Start young!

The answer to these questions is a little surprising. While some experts might differ in opinion, some believe that beginning training should happy very early on in a dog's life; not too much for a young puppy to handle, but enough to establish a standard of behavior from the start.

One issue many people struggle with is when a puppy breaks a rule for the first time. Many people are still in a relaxed mode and the novelty of owning a dog has perhaps not worn off - this is a fine way to feel, but it shouldn't determine the way you interact with your dog. If a puppy starts breaking the rules, you'll have to stop and correct the behavior - not punish it - from the outset.

Why is this? It's because puppies are exploratory and curious, and are actually searching for behavioral boundaries. What you accept early on in a puppy's life can have ramifications for what it views as acceptable behavior later on in its life. If a puppy has learned to accept its role in your family, how can it know where its status exactly is unless you provide feedback?

It's tempting to allow your puppy its freedom, but consistency will ultimately be the tool that shapes your dog's life. And while you certainly should let a puppy explore and make its own mistakes, you should also correct a behavior that will never be tolerated. Doing so only communicates that this behavior might be under the realm of "acceptable."

How do you correct a puppy's bad behavior? First, you'll want to firmly but calmly coax it out of the mindset that created the behavior. A slight nudge or firm "no" is acceptable. You should never verbally or physically abuse your dog, but you also have to understand the role voice and touch can have in shaping its behavior. Don't punish the dog because it might not know what it's being punished for. Simply give a negative response and remove the dog from the situation. This will help demonstrate that the behavior is unacceptable. Remain consistent, and the dog will learn its boundaries, helping it to lead a happy and healthy life.

Photo Credits: ElBosco

Pack Mentality

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.

Boundaries.

To help you understand the "pack" mindset, think about boundaries. We have many boundaries in our minds that we unconsciously act out every day - we don't walk on our neighbor's lawns, we don't go into strange places without good reason, and we feel a sense of personal space. Consider this for a second: when someone cuts you off in traffic, many people react aggressively through "road rage." Why? That person could be fifty feet away from you within seconds; why does it feel like they just butted in line?

The answer is "boundaries." On the road, our personal space is mentally expanded; that's why it feels so easy to violate. As it relates to dog training, you are going to have to understand boundaries and start to enforce them.

The pack leader of a tribe often feels no boundaries; they're free to do what they want in their pack because everyone else is following them. If you feel anxious when you're approaching your dog or invading its space, this might be an issue of having a "pack follower" concept of boundaries.

This is why dogs who view themselves as the pack leader feel free to behave and act out as they please - their sense of boundaries are not enforced. When you put them on a leash, they go as far out as possible because their boundaries aren't limited by a "follower's" mindset. When you open a door, they want to skip ahead of you.

Instead, start constructing some boundaries for your dog, and begin enforcing them through simple corrections, not punishments. If you don't want a dog to jump on your lap, give it a quick tap to change its mindset and then correct the behavior by putting him down. If the dog persists, begin invading the dog's personal space instead to show your boundaries will not be broken. Don't do these with a vicious intent; simply enforce your personal boundaries.

The more you set boundaries and enforce them through confident but respectful behavior, the more your dog will respond like the follower and not the leader.

Photo Credits: optimal tweezers