Leader of the pack.

First, understand that dogs respond to pack leaders. It doesn't really care if you're a dog or not - it will respond to commanding behavior from a human. If your dog is constantly aggressive, always lashing out, and frequently ignores your commands, it's safe to say that your dog doesn't respect you as a leader. Many dog owners would prefer to be friends with their dog. What they don't realize is that the dog sees this submissive behavior and begins to think that it is the leader. Who's the leader? You are, and that's why you need to train yourself to be one.

Second, you have to know how to be a pack leader. The first rule to establishing yourself as a leader is having a code of conduct for your dog. If your dog does something you don't like, do you simply yell at it, but never correct the behavior? The dog doesn't know what your words mean, so there's a good chance it will end up displaying the behavior again. However, if you have a code of conduct and your dog violates it, you should get up and correct the behavior - sometimes, simply standing or sitting up and being firm is enough. The bottom line is that your dog should know that you are willing to enforce certain standards of behavior.

A dog that sees it has limits with you will begin to understand that you are the leader. So you have to train yourself to be consistent. Only reward dogs after they have produced a behavior you want, and have done so calmly. Don't ever "bribe" a dog to do something - people bribe political leaders; is your dog a political leader? No. You're the leader in your house, and you get to say when the rewards are doled out: when actions have been completed to your satisfaction. Treat yourself like the leader, and the dog will follow. Then you can train the dog with less effort.

Photo Credits: Greencolander

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.

Get morning exercise!

When it comes to training your dog, we sometimes have to remember that also have to train ourselves. A dog that has a good "pack leader" living with him or her will need to know that you are consistent in the boundaries you set, as well as consistent with the habits you establish. That's why it's so important to have a real, written action plan so that you - and your dog - never get knocked off course.

Morning - Exercise (typically at least a 30 minute walk).

Exercise is crucial for your dog - not only will your dog shed fat and gain lean muscle, but your dog also needs the mental boost that exercise gives. Exercise helps to stave off depression, anxiety, and even aggression. If you keep your exercise habits consistent, both you and your dog can add years to your life.

Why exercise in the morning? Because as soon as you skip a walk or two, the procrastination bug sets in. You don't want to add "walk the dog" to your list of chores to do later that day or evening, so get it out of the way. If you don't want to put off breakfast, simply grab a banana and head out there.

Afternoon - Training.

If you're new to the world of dog training, you might want to start with the small things, like learning how to sit on command. Training your dog doesn't have to be a highly involved process - simply take five or ten minutes after you come home from work and start implementing a new command. If the dog does what you ask, then you can present it with a treat - but make sure not to try and "bribe" your dog. Making this part of your daily routine will teach your dog that if it presents the desired behavior on a consistent basis, it will earn a reward.

Evening - Relaxation or play time.

Again, just a brief span of time - say fifteen minutes - can help your dog feel loved and appreciated with some quality playing time. If you have children, involve them in this time, as well. Shut off the tube, head outside, and play a little fetch. while you toss your kids the pigskin.

A dog shouldn't feel like it's "his" playtime. Instead, he should feel happy to be part of what you or your family is doing. It's a subtle distinction, but an important one that will help you raise a healthy and happy dog.

Photo Credits: Emery_Way

Sh... they're sleeping.

First, make sure that you have a crate "plan." What's a crate plan? It's simply your plan for getting your dog to sleep in its crate. In your plan you should have a predictable pattern for putting the dog in its crate - this means giving it a regular sleep schedule and putting it in the crate at about the same point every night. This consistency will help build up the crate habit in the dog's mind. Don't worry about how the dog will resist for now, simply get started by formulating a plan.

Second, as part of your plan, include regular exercise for the dog. Really tire it out during the day - by the time night rolls around, it should be ready for rest and even happy to see the warm blankets on the bottom of the crate. You want to make the crate seem inviting, and one way to do this is to make a dog's daily life physically exhausting. This will also solve many of your dog's anxiety problems, as exercising is good for taking away stress.

Third, you'll want to monitor your own behaviors when the dog is around. Are you behaving like a pack? If so, who is the pack leader? Are you the leader of your household or is the dog? A dog that knows its role as the dog will have no problems sleeping in the crate - it won't even feel that it has an opportunity to question your routines. In order to remain the pack leader, refuse to try to "coerce" your dog's mood by giving it rewards when it is aggressive. Instead, reserve your affection for when a dog is calm and relaxed. Rewarding this behavior will help your dog to react to many situations in which you are around in a calm and relaxed manner.

Fourth, reward your dog initially when it exhibits good crate behavior. This doesn't mean you'll try to bribe it into entering the crate. Instead, if a dog has been calm in its crate all night, give it a treat immediately upon opening the crate up. This will help the dog to associate a calm night inside the crate with a positive reward.

Photo Credits: Niko Herlin

Can I go along for the ride?

If you have a dog that fits this description, it’s very possible that these are some of the causes:

• Do you take “Buffy” with you everywhere in your purse?
• Is Buffy pushed in a baby stroller?
• Do you fail to correct aggressive behavior displayed toward family members, friends or other animals?
• Do you talk in a high-pitched voice when you want to correct a behavior?
• Do you allow Buffy to enter the house before you or other family members?
• Have you ever asked a family member to move so Buffy can sit next to you?

If you are doing one or more of the above, you are in effect creating a monster. Dogs are not human beings and don’t understand all this pampering. They were born and bred to do a job and to be part of pack structure. That pack can be amongst other dogs or in a pack where the owner is the pack leader. But when dogs are elevated higher than humans (due to incessant pampering,) they develop aggression.

If you treat Buffy like she’s a human, this will only serve to confuse her, as this is contrary to what the species is about. It’s cute for you, but it’s anything but cute for your dog. She lives to serve you, not the other way around. But to assume that your toy breed doesn’t need training will only be a disservice to Buffy, you and anyone that comes in contact with her.

Training should be positive, never abusive. Either seek professional advice (most towns and cities have several dog trainers) or peruse the Internet. There are several top-rated dog trainers who share their information either for free or you may buy their DVDs.

Cesar Milan is extremely popular, given that he hosts a weekly television program on the National Geographic Channel. There is also the lesser known but highly effective Ed Frawley whose career started out as a police dog trainer.

Both follow the pack leader approach to training. The packer leader should always be the person who is alpha in the family. This is not gender or age dependent. It could be father, mother, or one of the children. However, it is extremely important that all members of the family treat the dog in the same manner. One can’t be pack leader while others pamper.

The good news is that it is never too late to create a pack, train your dogs and correct previous bad behaviors in both Buffy and you. Dogs live in the moment and if you throw the baby stroller away, Buffy will forget it ever existed.

Photo Credits: adria.richards

Cat and Dog

Where you choose to get your dog is a very personal choice. Some people will only rescue a dog that might otherwise have a miserable life, or be euthanized; while others insist that a breeder is the only way to choose a healthy dog. Perhaps a dog chose you, in which case, preparing is not possible.

Living with a cat cannot prepare you for owning a dog. Cats require far less from its owner than her canine friends do. Cats are self-cleaning (they spend most of their non-sleeping hours grooming themselves). You just set up a litter box and you can leave the house without needing to crate your cat. Even the most trained dog requires several walks during the day and a crate to prevent shoes and electrical wires from being mauled. Apart from cleaning their anuses and/or penis/vagina, dogs will let that hair matted with dirt or mud go until you brush it or wash it. A cat would be mortified to have such an unsightly mess on her body.

Although cats live in packs, their livelihood is not dependent upon it. Dogs need to know their place in a pack. Cats pick and choose when to show their love.  Conversely, dogs, because of their pack mentality, live to serve the pack leader. They need far more bonding than your cat does and they want to be with you all the time. Even if this means that they’re just lying next to you as you read or are fixing a leaky pipe under the sink, they’re content. If you go out of town for a day or up to four days, you can leave a cat alone, provided you have left out ample food and water and a clean litter box. Fluffy may be ticked off at you upon your return but he or she will get over it rather quickly. Assuming its Jake’s last meal, all the food you left for four days will be eaten in one gulp. Your house will be decorated with feces and urine as well as toilet paper and anything he was able to remove from the cabinets. It’s not that dogs are destructive; it’s the fact that left to his own devises, even the most trained dog needs to be reminded all the time. They live in the moment and if that moment tells him to decorate, that’s what you will come home to.

So prior to bringing a dog into your life, ask yourself whether you honestly have the time. It’s not unlike raising a child that never ages beyond about five years old. Your social life will be dramatically reduced if you are unable to corral or crate Jake.  The benefits far outweigh the social life you may be missing, just be realistic with yourself. The worst thing you can do is bring Jake home and neglect him.

Photo Credits: Qole Pejorian

Pack Structure

You can feed and love your dog, but if you don’t establish a pack order, with you as pack leader, he will like you, but he won’t respect you.

Bonding with your dog is as important as feeding your dog. Bonding with a dog is different than bonding with your child or your cat. Dogs need structure and whether they live with humans or amongst other dogs or both, they need to know their place in the pack. Cats may live in a pack as well, but in a cat’s mind she is the leader and everyone else lives to serve her.

It’s quite the other way around with dogs. Dogs need you to be the pack leader and if you are not, this can create a confused and aggressive dog. Bonding, as such, is two-fold.

Playing with your dog is an important part of being a pack leader. You can feed “Jake” and then turn around and ignore him.

It’s important to realize that ALL dogs must be in a pack structure, be they large or small breeds. Whether Jake is a Maltese or a Bull Mastiff, he needs to know his place in the pack. This may seem complicated to you, but don’t worry, your job is only to establish yourself as pack leader. Dogs are always below you and if you have multiple dogs or cats in your home, regardless of age, breed, size or gender, they’ll work out the order amongst themselves.

For example, say you own two dogs, both the same age and the same gender, female. A potential threat has just caught their attention – a falling leaf from a tree or a moving cloud is making its way across the sky. One will lead the brigade to put that leaf in its place or bark at the cloud above. The other will sit there and occasionally let out a yelp but annoyed that her sleep was disturbed. Clearly the diva is going to be fine being relegated to number two amongst themselves. If you have a cat, although there may be some resistance, all end up being below your cat, even you at times.

Becoming a pack leader involves adopting the attitude of a pack leader. It does not involve aggression towards a dog, it doesn’t involve rolling him on his back, hard leash corrections or even raising your voice to the dog. It involves adopting a leader's attitude. This is something that new dog owners must learn how to do.

Here are some easy things you can start doing right now to establish yourself as pack leader:

• Always make your dog sit before going through a door.
• Never allow your dog to go through a door before you.
• Make sure you call his name and “allow” him to go through the door, always after you.
• When you are eating, the order is, pack leader (s) is/are served first, then dogs.
• Eating with your dogs is recommended, serve yourself first, then your dogs.
• Praise them for finishing all their food.
• Never give them table scraps.

Photo Credits: nicadlr

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

Traveling in packs has a long evolutionary history. Dogs have traveled in packs for thousands of years because there are advantages in numbers; a quick survey of the animal kingdom reveals plenty of mammals that also travel with each other. Even humans travel in packs and tribes; modern technology has blurred this a bit but the principles remain. Dogs travel in packs, as well, and when they are removed from other dogs, they begin to try to "fit in" with a new pack instinctively.

That means that this pack mentality actually can't be avoided; in a pack there have to be leaders and followers. Someone is setting the rules and another is living by them. If you don't assert yourself as pack leader and begin to establish the rules, the dog will realize that you are behaving like a follower. If you're the follower, the dog makes the assumption that it is the leader. This, of course, has all sorts of negative consequences on a dog's behavior.

In order to understand a dog's pack mentality, you should realize that it's okay to treat yourself better than the dog, even while treating your dog with respect and affection. You should eat first, you should be the first to exit a door, and you should determine when it's time to go for a walk.

There is a certain amount of counter-intuitive thinking involved, and remember that the pack mentality is no excuse to treat your dog with disrespect. If you understand and accept your role as pack leader, however, you will learn to treat your dog with the highest amount of respect possible. To treat your dog this way will help it to socialize well with other dogs, accept healthy behaviors, and respond well to training.

If you buy a dog, you have become the pack leader: it's your duty to lead a good pack. That's why it will be important to learn more about becoming a pack leader and how your dog responds to your cues.

Photo Credits: Mark Watson (kalimistuk)