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Google NILIF (nothing in life is free) and implement that.

[linkhttp://www.k9deb.com/nilif]Clicky the Linky[/link]

An 'alpha' dog may or may not have anything to do with the amount of exercise he gets. Frankly, if it's exercise related, I'd submit that the dog isn't so much dominant as untrained, obnoxious and just bored out of his mind and being a normal, stir-crazy dog. So...

1. NILIF- Nothing in life is free- you got that info already.

2. Figure out a way to exercise your dog in an apartment. Wouldn't ercommend skating with him a la certain TV personalities unless you're a very good skater to begin with, but scootering (dogscooter.com) or biking (same site), backpacking (uberpest.com) are all good daily things you can do from your house, with varying amounts of equipment, to wear yoru dog out. If he's good with other dogs, off-leash dog parks may be an option. Wait on that until you're really sure he's going to come when you call him.

3. Get involved in obedience! EVERYONE getting a dog should go through at least one obedience class. Even if you've trained a hundred dogs, it gives you space to work with your dog in a highly distracting environment, gives you incentive (especially if you're experienced, you want your dog to look good! []) to practicce and train regularly, and is a GREAT way to bond with your dog. If you've never trained a dog, here's a great place to start.

dogs with "strong characters" respond very well to NILIF and clicker training. What you don't want to do is try to use force or "discipline" with a strong-willed dog, cause such dogs tend to respond in kind, with violence.
 
 
You have more details about this dog you can share so we can provide more specific advice?

You've gotten some great advice.  The only things I would add are that you should show a calm assertiveness: believing in your own leadership helps out a tremendous amount. 
 
Also before you get the dog make sure you have a list of established boundaries and that everyone in the house agrees as to what is tolerated and what is not tolerated.  (on the furniture or off the furniture? Allowed in the kitchen or not?)  Setting up rules beforehand is a great idea.  Remember not to ever slip (just this once...) or you will be reinforcing the wrong things.
 
A leader controls resources and is fair but firm.  For this reason, I would recommend hand feeding much of his meals by hand at least for the first week or so.
 
I hope this helps!

I second everything said so far especially NILIF and hand feeding....  Also, the idea of house rules; write these down and tape it to the fridge or somewhere everyone can see it.  Also, you can have a Rule Box (like a Swear box) anytime anyone breaks a rule, they stick money in the box.  This has helped people to be consistent in our house and when the box is full it gets spent on doggie goodies.

What kind of dog?

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

dogs with "strong characters" respond very well to NILIF and clicker training. What you don't want to do is try to use force or "discipline" with a strong-willed dog, cause such dogs tend to respond in kind, with violence.


You have more details about this dog you can share so we can provide more specific advice?

Excellent advice.  You may want to enroll in a good basic manners class with your dog as soon as you get him, provided he is friendly toward other dogs and people.  You can find a class at one of these sites - they have search functions:
www.clickertrainusa.com
www.peaceablepaws.com
www.apdt.com
Do learn how to be a "benevolent leader".  It isn't necessary to use force or punishment to have a good dog - what you need is someone who can help you be consistently fair and exhibit leadership in a nice way.

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And my dog is primarily husky in temperment.

That being said, you can still follow Mudpuppy's and Spiritdog's advice. BTW, Spiritdog is a professional dog trainer. Anyway, in spite of the some of the peculiarities of the Siberian Husky temperment, we have done things that are astounding for me with the clicker training. Things I would have doubted or debated if I had not seen and done it myself.

Point being, you can be the "alpha" by being the controller of resources (NILIF) and having a pinpoint way of marking the desired behavior and always rewarding that. The alpha is who other dogs look to. A dog who knows where his rewards and status come from will follow that path.

My dog, Shadow, is full of character. And he looks to my lead. Even if he's walking in front. I trained his walk with mushing commands, with nothing more than patience and "good boys." Clicker training, by comparison, happens nearly over night, sometimes, within 3 clicks.

I suggest these things not out of a desire to avoid physical methods but because I have found them to work and work well. And, if you really have problems, you may wish to contact a dog behaviorist and I would certainly stress a training program, preferrably a positive reward system, and more prefferably with a marker such as a clicker or whistle or just the word "yes." In short, you need to lead your dog to what you want.

never heard of the breed, but guessing from similar breed types it looks like you need to focus on LOTS of early socialization, institute a strict program of NILIF from day one, and attend obedience classes early and often. And plan to exercise the dog a lot. And you should institute a preventative resource guarding training program-- get a copy of the book Mine! and follow the protocol. And don't worry about being "dominant"-- NILIF naturally takes care of that. In the doggy world, only weak insecure leaders go around worrying about being dominant, so human owners who go around being worried about being dominant are telling their dogs they are weak and insecure.

The breed standard calls for "fierce and distrustful of strangers".  They have very dominating personalities, and are extraordinarily "guardy".  Some people feel that they are "manstoppers".

This is NOT, NOT, NOT a breed for newbies!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Do yourself a favor and find another breed - you do not present, at least thus far, as someone with extensive enough knowledge to manage such a dog.  No offense intended, but I would hate to see you get the dog, and then have a problem.  These aren't dogs that are easy to rehome once things have gone downhill.

ORIGINAL: spiritdogs

The breed standard calls for "fierce and distrustful of strangers".  They have very dominating personalities, and are extraordinarily "guardy".  Some people feel that they are "manstoppers".

This is NOT, NOT, NOT a breed for newbies!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Do yourself a favor and find another breed - you do not present, at least thus far, as someone with extensive enough knowledge to manage such a dog.  No offense intended, but I would hate to see you get the dog, and then have a problem.  These aren't dogs that are easy to rehome once things have gone downhill.

 
Good points Anne. []
 
And, no offence from me either, just a further note of caution.
 
The same way I would advise someone who is just learning to ride a horse, not to get too much horse the first time around until they gain "horsemanship" skills, I also apply this to first time dog owners who have little or no "dogmanship" skills.
 
It's already been mentioned that others have advised you not to get this dog. I must also advise against this dog for a first time dog owner.
 
Being "dominant", "alpha", or whatever, comes mostly from inside of the person handling the dog rather than what that person does to the dog, IMO.
 
This takes understanding, practice, skill, knowledge, confidence, and experience gained through time (usually along with hands-on mentoring by a professional) to handle certain breeds and certain dogs. Certain breeds and certain dogs are not recommended for the novice owner. Although there are exceptions to every rule-of-thumb, I don't think yours is one of them from what I've read so far.
 
Good luck to you and your decision. I wish you all the best. []