Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
How to Control Your Dog's Behavior by Becoming Pack Leader
Is your dog doing a behavior that you don't approve of? Does he/she pull you around when you take him out for a walk? Does he/she bark at other dogs? Do you feel that you can't control him/her? Is it hard to take items away from him/her without being bitten?
To solve all the symptoms, we must get to the root of the matter. Your dog is most likely thinking that he is the pack leader, or at least he is confused about who is the pack leader. When you claim leadership, the dog is free and content to be a happy willing follow
STEPS
# Know that there are many good reasons to be a pack leader.
* Your dog is less likely to attempt to harm you, your family, or other people.
* Your dog will not pull on his leash during walks.
* Your dog will remain well-behaved, even around other dogs who may or may not be.
* Your dog will learn to respect your possessions.
* Reduces constant barking or whining.
* Your dog will be less anxious and nervous.
* Your dog will be happier and more content.
# Learn to think like a dog.
* Realize that there are some areas where dogs do think like humans, and some areas where they do not. This is important because often humans will reinforce negative behavior without knowing it.
* Realize that dogs live in the present much more than humans do. Just because a dog has done something for a while, doesn't mean that he/she can't change. In the same way, just because a dog has had a tough upbringing, or might have been abused, doesn't mean that he/she can't be rehabilitated into a loving, calm pet.
* Dogs do not have guilt or pity in their mindsets/thinking. If a human expresses these emotions, a dog will interpret them as weakness.
* Dogs can be given affection without being touched. A look can also convey affection.
* Dogs have different levels of excitability that they progress through. A problem dog that goes into a frenzy in certain situations cannot be corrected when he/she has reached his highest level of intensity. You must correct at the lower levels to prevent him/her from becoming out of control.
# Learn the pack mentality.[1]
* Dogs have a pack mentality. If you own a dog, you are a member of the same pack that he/she is.
* If a human shows weakness when they first bring him/her into their pack, the dog will often try to become the pack leader himself/herself.
* There will always be a pack leader. If you make sure that it is you, then you'll be able to control your dog in any situation because they will look to you to see how they should react.
* A dog will try to become the pack leader if no one else is.
* Consider dogs in a pack. Dogs are happier when they know their place in the pack. Your dog will be more content and happy when you consistently behave like a pack leader. If you allow the dog to be leader in the home, but want to be the leader when you want to take him/her for a walk, you will frustrate your dog.
* A pack leader ...
o Decides where the pack will go.
o Decides when the pack will eat.
o Decides who gets what food.
o Decides who is allowed to bark and when.
o Decides when the pack is allowed to play.
o Decides what the pack is allowed to play with.
o Decides how other members of the pack must behave.
o Decides who owns what.
o Always walks in the front.
o Can take anything away from any dog in his pack and claim it as his own.
o Never says he's sorry.
*
The 'Three Amigos' smiling for the camera
The 'Three Amigos' smiling for the camera
The rest of the pack is not resentful of how this works. To them, it is normal. If you modify your behavior to fit to this model (when relating to your dog), your dog will be content because his/her pack is working the way his/her instincts say it should.
3.
* When pack leaders correct other dogs in their pack, they are rarely aggressive, but just assertive. Humans must learn this combination of calm assertiveness to master their role as the pack leader
* There are exceptions to the human, as the leader, always being in front. When the dog is working, he cannot be the leader. For instance, sled dogs... they are in front, but they are also working.
4. Be calm and assertive when dealing with your dog.
* Assertive is different than aggressive.
* If your dog knows voice commands, use them:
o Only in firm tones.
o Don't use a high-pitched voice
o Don't speak in a cutesy voice, like you would to a baby
o Do not speak in anger
o Don't say it as if you are asking the dog a question.
o If you give a command and you know the dog is purposefully ignoring you, stop giving the command, you're just making it worse.
* If you have seen Star Wars, the "Jedi mind trick" is a good example of calm assertiveness. Not the waving of hands, but the firmness and calmness of the tone of voice.
5. Be the pack leader.
* A small dog can become the leader of many much larger and stronger dogs. It is a matter of attitude, not physical power or strength.
* Ways you can convey to your dog that you are the pack leader:
o Exit the house first when you go for walks.
o Walk in front during the walk.
o Give food only when the dog is submissive and calm.
* Claim as your own anything the dog is possessive about.
o Set the dog's food bowl on the ground during normal feeding time and stand between the food and the dog. Use your body to block the dog from the food. You don't even need to say anything. This conveys (in a way that the dog understands) that the food is yours. For as long as the dog tries to get at the food, continue blocking. Do not give up or cave in! When the dog relaxes, perhaps even laying down, and goes into a calm submissive state of mind, only then do you allow the dog to have the food. Congratulations.
* Let your dog know what behaviors you, as the pack leader, don't like.
* Be consistent to correct any behavior that you don't want. The dog will be confused if sometimes you correct him, and sometimes you don't.
6. Use a choke chain, but only properly.
* The chain, when it comes from the leash, should go through the end ring and across the top of the dog's neck, before coming down the other side and up to the end ring.
* The chain should usually hang loosely around your dog's neck.
* When the dog needs correction, jerk on the chain so that it tightens around his neck and then quickly release so that the chain is slack again. Do not keep the chain tight for very long at all.
* Make a loop with the chain...
1. Hold an end ring in each hand.
2. Take your right hand and raise it directly above your left hand and stretch the chain taught.
3. Lower your right hand so that the slack loop of the chain falls inside the end ring in your left hand. The loop that emerges below the end ring in your left hand is what goes around your dog's neck.
4. The end ring in your right hand is the one to fasten to your leash.
* Often the choke chain, with leash, is useful in helping the dog to submit to you in the home, not just on walks.
* Once the choke chain is on the dog, you must generally walk on the side of them that you have configured it for. If you switch and walk on the other side, the chain is now not configured correctly and can harm the dog's neck. If you do switch to the other side, just stop the dog, take the chain off, and flip the loop around and put it back on so that it is going in the right direction.
7. Walk your dog.
* It is vital that a dog is walked regularly.
* Dogs in a pack in nature do a lot of walking. If you do not duplicate that, your dog can become frustrated and exhibit behavior problems.
* Walking accomplishes crucial goals:
o Exercise
o Gives you a chance to show that you are the leader
* Your walk must be about 25-45 minutes long
* Use a choke chain to be able to correct the dog, when needed, during the walk.
* The dog should walk calmly beside you during the walk.
* When the dog is where he should be, there should be slack in the leash.
* Walk like a conquering hero: Chest out, head up, shoulders back. The dog will read that body language and that will reinforce your legitimacy as a leader. The dog can sense your state of mind.
o You can use a dog backpack to add weight to a high-energy dog so that your walks are more effective at draining energy.
o You may shorten your walk if you use a dog backpack or run during your walk.
* Letting your dog outside in your backyard, even a large one, is not good enough and cannot replace the walk in which you are the leader and he is following.
* You must lead your dog out of your house, that means he must walk behind you as you walk out the door. If he skips ahead of you before you exit, bring him back in and do it again, blocking him from leaving first.
* How much a dog needs to be walked varies according to breed. A low-activity dog like a pug may not need very much of a walk at all. However, a high-activity dog, like an English Setter, often needs to be walked 2 or more times a day. Do not adopt a high-energy dog if you cannot exercise him properly!
* Choose where you want the dog to walk beside you and be consistent in making sure the dog stays there or farther back from that point.
* Many behavior problems stem from a bored dog who does not get proper exercise.
o Chewing on furniture
o Nervousness
o Pacing
o Whining
o Constant or frequent barking
o Crazed obsessive behaviors
* Common things dogs do that sometimes prompt humans to take a subordinate role:
o The dog may bring a toy they want to play with to the human, so that the human will play with them. Don't play every time this happens. Doing so says that the dog is the leader and gets to decide when we play.
o A new puppy brought home for the first time is often fearful. Humans that coddle him and try to reassure him with soothing voices are conveying to the dog that they are weaker, and that he is above them in the pack. And by giving affection, they are saying to the dog that it is good for the dog to be fearful.
o A dog happy to see his master come home greets him at the door in a very excited state. Resist the temptation to provide affection at that point. Wait until the dog is calm to give affection. Making the dog sit will often help them calm down enough.
[edit] Tips
* Be consistent. It will help your dog learn more quickly, and help them to trust you.
* Be assertive, but not aggressive.
* Do not yell at your dog. If you think you have to, you are doing something wrong.
* Share affection as much as you want, but only when the dog is in a calm, submissive state of mind.
* Dogs usually want to please us humans. Be consistent, so they understand what you expect of them.
* You will know if and when you are using the choke chain properly if when the collar is tightened it produces a distinct "Pop" as it closes. Remember this is a quick TIGHT/RELEASE immediately action, not a choke your dog out one.
* A gentle leader is also a very effective, highly humane control and correction device which is much better for you and your dog then a choke chain.
* If you eat a meal, especially dinner, at or around the same time you usually feed your dog, consider waiting until after you and your family have completely finished eating before allowing your dog to eat. The leader in a wild pack always eats first.
* When training a young dog give it a bone or a treat make it sit and wait until you say "OK" and allow it to eat.
* While it is eating say "Stop' and take the bone away for your yourself. If the dog growls speak in a firm voice and give it a light hit just "No" and a tap to let the dog know who is the pack leader.
* Repeat this a few times until the dog will give you the food without complaining.
* The pack leader can give and take food or anything anytime they choose, once the dog learns this you are the dominant animal in the pack.
To solve all the symptoms, we must get to the root of the matter. Your dog is most likely thinking that he is the pack leader, or at least he is confused about who is the pack leader. When you claim leadership, the dog is free and content to be a happy willing follow
STEPS
# Know that there are many good reasons to be a pack leader.
* Your dog is less likely to attempt to harm you, your family, or other people.
* Your dog will not pull on his leash during walks.
* Your dog will remain well-behaved, even around other dogs who may or may not be.
* Your dog will learn to respect your possessions.
* Reduces constant barking or whining.
* Your dog will be less anxious and nervous.
* Your dog will be happier and more content.
# Learn to think like a dog.
* Realize that there are some areas where dogs do think like humans, and some areas where they do not. This is important because often humans will reinforce negative behavior without knowing it.
* Realize that dogs live in the present much more than humans do. Just because a dog has done something for a while, doesn't mean that he/she can't change. In the same way, just because a dog has had a tough upbringing, or might have been abused, doesn't mean that he/she can't be rehabilitated into a loving, calm pet.
* Dogs do not have guilt or pity in their mindsets/thinking. If a human expresses these emotions, a dog will interpret them as weakness.
* Dogs can be given affection without being touched. A look can also convey affection.
* Dogs have different levels of excitability that they progress through. A problem dog that goes into a frenzy in certain situations cannot be corrected when he/she has reached his highest level of intensity. You must correct at the lower levels to prevent him/her from becoming out of control.
# Learn the pack mentality.[1]
* Dogs have a pack mentality. If you own a dog, you are a member of the same pack that he/she is.
* If a human shows weakness when they first bring him/her into their pack, the dog will often try to become the pack leader himself/herself.
* There will always be a pack leader. If you make sure that it is you, then you'll be able to control your dog in any situation because they will look to you to see how they should react.
* A dog will try to become the pack leader if no one else is.
* Consider dogs in a pack. Dogs are happier when they know their place in the pack. Your dog will be more content and happy when you consistently behave like a pack leader. If you allow the dog to be leader in the home, but want to be the leader when you want to take him/her for a walk, you will frustrate your dog.
* A pack leader ...
o Decides where the pack will go.
o Decides when the pack will eat.
o Decides who gets what food.
o Decides who is allowed to bark and when.
o Decides when the pack is allowed to play.
o Decides what the pack is allowed to play with.
o Decides how other members of the pack must behave.
o Decides who owns what.
o Always walks in the front.
o Can take anything away from any dog in his pack and claim it as his own.
o Never says he's sorry.
*
The 'Three Amigos' smiling for the camera
The 'Three Amigos' smiling for the camera
The rest of the pack is not resentful of how this works. To them, it is normal. If you modify your behavior to fit to this model (when relating to your dog), your dog will be content because his/her pack is working the way his/her instincts say it should.
3.
* When pack leaders correct other dogs in their pack, they are rarely aggressive, but just assertive. Humans must learn this combination of calm assertiveness to master their role as the pack leader
* There are exceptions to the human, as the leader, always being in front. When the dog is working, he cannot be the leader. For instance, sled dogs... they are in front, but they are also working.
4. Be calm and assertive when dealing with your dog.
* Assertive is different than aggressive.
* If your dog knows voice commands, use them:
o Only in firm tones.
o Don't use a high-pitched voice
o Don't speak in a cutesy voice, like you would to a baby
o Do not speak in anger
o Don't say it as if you are asking the dog a question.
o If you give a command and you know the dog is purposefully ignoring you, stop giving the command, you're just making it worse.
* If you have seen Star Wars, the "Jedi mind trick" is a good example of calm assertiveness. Not the waving of hands, but the firmness and calmness of the tone of voice.
5. Be the pack leader.
* A small dog can become the leader of many much larger and stronger dogs. It is a matter of attitude, not physical power or strength.
* Ways you can convey to your dog that you are the pack leader:
o Exit the house first when you go for walks.
o Walk in front during the walk.
o Give food only when the dog is submissive and calm.
* Claim as your own anything the dog is possessive about.
o Set the dog's food bowl on the ground during normal feeding time and stand between the food and the dog. Use your body to block the dog from the food. You don't even need to say anything. This conveys (in a way that the dog understands) that the food is yours. For as long as the dog tries to get at the food, continue blocking. Do not give up or cave in! When the dog relaxes, perhaps even laying down, and goes into a calm submissive state of mind, only then do you allow the dog to have the food. Congratulations.
* Let your dog know what behaviors you, as the pack leader, don't like.
* Be consistent to correct any behavior that you don't want. The dog will be confused if sometimes you correct him, and sometimes you don't.
6. Use a choke chain, but only properly.
* The chain, when it comes from the leash, should go through the end ring and across the top of the dog's neck, before coming down the other side and up to the end ring.
* The chain should usually hang loosely around your dog's neck.
* When the dog needs correction, jerk on the chain so that it tightens around his neck and then quickly release so that the chain is slack again. Do not keep the chain tight for very long at all.
* Make a loop with the chain...
1. Hold an end ring in each hand.
2. Take your right hand and raise it directly above your left hand and stretch the chain taught.
3. Lower your right hand so that the slack loop of the chain falls inside the end ring in your left hand. The loop that emerges below the end ring in your left hand is what goes around your dog's neck.
4. The end ring in your right hand is the one to fasten to your leash.
* Often the choke chain, with leash, is useful in helping the dog to submit to you in the home, not just on walks.
* Once the choke chain is on the dog, you must generally walk on the side of them that you have configured it for. If you switch and walk on the other side, the chain is now not configured correctly and can harm the dog's neck. If you do switch to the other side, just stop the dog, take the chain off, and flip the loop around and put it back on so that it is going in the right direction.
7. Walk your dog.
* It is vital that a dog is walked regularly.
* Dogs in a pack in nature do a lot of walking. If you do not duplicate that, your dog can become frustrated and exhibit behavior problems.
* Walking accomplishes crucial goals:
o Exercise
o Gives you a chance to show that you are the leader
* Your walk must be about 25-45 minutes long
* Use a choke chain to be able to correct the dog, when needed, during the walk.
* The dog should walk calmly beside you during the walk.
* When the dog is where he should be, there should be slack in the leash.
* Walk like a conquering hero: Chest out, head up, shoulders back. The dog will read that body language and that will reinforce your legitimacy as a leader. The dog can sense your state of mind.
o You can use a dog backpack to add weight to a high-energy dog so that your walks are more effective at draining energy.
o You may shorten your walk if you use a dog backpack or run during your walk.
* Letting your dog outside in your backyard, even a large one, is not good enough and cannot replace the walk in which you are the leader and he is following.
* You must lead your dog out of your house, that means he must walk behind you as you walk out the door. If he skips ahead of you before you exit, bring him back in and do it again, blocking him from leaving first.
* How much a dog needs to be walked varies according to breed. A low-activity dog like a pug may not need very much of a walk at all. However, a high-activity dog, like an English Setter, often needs to be walked 2 or more times a day. Do not adopt a high-energy dog if you cannot exercise him properly!
* Choose where you want the dog to walk beside you and be consistent in making sure the dog stays there or farther back from that point.
* Many behavior problems stem from a bored dog who does not get proper exercise.
o Chewing on furniture
o Nervousness
o Pacing
o Whining
o Constant or frequent barking
o Crazed obsessive behaviors
* Common things dogs do that sometimes prompt humans to take a subordinate role:
o The dog may bring a toy they want to play with to the human, so that the human will play with them. Don't play every time this happens. Doing so says that the dog is the leader and gets to decide when we play.
o A new puppy brought home for the first time is often fearful. Humans that coddle him and try to reassure him with soothing voices are conveying to the dog that they are weaker, and that he is above them in the pack. And by giving affection, they are saying to the dog that it is good for the dog to be fearful.
o A dog happy to see his master come home greets him at the door in a very excited state. Resist the temptation to provide affection at that point. Wait until the dog is calm to give affection. Making the dog sit will often help them calm down enough.
[edit] Tips
* Be consistent. It will help your dog learn more quickly, and help them to trust you.
* Be assertive, but not aggressive.
* Do not yell at your dog. If you think you have to, you are doing something wrong.
* Share affection as much as you want, but only when the dog is in a calm, submissive state of mind.
* Dogs usually want to please us humans. Be consistent, so they understand what you expect of them.
* You will know if and when you are using the choke chain properly if when the collar is tightened it produces a distinct "Pop" as it closes. Remember this is a quick TIGHT/RELEASE immediately action, not a choke your dog out one.
* A gentle leader is also a very effective, highly humane control and correction device which is much better for you and your dog then a choke chain.
* If you eat a meal, especially dinner, at or around the same time you usually feed your dog, consider waiting until after you and your family have completely finished eating before allowing your dog to eat. The leader in a wild pack always eats first.
* When training a young dog give it a bone or a treat make it sit and wait until you say "OK" and allow it to eat.
* While it is eating say "Stop' and take the bone away for your yourself. If the dog growls speak in a firm voice and give it a light hit just "No" and a tap to let the dog know who is the pack leader.
* Repeat this a few times until the dog will give you the food without complaining.
* The pack leader can give and take food or anything anytime they choose, once the dog learns this you are the dominant animal in the pack.
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