Ask Bonnie

HOW TO BE A PACK LEADER
(OR, HOW TO FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT)

Hey dog owners, answer this question: Does your dog know what the word “sit” means? So if you tell him to sit at your feet, right now, his rump will hit the ground, no questions asked, within two seconds? Ok, please go ahead and try it.

How’d it go? How many times did you have to say the word? Was he suddenly mesmerized by that insect buzzing past? Did you give him a little assist by pushing down on his behind? No bribing with treats allowed, either!

If your dog sat right away, it is one good indication that he sees you as a pretty good pack leader. If he didn’t, it could be one of three things: he’s distracted; he doesn’t really know the command after all; or he is testing your leadership!

It is fairly well known that dogs are pack animals and highly social beings. When you bring a puppy or a dog into your home, it is in a dog’s nature to try and sort out its place in the new family pack. So what are some fast and easy tips to remember about being a leader in your dog’s eyes? First, here are some easy tips to remember when using our most important training tool: our voice!
 Give a command assertively and confidently. Don’t be timid.
 Have an objective tone
 Do not shout or ask
 Give one command-don’t repeat (i.e. sit,sit,sit!)
 Make your verbal praise sincere and meaningful
 Don’t sound angry or frustrated

Now that we’ve found our voices, here are some other qualities that need to be present in order to be an effective leader:

Motivation: If I offered you an old sock tug-toy as a reward or motivation for running my dishwasher, my dishes might pile up in my sink. If I offered you $100 to do it, I probably wouldn’t have to show you twice where the dish detergent is kept. From a dog’s point of view, the value of the reward is everything. A good leader is effective at offering meaningful motivation to the dog in order to achieve a desired result; so whether it’s an old sock, game of fetch, or some off-leash freedom that your dog cherishes most, if your dog can enjoy his reward after a tough 15-minute training session, you will appear larger in his eyes as The Bearer of Things Great and Joyous.

Consistency: Dogs are creatures of routine. Any dog owner can attest to their dog’s internal body clocks at feeding or walk time. When it comes to training, consistency is crucial to giving your dog the opportunity to get it right. For instance: You have been letting your Collie up on the furniture without repercussions for months at a time. Then, he jumps on the couch with muddy paws on a few occasions, you yell at your no-longer-a-Lassie to get off the couch and swing a rolled-up newspaper at him. No consistency in expectations here! Dogs will thrive in a household where the rules are the same, all the time.

Emotional Stability: Dogs are emotional sponges; therefore, whatever sort of emotions you are feeling will likely flow down that leash, like a conductive wire. Had a tough day at the office? Try not to take your negative emotions out on Fido, he will pick up on your emotional baggage and you both will be the worse for it! Leaders project an air of serenity to their dogs and present positive attitudes.

These are a mere sample of some of the essential qualities of a pack leader, and even when they are present some fairly common behavioral problems can STILL occur when your dog gets his alpha and omega mixed up in the hierarchal soup. How to address those problems is topic for another discussion!

Written by Josh Abrams
Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Owner
of Top Spot Canine Academy at www.topspotcanine.com
Reach Josh directly at 561-496-5045 or josh@topspotcanine.com
Located in Boca Raton, FL