Training Your Dog By Becoming The Pack Leader

What's the biggest question we get asked when trying to train their dog or

puppy? It's "How do I become the pack leader?". The most important process in

training your dog is to convince them that you are in charge. As the person

in charge - the pack leader - you are the decision maker: where and when to

go for a walk, how to behave and respond to all the various situations,

people and events that occur in everyday life.

Dogs naturally work in packs and it is the leader who makes all the decisions.

The last thing you - or your dog - wants is for the decisions to be left up

to them. That will inevitably lead to things going wrong.

So how do you do this? Well firstly you must realise what NOT to do. One of

the worst things is to try to dominate your dog. You will simply be telling

it that it is all about physical strength and while you may force it to

become submissive it will believe that you have bullied your way into the

pack leader role.

Fortunately there is a much easier and more effective way. No matter the

breed, all dogs speak the same language and so will respond to the right

method pretty well all the time. By far the best way to learn to be the pack

leader is to watch it being done on video (there are some very good video-

based websites).

When your dog barks he is probably alerting you to what he perceives as

danger (this is the actual cause of so-called dog barking problems). When

your dog does this stay in total control and be calm.

If your dog pulls on its leash you again must assert yourself firmly and

clearly that the behavior is not acceptable.

Observe your dog at home. If it is able to relax and 'switch off' you know

that it feels it is not 'on duty' as the pack leader and is trusting you with

that role. This is related directly so how you greet your dog when you return

home (this can be very subtle so again I suggest you watch it on a dog

training video so you can see the difference).

Perhaps the most important step in establishing control of your dog and being

the pack leader is feeding your dog correctly. This is a lot more than just

getting him or her to sit for its food!

The benefits to understanding how to become the pack leader are enormous and

I would go so far as to say that until you do you will continue to have dog-

related issues of one sort or another. A video from a reputable dog trainer

will be of enormous help.