I have just been reading on another forum about dogs following people around and how they apparently are "alpha" over you.  I have been on here quite a few times and have had quite a few problems with my dog, I won't go back into detail.
 
When we go into our house my dog cries and whines, and he tries to lick our hands.  I generally ignore him and then when he is quiet I will give him a cuddle.  After he has dinner he comes running in and will give me a lick, or the boys if they are on the sofa.  I only let him on the sofa when we are sitting with him.  Also he will follow me around the house, but if I tell him to stay downstairs he will.  But he sits and waits at the bottom of the stairs until I come back down!  Does anyone else have this behaviour with their dogs?  And I wonder if anyone can analyse this for me, because from what I have just read this all makes my dog "alpha" dog.

Also if I lay on the floor to watch television he will cuddle up close to me.

Dogs like to be close to their owners, thats were the saying 'follows me around like a wee dog' comes from :) It doesn't mean he thinks he's 'Alpha' dog, it just means he likes to be with you. All 4 of mine follow me from room to room, I even have an audience in the loo unless I shut them out :D

That is what I thought, but it was something I was reading this morning on another forum (while bored at work!).  The closer mine seems to get to me the more content he seems!  Also he comes up to bed on a Saturday and Sunday morning and we let him up for a cuddle, but they are the only two days he comes up to bed.  I am at work Monday - Friday (6am-9am) and my husband is there, but he doesn't go up for a cuddle then.  Very strange, as he also loves to be close to my husband!

Also to add at the end, when he comes upstairs, he actually makes a little noise (bit between a whine and a bark) and we say he is asking, but he doesn't get up until we say "come on then".

well i am no expert but i wouldnt agree with that at all, what you have is a dog that enjoys your company and respects the household rules.thats seems great to me  and my dog is the same in some ways. there is a lot of stuff spouted about alpha/dominance etc and many people on here including myself think it gets a bit over zealous!

Just wanted to add, I couldn't be bothered (or be happy with) that whole nonsense of ignoring them when I come in. I like the fact they're waiting behind the door with wagging tails, pleased to see me. I'm pleased to see them too and can't wait to give them cuddles :D

And lets face it there are not many others (people especially) that are always so pleased to see you.  Ours is even ecstatic to see me at 6.00 in the morning when I get up for work (the OH is definately not that pleased to be woken at 6 :D)

I would disagree, it is better to greet a dog when it is clam, this teaches it that greetings should be this way, which is much better for your visitors or less sturdy members of your family and does no harm for the dog to wait and not expect to be attended to immediately.

Also it is very easy for a dog lacking in confidence to become over dependent on a person and be unable to cope being alone at all if always allowed to follow you about.

The poster seems to have a good balance, as the dog has boundaries and respects them.

I don't believe in all the Alpha/Pack theory regarding dogs personally. I think it is old fashioned and flawed. We are not dogs, we are humans. Dogs know this, and do not expect us to behave like other dogs. Also, pack theory is based on wolves, and dogs are not wolves. :rolleyes:

Are you still having problems with your dog? It doesn't sound like you are from your post. If not, why would it matter if your dog thought it was 'Alpha' anyway?

My dog is always pleased to see me if I've been out without her. Wagging her tail and getting a little excited is her way of letting me know she is pleased to see me. I always greet her straight away, as she is not being naughty. She knows she is not allowed to jump up, and never does so.

Actually, while dogs may recognize we are not dogs they do recognize and respect pack language.  They do have a pecking order as do most animals (including humans, horses etc) that live in herds or social groups.  When you go to another country you try to use language that others will understand.  Many animals communicate mainly by body language (actually people do too), most groups of animals select leaders and respect them all the time the leader is able to maintain that position.  Personally Ive found the ideas about finding a common "language" to communicate with my dogs very helpful.  I know that when Im not clear in how I use my body, voice etc i end up with a pushy dog who isnt as nice to have around.  I dont greet my dogs when they are excited but as soon as things are calm they get a big love.  I love that they are so pleased to see me and its tempting but I want them to be polite and responsive in other ways too so dont want to send mixed messages to them. 

I would be concerned if my dogs weren't pleased to see me They are always behind the door wagging their tails, they don't jump up, they mill around waiting for pats, wagging tails. They don't hassle visitors, in fact the opposite is true - the boys rarely even get up to say hello to visitors unless they know them well.

My dogs are very happy being left, they don't worry at all when I go to work. When I'm getting ready for work they go to their favourite spots and settle down for a sleep. However when I'm in the house they prefer to be with me :)

Obviously you have taught your dogs not to be pests,a nd one of those ways is to only give attention when they are behaving calmly.

I often come a little unstuck with a new puppy as people will insist on petting them when they jump up.  the older ones who are waiting their turn soon work out that she gets all the attention by being pushy and of course say stuff it we will push in and jump up too, as it works for her.  This means remedial work with the adults and it taking longer to teach the young pretender her manners, where she thinks good manners with Mum, do as I please with other people.

I think the number, size and general enthusiasm of the bred you have can make all the difference.  Even one of mine could flatten you, and their not that big.

I work in the middle with mine - I lvoe coming home to four crazies that want to go bananas to say hello, but they are only allowed to do so the feet on the floor.

I don't mind jumping up if it's when I ask for it - they aren't allowed to do it of their own volition, but I specifically train it so I have it on cue.  That way, they can bounce around on the floor if they like, and when they've calmed down a little bit I can give them the cue if I want to give them a cuddle.  It works well for me, but I'm consistent with it; I should imagine some owners wouldn't be and would have trouble with it.

I think whether you ignore your dog when you come in or not is dependant on their personality. I have one that has always been very happy but never jumpy or pushy. I never had to ignore him as he's very calm. I have another that came with springs in her feet and a tongue like a hummingbird. Ignoring her completely until she walks off and settles down is the only way to deal with her. If I didn't you'd have 35 kg of enthusiatic retriever hitting you in the face when you came in. And like Brainless, if the jumpy one gets all the attention for behaving badly (ie husbands are untrainable!) the previously calm one starts getting pushier.

".....(ie husbands are untrainable....."

Make that children and dog loving visitors et al

I have to say I have let things slip since my children got older when they were toddlers and primary school it was important to me they didn't bounce off people.

Now as most of my visitors are doggy folk, and the non doggy ones don't greet the dogs I am less strict than I was or maybe ought to be.

'Just wanted to add, I couldn't be bothered (or be happy with) that whole nonsense of ignoring them when I come in. I like the fact they're waiting behind the door with wagging tails, pleased to see me. I'm pleased to see them too and can't wait to give them cuddles'

you sound like me, i am exactly like this, my dog follows me everyone i go. i could never ignore him when i come in as would feel awful as he is just so excited to see me. i like the feeling of feeling really loved by him. however my dog does jump up at me but i have always allowed him to do this.he just wants picking up which i dont mind. however my partner does not allow it so he does not jump up at him at all.  . someone mentioned something about by not greeting them straight away they will not be as hyper around visitors, but mine dont get excited for other people just me.

A lot depends on breed and individuals.  Mine think any visitor is there especially to see them, often they are right.  Thats 80kg and 4 sets of feet.

Mitz is too good with visitors!

Not at all in a bad way, but she does get a tiny bit over excited and treats them the same she does us (Although Im sure she wags her tail more with me :p) and she will try just as hard to lick theyre ears, but after about 15 mins she calms down and is sleeping on theyre laps! :d!

If we do have more fragile people coming over we will out the babygate up in the kitchen so she can seeus all fine, but cant come in till she calms down!

Gosh mine must all be alpha dogs then as all my Spanish follow me around wherever I go and if I don't close the toilet door properly I end up with heads on my knee whilst on the toilet :d :d

Mitz would jump in the bath with me given half a chance!! :d

Mine also believe that every visitor is there especially to see them but they do wait their turn relatively calmly - if somewhat noisily, lots of whoohooo-ing :D

I absolutly adore the sound that Huskies make but I coundnt offer a home with enough exercise and stimulation to have one as I dont thinks its fair if you cant provide plenty upon plenty of exercise! :) Do you use youre Huskies for sledding in competitions and stuff like that?

So do they really howl to see people in that wolfy way? Im gonna come round your house Huskypup and sit outside to tempt some whohoo-ing! :d :d :D

At the moment my two are just pets although we are planning to take them to an event to see how we feel about running them.  They get a minimum of 1 hours run/walk a day and more at the weekend.  They don't exactly howl at visitors it is more like a deep throated whoohooo (short whoo and long hooo) from big 'un and little 'un is a note or two higher and with shorter whoohoos.  I think I read a description from someone of the sound their Malumute makes at the vaccum cleaner and I had to laugh because mine make exactly the same noises (a variation of whoohoo'ing, grumbling and yelping - lol).  My two like to howl to the alarm clock, (I wish we could programme them then we could get rid of it :) ), and just before they are fed. 

Don't sit outside come in and play! :D

dgibbo -Isn't your dog a dobe ? They are velcro dogs and  will follow you round the house -ours does -I just wish his heelwork was as good outdoors  :D :D

One of my dogs follows me everywhere - the Hungarian Puli - even to the point of walking backwards and forwards from washing basket to washing line 50 times when pegging out - he does it too!  I try telling him he'll wear himself out but he still follows - he will stay if I tell him but I dont bother - he doesnt jump up or fuss - I've never even considered it being a dominance thing!

dont get me started on what he thinks about visitors though - he certainly doesnt jump up - its head down and pin their feet down with his teeth - maybe that's it he's trying to stop them from jumping up and getting too excited!!! :) :)

Maxine

I can't see you have a problem, it sounds like you have a really super loyal dog there who loves you to bits.   Stop worrying and enjoy him.