WORKING SERVICE DOGS

I have just talked to someone who was told by their trainer, that their male pup was an alpha dog and therefore needed much more socialization that normal.
I asked first, what is an alpha pup? Then what is normal for socialization? In fact what is socialization? Is that where my German Shepherds Dog wants to eat liver treats more than he wants to eat my neighbour's poodle? Perhaps it is where my German Shepherds Dog sits oblivious to his surroundings and lets every passer by pet him. Unaware of his world or its movements.

Let me first state the nature of the beast," NATURALLY SUSPICIOUS OF STRANGERS", "NATURALLY PROTECTIVE". This goes for all of the Working Herders.
What in nature is NATURALLY SOCIAL? TREE HUGGERS, until they NATURALLY FALL OUT OF THE TREES. Animal rightists until THEY NATURALLY GET MAULED BY A BEAR? Communists until they get what they want, and then nothing is sociable ever again.

This thing, this socialization, must have purpose, reason, a place. It is more than a ball and liver treats. Why? It is not NATURAL that's why.
How can we as we grow more and more anti-social socialise anything. I know we bribe it. LIVER TREATS, TOWELS, BALLS, SQUEEKY TOYS. When they no longer work behaviourists, then drugs. Drugged dogs like drugged children are seldom any trouble. By the time they get older we can put the dog down and the kids in government-funded rehab. Never should we work with what we have in prong or lead. No it takes effort, commitment and time. NO ANIMAL DESERVES TO BE WHAT WE CALL SOCIAL.

Now the alpha male. What is this elusive creature? So often boasted about, so often coveted by the masses. My Aunt Aggie I believe was an alpha female. Uncle Theo shook when she found his dishes in the sink. In fact he did most of the housework. She must have been an alpha, yet no one really wanted to be around her. Except her sisters and brothers who knew her and often put her in her place. So maybe she was just part time alpha then. I have been with dogs for years and never seen an alpha dog.
Oh I have seen dogs that where called alpha. They were often just dog-aggressive ignorant, ill-mannered dogs that resembled their handlers all too much. When they were put into the hands of someone that cared for the heart more than the actions, they became un-alphasized. The pup that pushes today might back up tomorrow. Size means nothing. Attitude changes with environment are what is an alpha dog. He is the creation of fools that accept less because they boast more.

Audie Murphy was a thin, shy, slight boy that became a great war hero. No one thought him an alpha figure in fact no one thought much about him at all until World War Two. He is of course human and dogs are different.... then why do we constantly try to make them that which they are not. How can we ever accept the truth when it is just so very uncomplicated?
Mike McConnery 06/30/02 ©Baden K-9

©2002-Baden K-9, Mike & Emmy McConnery

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