Being a Leader for your Dog
A leader, as defined by your dog is the strongest, smartest and most successful member of my pack, who keeps me safe, provides me with food, provides me with exercise and stimulation, is clear and consistent in what they ask me to do and is fair and loving in return for my devotion and willing compliance.
To your dogs, having a leader is an essential part of their life - so essential, in fact, that if a trustworthy leader is not found within their home environment (their pack) - they will take on that role themselves putting them under tremendous, continuous stress. This results in so called behavior problems by humans. Most, if not all, behavior problems we address in our training are as a result of a lack of leadership or a clear understanding of leadership as it pertains to your dog. These behaviors can include those as serious as biting and dog-dog or human-dog aggression; or, it can include those as mild as dancing just out of reach when you try to put on a leash or jumping on the couch when they're not allowed.
Dogs look to their human companions for leadership in a few key areas
• eating or doling out food;
• taking your dog for a walk;
• how your dog is allowed to greet people and other dogs;
• how you allow your dog to greet you and interact with you.
What can you do?
• Eat your food before your dog gets its food. Display your leadership status by eating your meal before feeding your dog OR by pretending to eat your dog's food before they get it.
• Nothing in life is free. If your dog wants something, ensure that it asks nicely before getting anything by practicing some random obedience commands or tricks - wait while dinner is being prepared; sit before getting to eat; down before getting to go outside, etc.
• Ignore unwanted, attention-getting behavior. When you come home from work, ignore jumping, barking, whining and fussing - simply turn your back and walk away until your dog calms down and gives you some respect, which is moving away and sitting or lying down patiently waiting to be called over and rewarded for their self-control and calm behavior.
• Do not allow your dog to sleep on your bed or recline on your lap or beside you on the couch. Leaders of the pack are entitled to the highest and best sleeping areas and resting areas. If your dog is allowed to freely jump on the bed to sleep or on your lap or couch, you are granting that privilege to your dog rather than assuming it yourself. Once your dog accepts you wholeheartedly as the leader, by all means teach them to ask nicely to be invited on and off the couch and bed (sit or lie down to ask to be invited up).
• Greet people and dogs on your terms. You should be the first line of defense between your dog and any other interaction. Ask your dog to sit calmly beside you when approaching or being approached by a person or dog - direct them to go say hi as a reward for their calm behavior and self-control. Good manners include sitting calming in front of people - not jumping in excited anticipation.
Set clear boundaries and manners in the house - some examples:
1. no jumping on furniture - or only on the furniture when invited to do so;
2. sit and be directed to calmly exit into the yard;
3. only exit the front or outside doors when on leash and directed to do so after their human leaders have exited first;
4. lie down and wait for the invitation to be released to eat their meals;
5. go to their beds during the human dinner hour;
6. no jumping on guests;
7. go up and down stairs after their human leaders have gone ahead so there's no trampling and tripping;
8. thank you for barking and alerting me to someone at the door - now sit quietly and wait for the human leaders to invite in or deal with the potential intruders at the door.
This is only a part of what your dog is looking for in a leader and only part of what skills you need to be that leader for your dog. However, it's a good place to start. (c) K9 Kinship Ltd. 2005
To learn more visit http://www.k9kinship.com/
© Dog Days Daycare Ltd. 2005
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