Leadership for Dogs

We hear a lot these days that we should be a Pack Leader to our dogs. And it's true that dogs thrive when they follow the Pack Leader, and suffer if there is no clear direction from above. Why is this?

Dogs have been companions to man for no less than 15,000 years. So we tend to forget that dogs are actually built on the platform of wolf. DNA testing shows that our pet dogs today and very closely related to their wolf ancestors. Wolves form close knit societies, known as packs. Dogs are also pack animals, although millenia of domestication may have prepared them to be more adaptable to changing pack structures than wolves.

Still, dogs depend on leadership.

What do Pack Leaders do? Leaders set rules, boundaries and limitations on the behavior of their packmates. Or, according to the ultimate Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, good Pack Leaders do this. I spoke to a child psychiatrist who told me that children also depend upon their parents to have boundaries and rules set for their lives. If parents do not structure the lives of their children, then youngsters beccome neurotic or aggressive because subconsciously, they do not feel safe.

How can you, a human Pack Leader, easily set rules, boundaries and limitations for your dogs? Simply control your dog's resources. Resources are the "stuff of life," or anything your dog needs or wants.

Let's put this in human terms first. If your two year old child tries to stuff his face with candy bars at WalMart, we stop him. (We're controlling food.) If your four year old child tries to run into traffic, we stop him. (We're controlling space.) And if your eight year old child doesn't want to do her homework, we sit her down and help her through it. (We're controlling activity.)

We control resources for children every day. If you want to borrow the car, then mow the lawn first. If you want to go out with your friends, then clean your room first. If you want to play a video game, then finish your homework first. And on it goes.

But with our dogs, we tend to give them access to everything while holding them accountable for nothing. Here is a brief list of suggestions designed to earn you more respect from your dog by becoming a better Pack Leader.

1. Before feeding your dog, ask her to sit and wait. Don't put the bowl down until she has done a 10 second sit. You may want to have your dog on leash until she becomes reliable.

2. Do not feed your dog all at once. Divide her meal into three portions, and ask her for that sit before you give each portion.

3. Do not allow your dog to walk through a door before you. You might need to use a leash at first, but when you crack the door open, make sure your body is blocking the dog so you can exit first. Eventually, your dog will get out of your way and let you out first.

4. Petting doesn't always have to be free. Sometimes you can and should charge your dog for affection. If your dog is simply demanding your attention by pawing or barking at you, do not pet her. Instead, give her a simple command that she understands, such as sit or come. Then you can reward your dog for a job well done.

5. When walking your dog, do not permit her to pull. Instead, teach her to walk calmly by your side. Many owners struggle hugely with this issue so you might need a bit of professional help. We teach polite leash walking to client dogs in just minutes. So feel free to contact us if we can help you.

Remember, dogs follow a Pack Leader. Who makes the rules in your house?