Pocket Dog / Alpha Dog? by River Song

The darndest things happen when you’re not paying attention.

Just short of two years ago I strolled into my new home.  I was immediately loved by my Mommy and Daddy and could do no wrong.  There was also another dog here:  Pocket.  She was five years old and had spent years happily living as Beta dog to the ultimate Alpha dog:   Foley Monster.

I found Pocket to be a very nervous dog.  She was still affected from losing Foley.  I am not proud of myself but I used these two factors, plus my own experience of being in  house full of dogs in Florida, to immediately take over as the Alpha dog.  Given my height and weight advantage, and Pocket being timid, I had little worry that I would lose my position.

Pocket never showed any interest in being the Alpha dog.  When she was sitting on Mommy’s lap and I wanted to sit there I would stare at her until she moved.  If she infringed on my territory I would knock her over and snap at her throat.  

Occasionally, when I was being picked up and helpless Pocket would make a move against me, snapping from below, but outside of that she did little to try and usurp my authority.

But lately Pocket has been giving off a vibe.  We will be eating and I will hear her voice in my head, first whispering at me to stop eating while she was eating, then talking louder, and finally shouting at me until I stop eating.  When I do I look over at Pocket and she is quietly eating.

After our walks, when we go in the house, I hear Pocket’s voice saying “Me first,” and I let her go.  The same thing happens with the water dish.  To the rest of the world she is still meek little Pocket but all the time I thought she was napping she was mastering mind control and she has used it to usurp me.

Now, when we eat sometimes I eat my food right away, and sometimes, just before we eat, I get a look from Pocket and I won’t eat until she is done no matter how much my parents encourage me.  When Pocket is taken outside to do her business I eat.  

I don’t know how, might be some Yorkie voodoo, but Pocket is in my head, and has taken over the role as Alpha Dog.  

I think I am going to need therapy to get on top again.