How To Be Your Dog's Pack Leader
Dogs are loyal, intelligent and affectionate companions
, but don't be fooled. Underneath that lovable, tail-wagging, face-licking exterior lurks a wolf.We may have domesticated the dog, but at heart he retains his animal instincts. It's up to us to recognize this and modify our behavior, rather than expecting him to modify his.
How a Dog Sees the World
A dog's thinking is based on drives and instincts. Their basic needs are food, a place to sleep, and a strong pack for protection. This means they need a strong leader - one they are prepared to follow without hesitation. This is the role you need to fill in your dog's life.
The next key to understanding dog behavior is to remember that dogs do not understand words. This idea confuses many people because their dogs seem to understand every word they say. But, what you are seeing is merely word-association.
The truth is, that dogs have no capacity for understanding words, they mainly interpret body language. They learn to associate actions with actions, so if you praise your dog when he obeys a command, he understands that when he obeys, you respond by being pleased with him.
As a consequence, they learn to react to certain words, so if you say "Dinner!" when you feed your dog he may start to salivate, but actually he's responding to the rattling of his food bowl, and other familiar "dinner activities".
Think Like A Dog
The most important thing to remember is that dogs respond to body posture and tone of voice, rather than words. By understanding that your dog thinks in images and responds to actions, you will have a much greater influence over him.
Dogs become very tuned into routines. For example, your dog will quickly learn that you come home at a certain time and will look forward to your arrival. If you don't arrive as expected the dog will begin to become stressed.
The reason is that he has built up an expectation based on his experience of your comings and goings. Based on that he expects a particular result. If that result is not forthcoming he becomes anxious.
How to be the Pack Leader
In the wild, the Alpha Wolf controls all the activities of the pack - when they eat, when they move, who receives affection. These are the same things you control in your dog's life. By controlling when he receives food, walks, and attention you reduce frustration and anxiety.
Now leadership is one thing, but what about showing affection to your dog? Good question. Giving affection makes you a strong leader if it is given in the right way and at the right time. Given any other way, it marks you out as a pushover. Your dog will sense that and exploit it.
Affection should be given as a reward for good behavior, so that it re-enforces the behaviors you want your dog to repeat.
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