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Originally Posted by Chair Thanks for all of your replies. It is reassuring to know that Gus isn't the only dog like this.
I still wonder if this is a red flag --
I love my little one tremendously and want to provide the best possible environment for him. Once I read that if a dog sees himself as alpha - rather than feeling secure that YOU are the alpha and will take care of him and looking to you as the leader, he will feel the need to take over that role. I wonder if this is a sign that he is taking over. And that makes me sad because I want him to be able to live a happy life - one that he feels secure and well taken care of. 
Does this make sense?  |
Well I, for one, know for sure that my parents' yorkie, KoKo, feels like she is definately the Alpha dog towards other DOGS, but she definately obeys my parents as if she know that THEY are the Alpha humans...or Alpha before her. You get get what I'm saying?? KoKo was the very first yorkie, or very first dog for that matter, that anyone in my family has ever had. Now my grandmother has a yorkie, my sister has a yorkie, my aunt has a yorkie, and I have 2 yorkies. My family often gets together so all 6 yorkies are frequently around each other. And every single yorkie knows that KoKo is the boss. I dunno...dogs are so funny. If how Gus is acting is anything like how KoKo acts, I think that Gus feels like he knows YOU are in charge and YOU are the boss, but he is just the alpha dog in all other respects. You know? I think he is either just trying to protect you, or he doesn't want to be bothered while while he's asleep, or he gets startled when you try to wake him up while he's asleep.
I would just continue trying to establish dominance over him. You can look on the Internet for ways to do this. I know taking him on a walk
everyday and make him walk BEHIND you is one way to do this...also look on the Dog Whisperer website...I am sure there are some good tips there. AND if you continue to do these exercises and he continues to act in this manner, that I would not worry about him feeling like he is the alpha dog. I would assume it is something else (startled, doesn't want to be moved, etc.)