of the pack, keeping order within the pack, initiating hunts....there are more, but I can't remember them off-hand. The point is, not all dogs are capable of handling the alpha position's responsibilities, and they can become incredibly stressed (with all the negative behaviors associated with stress) when forced into it. When relegated to a lower position within the pack, however, and freed of those onerous responsibilities, these dogs can become completely different animals, up to and including losing aggressive behavior. They are more relaxed because: 1) they're not in charge any more and 2) they can trust to whoever has become alpha to handle all that "stuff". Some examples of incidents that cause dogs to believe they are the alpha: they have a sleeping place that you do not use (can you imagine curling up in your Yorkie's little-bitty basket/crate?! smile!), while they can sleep in your sleeping place; they pass through doorways before you; they "win" toy-pulling contests, they eat before you do... again, these are just the most common, there are more. And some dogs are more sensitive to alpha prerogatives than others, too. By no means, Melissatoppins, am I implying that this is the case with you and Molly, I just thought it might be something to look into. Like so many others, I find it hard sometimes not to spoil my Yorkie (she's only five pounds - what harm could it do?!), but when I understood that pampering her might actually contribute to stress in her life, well, it made it a lot easier to make her wait for her food, ask her to sit while I opened the door, etc. smile I truly wish you the very best! It's terribly difficult when we love a pet that just doesn't seem to love us back. And please have hope - I've read of dogs much older than yours coming back from even worse behaviors. It's really a rare dog (in my understanding) that is aggressive like this without an underlying cause that can't be changed. Last edited by Auntie Crazy; 12-13-2005 at 08:25 PM.