Alpha Types are Not Bad Dogs

In the dog world, enthusiasts often discuss which breeds are actually considered "bad" and whether breeding and training are the main contributors of aggression in dogs. A misconception that might arise from such a debate is that the only enjoyable dog is one that is submissive. With proper training though, a dominant dog can be a lot of fun.

So what, then, is a dominant dog? To understand that, you must first understand a little about canine psychology. For instance, if your dog bites or snaps at you, he isn't necessarily doing it because he doesn't like you. He is simply trying to "train" you not to touch his toys, or not to disturb him when he's sleeping. He's certainly not trying to allowing you to make him move from his favorite place. In short, he is using physical intimidation to control you.

Dogs can be very clever in establishing dominance within your family unit. Anything he does to influence your behavior is an attempt to undermine your authority, whether that is putting his paws on you, putting his teeth on you, growling, or simply refusing to do what you want. (If, indeed, he knows what you want. You can't reasonably expect a dog to obey commands you haven't actually taken the time to teach him.)