Due to their nature, canines organise in a pack structure. At the top of the pack there has to be a leader, the alpha. The alpha is the decision maker and is responsible for the rest of the pack. This pack structure applies to our domestic environment, with dogs often believing that they are the alpha. This responsibility can lead to the dog being stressed.
The stress that arises from being alpha is due to dogs not fully understanding our human world. Dogs can perceive something as trivial as a skateboard passing, or the postman coming to the door, as a potential threat. If your dog has assumed the alpha role and believes he is in charge, perceiving a potential threat can cause him stress as he will believe it is his job to deal with it. As a result he will instinctively react, and exhibit all kinds of undesirable behaviour.
The method to help distressed dogs was discovered by Jan Fennell (The Dog Listener) who observed wolves interact in the wild and then mimicked their body language in a domestic environment. It is a natural technique, known as Amichien Bonding, which uses the dog’s psychology and pack dynamics. Amichien Bonding is a language that all dogs understand which relieves them of the stress of the leader role; it is a kind way to communicate with your dog that never resorting to gadgets, intimidation or force.
