How should I know that my Rylai recognize me as the alpha ..Im a bit confuse .
She already knows some few commands and tricks but sometimes she's so stubborn during training.
And while walking on leash she will walk ahead of me.
What should I do ? Does she recognize me as the alpha or not ??

I wouldn't worry about the whole "dominance theory". Most here really don't think it is a dog's life goal to overpower or "dominate" their human. I prefer respect training, which is teaching obedience and proper social behavior, being human or animal. 5-10 minute training sessions should help with the stubbornness, as well as yummy, high value treats.

Whether an animal is walking ahead or not is not an indication that your dog is being disrespectful, it means that they don't know how to heal

How do i start respect training ?
Any tips ?

Basic obedience such as sit, down, stay, come etc. Waiting to go through doors, not crowding when there's food around, having them sit and wait before meals, having a soft mouth during playtime, appropriate indoor and outdoor etiquette etc. Socialization with lots of other people and other dogs (that are current on vaccines). And of course lots of love an praise.

Like with human children, rules and boundaries with discipline are a huge aspect as well. If your pup is acting up or breaking the rules, then there needs to be consequences, such as an ended playtime or a timeout. Dogs want to be with there family, so timeouts are a perfect "punishment" for ill behavior. In time, your pup will associate the timeouts with being naughty.

It is simple but it is the main fault of most dog owners - consequence and persistance. If you want your dog to do something, he has to do it, if he wants to or not. Same goes for things you don´t want him to do. If you are consequent and persistant there should be no problems with the "packing order".

It doesn´t matter if your dog walks in front of you when you go for walks, or if he enters the house before you do etc. These alpha myths are nothing but stupid blabla

haha LOL !
okay. thanks

For example, when it comes to the sit command most owners give the command if the dog does not perform a sit, it is ok for them, like "oh he does not want to do it, so it is ok then" the dog has won. If things like this happen to often the dog thinks why should I do what you want you are not serious at all and a dog will not respect someone as a leader that isn´t capable of being one in their eyes. Dogs are not stupid, in fact they are mor eintelligent then humans. Sit means sit and not sniffing etc.

I suggest the book, The Other End of The Leash, by Patricia McConnell. Great book about dog behavior and includes ways to work on obedience training, and respect. I have it as an ebook, so it might be available where you are.

I downloaded a copy of "Teach Your Dog 100 English Words" by Michele Wilton.
And as I was reading the copy, i find it very helpful.
Thanks for the advice though,
I will try to search and download the book that you suggested.
thanks

SiberianAnubis wrote:

It doesn´t matter if your dog walks in front of you when you go for walks, or if he enters the house before you do etc. These alpha myths are nothing but stupid blabla

While I agree that those are alpha myths, I think that there are cases where it does matter. When I'm walking a busy street, I never let my dogs walk out in front of me. On a leasurly walk through the woods, no problem. I absolutely hate it when the dogs go busting in through the front door ahead of me, and the door slams up against the wall and busts the doorknob. I never let them go through an exterior door ahead of me or down stairs (never know when those might be icy and being pulled by a dog down icy steps is no fun). I also make them sit before they get out of their crate or kennel.

The best thing I've found for training them to stay with you rather than pull like crazy out in front of you on the leash is frequent treats as you walk.

Wy Renegade wrote:

SiberianAnubis wrote:

It doesn´t matter if your dog walks in front of you when you go for walks, or if he enters the house before you do etc. These alpha myths are nothing but stupid blabla

While I agree that those are alpha myths, I think that there are cases where it does matter. When I'm walking a busy street, I never let my dogs walk out in front of me. On a leasurly walk through the woods, no problem. I absolutely hate it when the dogs go busting in through the front door ahead of me, and the door slams up against the wall and busts the doorknob. I never let them go through an exterior door ahead of me or down stairs (never know when those might be icy and being pulled by a dog down icy steps is no fun). I also make them sit before they get out of their crate or kennel.

The best thing I've found for training them to stay with you rather than pull like crazy out in front of you on the leash is frequent treats as you walk.

Totally agree! For safety and respect, I always have Kale sit and "wait" before walking through any threshold (he even sits and waits before going through doors at the vet ) and stairs of any kind. I let Kale walk loose lead (not pulling) when there is no one around or if we are out in the open, but if there are people or dogs around, he knows that he has to walk right next to me. It's safer for Kale and I, and it is courteous to others.

Wow. That's nice and awesome !
I am looking forward to train Rylai to heel properly.
She's still a pup though. ( 4 months )
How old was your husky when he/she manage to heel properly on your command ?

By the way Randy and Brooke, both of you have a gorgeous husky there .
I am so excited to meet Rylai in the future and will look like yours LOL !

Good points covered here so far. I'm enjoying this thread.

I told someone the other day that teaching a dog "no!" without them knowing what "yes!" is is not a good strategy. If you don't want your dog to walk in front of you for example, then your goal is to teach her that behind you = yes!. This comes from respect, trust, bonding, and training. Whether or not they walk in front because of dominance is irrelevant if your goal is for them not to.

The biggest difference between dominance theory and positive reinforcement/respect theory is the WHY, not whether or not they should do the behavior. Focus on the latter and you'll be set up for success

I use a clicker instead of a yes and for no, just NO. haha LOL!
And I will certainly do what you advised me to do Jeff ^^

By the way, link is so cute. Rylai was born last December 26, 2012, they only have 3 days gap ^^. Good luck for the both of us. hehe

Clicker is even better. Link is clicker training.

And thanks!!

Rylai's a stubborn pup though and I am having a slightly difficult time in training, well I guess consistency and patience is really important .
How about you Jeff ? Is Link a behave pup ??

He is actually, he is very calm and a very engaged companion overall. I mean he is an adolescent Husky so he has his moments, but all in all he is great. I socialized him very freely. He was on public busses, in bars and coffee shops, at kids' playgrounds, in our car, and walking around a busy city at 8 weeks. He is hardly phased by anything now and is very comfortable and calm around town

I was very persistent with boundaries and limitations with him since day 1 and I made it clear what was expected so that I can spend less time saying "no" or correcting him. I communicate with him nonverbally mostly and never baby him or get him riled up unless we are specifically playing together. I also don't let people rile him up or touch him at will or undermine my insistence on calmness. I'm a pretty quiet, calm, very introverted person and since I'm his leader and he respects me he is taking his cues from me for himself.

I am much less interested in his obedience than I am his calmness and his respect for me. That said, he know sit, down, shake, touch (nose), go lay down, in your crate, and leave it all mostly nonverbally. Stay is an ongoing struggle.....still working on that!

He is challenging right now with jumping on furniture where he isn't allowed. He also has an impulse control issue around other dogs that is frustrating. I know it's normal but I want it to be better at some point. He gets very excited to meet and play and can't quite keep his control of the calmness routine. Ongoing work, but I'm patient and waiting it out.

That about sums it up

So you had Link when his 8 weeks ? I adopted Rylai when she was 12 weeks and she was so energetic and playful. She loves playing and all.

I have a less time concerning her with boundaries and limitations because I'm a bit busy here in our house. But still I am working on it.

As of now Rylai knows how to sit, lie down, shake, wait (for my permission to eat in her food bowl), go home (when taking walking), stay (for 20 sec at least) and still working on it, and going on my side in a heel position. She's great though, but sometimes she's so stubborn, hehe ^^, I guess huskies are really born to be stubborn dogs.. aren't they ?hahaha patience is a must ! lol!

Link is doing pretty great ! congrats on that and good luck on his on going training

They are stubborn, indeed, even Link I don't look at that as an excuse for ignoring or disobeying me however, I look at it as one more obstacle in my way to get my dog to behave in a way that I see as appropriate.

I hope the boundaries and limitations come around for you and get easier. You and your dog will be happier and get along better with them. Discipline can be a very constructive, positive thing when done in a healthy, positive, respectful manner.

It's just tough in this stage of their growth....it'll only get easier for us though.

I wish you the best as well and keep us posted

Thanks again Jeff
God Bless you and your pup