Alpha dog = YOU!

I went out with my friend on Thu and we started talking about our dogs and she was telling me that her soon-to-be 1 yr old mongrel, Queenie, was very naughty and attention seeking. When she elaborated on how Queenie was naughty, I immediately knew that Queenie thinks herself as leader of the pack - the alpha. Let me tell you what my friend relayed to me.

Queenie would:
1. jump up on my friend and parents whenever they came home
2. bite and chew on the door whenever the family left the house
3. bit my friend's arm just to get her attention to play with her
4. bark at the whole family when she wants to be fed
5. stands at the top of the stairs and watches the whole family
6. sleeps on the sofa
7. hates taking walks and will attempt to jump into a bush whenever they go out for walks
8. pulls on her leash and walks in front of my friend

Sounds like your dog? Congratulations. You've got a dominant dog and you're below it in their pack hierarchy. Well, all is not lost. Solutions are quite simple but you must follow through and BE FIRM.

You must:
1. stop your dog from pouncing on you by either lifting your knee or stepping on your dog's back paw when they pounch on you
2. disallow your dog from the sofa/bed or any high area. That's only for the alpha - you.
3. shorten the leash so that your dog walks next to you
4. use a choke chain/ push the collar to the back of the ears where its very sensitive
5. ignore the dog when it barks at you for food etc

It is important that ALL family members follow the same rule. Have more serious problems or other solutions? Feel free to drop a comment.