Training Your Dog Starts With You As The Leader Of Your Pack by Jeff Bourbeau
All dog training needs to start with one very important premise. That is that you and not the Dog is the leader. Dogs are instinctually pack animals; they are happiest and more relaxed when they are in a defined social structure. If your dog does not see you as a calm and strong leader he/she will try to take over as the pack leader. Dogs are not equipped to lead a human being; as a result the dog in effort to lead develops all sorts of unwanted behaviors.
Some keys to tell if your dog may consider himself your leader:
1. If your dog is out in front of you during your walk; he may be the leader.
2. If your dog jumps on you when you return home; he may be the leader.
3. If your dog is the first to greet any guests that enter your house; he may be the leader.
4. If while barking incessantly at a stranger in an effort to protect, will not stop on your command; he may be the leader.
5. If your dog does not respond to your commands; he may be the leader
When your dog believes that you are his pack leader he will be very calm and submissive to you. This, as some people think, is not to say that you need to be a totalitarian ruler over you dog. What is needed is very calm and strong leadership. Accomplish this and you will see a marked change in your pet. He or she will be calmer more relaxed and much better in social situations with dogs and humans.
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Pack Leader First - Training Second
Becoming your dogs pack leader is the single most important process you should be going through with your dog. While simple obedience training happens almost simultaneously during the process of displaying your calm leadership to your dog. The leadership qualities you display to him/her are much more important than the actual training. Once your dog understands that you are worthy to be his leader, the training after that will become much easier. Your dog needs a calm, strong, and assertive leader to follow, to help balance his life.
To become a true pack leader for your dog it must first start from within yourself. A dog will sense your emotions. If there are problems in your life your dog will be affected by your vulnerabilities. Dogs will see these issues as weakness, and they will not follow a weak leader. You need to always project strength to your dog. At times you may be acting this strength that your dog desires; because lets face it there are times we are all vulnerable. This is how your dog can help you through tough times. As you project strength to your dog you will start feeling strong and less vulnerable. This can only be a positive for you in your life. |
Your dog will sense your energy be it positive or negative. That is what will tell him/her if you are truly worthy of pack leadership. Your energy is how you carry yourself; your energy is what you outwardly project. It is how you feel and how you act. Dogs respond more to energy then any other single thing. Dogs do not understand your sentences, nor do these listen to reason. It is all about the energy you project. Always project a calm strong and assertive energy so your dog can feel relaxed just to be a dog, knowing the leadership issue is in your hands.
The training methods and tools you use after you establish your calm, strong, and assertive leadership are up to your personal preference. The real work will already be done and your dog will follow your lead to becoming the best dog he/she can possibly be.
About the Author
J. Bourbeau has a blog called "Be Your Dog's Pack Leader" at http://packleadership.blogspot.com/
Thank you for using 4Dog Info for information on animal care training.
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