Leadership and dog training

Dogs are pack animals. They naturally look to a leader to know how to behave and what to do. A good leader rewards them for this by never hurting them, shaming them or misleading them. So does a good owner.

Here are a few simple ways to show your dog you’re the leader:

1) You eat first. Feed your dog after you’ve eaten dinner or lunch or whatever.

2) You control going in and out. Make your dog wait until you’ve stepped out the door. Then let them follow you. Also do this on the way in.

3) Do not necessarily give your dog attention every time they want it. Alpha dogs – leader dogs – give out attention as a reward. This means that if you are in the middle of something, and your dog nudges you for attention, stay focused on what you are doing.

4) Do not let your dog sleep in your bed with you. The dog should not ever be on your bed unless they are invited. If you have a dog that has strong alpha tendencies, you may have to pass on even the invites.

5) Do not yell at your dog; ignore it instead. We humans tend to make a lot of noise and give a lot of attention when we’re angry; wolves and dogs ignore the offending party, or at the very most go into a low growl.

6) Make your dog work for everything. Just asking them to sit is enough. Make them sit before treats, before petting, before being fed.