Becoming the Pack Leader

1. CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY
   
   • Rules, boundaries, and limitations:
     You must define those activities & actions that are acceptble from your pooch, and you must be consistent when you and your pooch don't see things eye to eye. :-)


2. Calm Assertive Energy
   
   • Produces a Calm Submissive energy in your dog:
     Never let them see you get upset, especially over something they did. You are in charge, and ALWAYS in control. Remaining calm and assertive tells your pack member that you have everything under control and will take care of the problem. A simple word or sound given in the right tone, with a stern look is usually enough to tell you canine he's has displeased you. Sometimes a "Touch" is needed to get their attention. A "Touch" is simply a poke using all your finger tips, usually to the front shoulder area, not too hard, but enough to get their atteintion. This mimics a soft bite the pack leader might use to reprimand a member of her pack. Remember, everything is done in a Calm frame of mind.
     
     Yelling at a dog has two drawbacks, the first is that you usually put your dog in a fearful or excited frame of mind so that he is getting absolutely no meaning from the reprimand, other than you have lost control of the situation, and second, yelling can just intensify the energy in a situation cause more agression and less listening (that's why when there is a dog fight and everyone starts running and yelling it usually only intesifies the battle and some human invariably sticks his arm into the battle to get bit).
     
     You want to help your dog maintain a calm submissive energey. A calm submissive dog is a dog that is happy, open and listening for direction from his pack leader, and is confident that he/she has a strong pack leader that will care for him/her and take care of any problems (so he doesn't have to make those decisions).
     
     Doggies don't want the responsibilty of having to take care of us. They are not good at making decisions in Human Civilization, and in fact are wolve decendents that have been purposefully breed (by us humans) for their submissive qualities and lack of Pack Leader abilities. It is our responsibilty to care for these amazing animals that we have had such a LARGE role in producing.
     


3. Discipline
   
   • Correct application at the proper time is crucial:
     By discipline I just mean giving your pack member a correction. A correction can be anything from a verbal notice (I use a short hiss) and stern look, to a tug on the leash, to a physical "Touch" (finger tips). The idea is not to cause pain, or for retribution, it is simply to convey meaning, communicate.
     The most effective corrections are the one's that address the actions that lead up to an unwanted behavior. Once the mind engages in a high energy action, it is very dificult to communicate with that mind until it is brought back into a calm submissive state, and by that time it is difficult to relate the correction to the activity. This is why it is important to identify the warning signs that lead up to a behavior. This way we can apply correction when the mind is receptive, and avoid the incidents altogether (also, once an action takes place, it can be self-rewarding no matter what your discipline is after the fact). A couple examples:
     
     When walking with your dog, and another dog approaches you will notice your dog's ears go up, and he/she will start looking at the other dog (BOOM) here is where you correct! A sharp little tug on the leash, and short hiss, and you continue walking. This snaps him out of the LOCKING in action that can continue to escalate until there is an act of aggression. Now this example applies with the proper manner of walking your do which I have not addressed as of yet.
     
     If your dog barks too much at noise outside, you hear a noise and you are fortunate enough to be sitting in the same room with your dog. You look over and you see his ears pop up and his head look around (Hiss). Dog looks at you and then puts his head down.
     
     These are examples of getting to the dog before that escalation of activity gets too far to make for easy comunication.
     


4. Love and Rewards
   
   • A good pack leader not only maintains his position with Rules and Boundaries, but with love and respect. The love and respect come from a healthy balance of discipline and displays of affection bestowed at appropriate times.
     
     It is important to remember that affection (in it's MANY forms) in and of itself is a positive reinforcer. This means that when you console a dog during times of stress, when it is acting fearful or aggressive, you are in fact reinforcing the behavior being exhibited. If affection is given when the animal is in an excited state of mind then you are telling your four-legged friend to continue to be in an excited state of mind (keep being a pogo-stick Fido!!).
     
     The best times to show affection to your beloved pack member is when he is being a calm submissive member of the pack.
     - When he lays down by your feet while you are standing there talking to a friend on a walk
     - When he is laying in his bed
     - When he is simply trotting along next you, happily by his pack leader's side
     
     Avoid affection, or soothing:
     - When he's scared
     - When he's aggressive
     - When he's hyper (like greeting you at the door)
     
     So it is important to be conscious of how and when you bestow loving affection on your furry partner in order to not confuse him as to what is acceptable behavior. Remember, you want to give him love because you love him. So make it an experience that gives you both something, not JUST YOU. He'll thank you for it!
     
     As for treat rewards, I think of treats the same as I think of affection. I give them to my pup when he is simply being a good calm pack member. I avoid using treats as a pure motivation for an action. Your dog does not need to be overtly positvely rewarded EVERY time he does something you ask. How would you like it if you had to give your children a treat everytime they did something you asked? You gain respect as the leader, you show love and generosity when appropriate, and your pack members will be happy to listen.
     
     Treats are very useful in early training to shape a behavior, but should be curtailed very early in the process.
     


5. Excercise and Proper Walk
   
   • A pack leader always walks in front of the pack:
     The pack leader make decisions as to where the pack is going to go, and makes decisions on how a situation will be handle by the pack. In order to do these things, the pack leader must be at the front. Therefore you must maintain your position as pack leader by always having your pack members beside you or behind you during the walk. You are leading them. You are going for a walk and the pack gets to come with you. This is the overall idea and there are easy and effective methods to acomplish. The main point here is that your dog should not be out in front pulling you on a leashed walk. They should not be sniffing every tree and bush they want either. The walk should be about traveling together as a pack, of which you are the leader. Dogs are by nature travelling animals, it's instinctual for them to travel. Start your walk, let them get the initial pee out of em, and go for a specified amount of time. Then if they have done well, you decide to let them have some time to sniff and wander in front of you or wherever for a bit. But then you get em together to continue the walk. If you have a dog park you go to, you can have that at the end of the walk as a reward.
     
     Excercise is EXTREMELY important for a mentally healthy dog. A dog needs a minimum of 45 Minutes a day of a good string walk to be a healthy and happy member of your pack. Simply playing in enclosed yard is not enough. As I mentioned earlier, dogs are instinctually traveling (roaming) animals. The walk not only excercises your dogs muscles, it excercises his/her mind. The walk does SO MUCH for both you and your dog, it is imperative part of the process to having a healthy and happy pack.
     
     The walk:
     - Establishes hierarchy
     - Excercises the body
     - Establishes boudaries and limitations
     - Excercises the mind in control and discipline
     - Excercises the mind by experiencing more of the world creating a more balanced mind
     

The goal to all of the above is for you to create a balanced pack environment resulting in balanced pack minds.

Good Luck! And if you have question go to Ask UK9