How to be Your Dog’s Alpha, Part 1: Mealtimes

It is a fact that all dogs are social pack animals that look to an alpha for leadership.  If there is no one displaying leadership traits, than the dog will assume a dominant position, with the owner being “submissive” in the dog’s mind.  Therefore, it is important to establish yourself as a dominant pack leader.  This is not achieved through physical intimidation, but by controlling or influencing the various aspects of your dog’s life.  This article focuses on controlling your dog’s mealtime habits and on creating a pet who respects you as the controller of his food.

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Sticking to a Rigid Schedule 

Under NO circumstances should you let your dog free-feed.  This not only can lead to health problems such as obesity, but it also leads your dog to believe that he is the “owner” of his food.  Chances are, if he has full control of his meal, he would react aggressively to you getting near his food.  This is unacceptable.  Therefore, you must personally portion out your dog’s food and serve him, preferably twice a day, morning and night.  Whenever you feed your dog though, keep it to around the same time each day.  This establishes a routine for your dog, and he will more quickly be trained in mealtime etiquette.

How to Properly Serve Your Dog His Food

When it is time to feed your dog, do not let him follow you to the place where the dog food is stored.  If he must, at least keep him an appropriate distance away from the food container.  Once you portion out the food, calmly but assertively carry the bowl to his eating space.  Hold it out of reach when you are walking so your dog cannot grab food out of your hands.  When you arrive to his “eating space,” give your dog the sit/stay command, while still holding the food.  When he obeys, he will most likely be staring at the food bowl in your hands.  After a few moments of you holding the food bowl and him sitting there, you dog may glance up at you perplexedly.  As soon as your dog makes eye contact with you, say “Yes!” and set down the bowl.  (As you continue this routine daily, slowly increase the sit/stay and the length of time your dog must keep eye contact).  Praise your dog liberally as he eats.  The moment he finishes eating and looks up from his bowl, immediately remove the bowl and put it away. 

Why Does This Routine Work?

This mealtime routine works because it establishes you “master” of all matters of feeding.  Keeping the dog away from the food storage container shows that you have precedence over when it is time to eat.  Making your dog do a sit/stay, and having him make eye contact shows that you are the one who chooses the moment when your dog eats. Removing the bowl after he is finished eating establishes you as the one who chooses when feeding time ends.

I hope you have found this article informative.  It is always important to have the best relationship possible with your pet, and establishing yourself as pack leader results in a mutual respect between the two of you.