I didn't realize that 'acting like the alpha dog' meant dominance theory but I can see how that could mean that. I'm not recommending people treat their dog like a wolf that they constantly have to dominate. I don't know much about Cesar Milan's theory. Like many dog-training theories, I'm sure it's a mixed bag.
My point is that when you give a dog a command, you have to give it with authority and sound convincing. When you leave your house and you feel guilty leaving your dog alone, you have to act like it's normal so you don't transfer your anxiety to him. When your dog misbehaves, you can't plead with him to stop like he's a little person who can reason about it.
This does not feel natural for a many dog owners. If you're type of person who isn't very self-aware or good at controlling your behavior, I'd recommend getting the dumbest/laziest dog you can find. :-)
> you have to give it with authority and sound convincing.
I don't think there's anything special you have to do here. Dogs respond to rewards, not authority. To make a dog respond to your commands, he has to be trained to do so, using some kind of reward. Say "sit", he does the right thing, he gets a treat (or a hug, or to play, or whatever). Do this 50 times, and you have a dog that responds to the "sit" command.
No amount of gravitas in your voice is going to help him "sit" if he hasnt been trained.
My point is that when you give a dog a command, you have to give it with authority and sound convincing. When you leave your house and you feel guilty leaving your dog alone, you have to act like it's normal so you don't transfer your anxiety to him. When your dog misbehaves, you can't plead with him to stop like he's a little person who can reason about it.
This does not feel natural for a many dog owners. If you're type of person who isn't very self-aware or good at controlling your behavior, I'd recommend getting the dumbest/laziest dog you can find. :-)