Should You Really Be the “Leader” For your Dog?

Pack Mentality

With the success of Cesar Millan's "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic channel, a lot of people are taking to the idea of becoming the "pack leader," which is a way of viewing human-dog relationships. From this perspective, your house or family is actually a pack, and you - the owner - are placed at the head of this pack as the pack leader. The dog, meanwhile, is a follower. Is this really how dogs respond to training or is it just a way to force them to be obedient?

Dogs do have a particular history that's tied with our own. Throughout the centuries, humans have been breeding dogs for specific purposes, such as becoming good companions for hunting trips. With a title like "man's best friend," the traditional view of the dog as a companion also bears itself out in reality. Dogs make very good companions, which is why they are such popular pets in the first place.

The "pack" mindset is good for humans as well as dogs. Pet owners sometimes allow behavior from their dog that they wouldn't allow from their own children, essentially letting the dog set its own boundaries and its own rules. A dog will try to assert any role you give it - if you're following the dog, the dog will try to adopt its own little "pack leader" role. If you act like the pack leader, the dog will understand that and accept a follower role.

Some have criticized this philosophy for placing too much emphasis on dominating dogs mentally, but in reality the "pack" mindset can be a very healthy way to interact with your dog. A solid, confident pack leader will both set boundaries for the dog while still allowing them freedom to exercise, roam, and express itself.

Viewing a human as part of a dog's training is a proactive approach that understands that a dog's behaviors aren't only affected by the dog, but by its environment. A bad owner can make for a poorly behaving dog, and a good owner can help steer a dog's behaviors in healthier directions. For many people who don't seem to understand how their dog behaves, this shift alone can help them understand where they have gone wrong in training their dog.

There is more to training dogs than simply understanding the "pack" structure, but this principle serves as a great blueprint for interacting with your dogs. Make yourself a priority and allow the dog to follow you - set boundaries for the dog and enforce them consistently. You'll find that viewing yourself as the pack leader will make you more assertive and effective when interacting with your dog.

Photo Credits: Elsie esq.

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