Dogs have long been a source of love and inspiration due to
their unwavering commitment to their companions. Regardless of the
type, canines never take friendships for granted -- canine loyalty
is paramount among all breeds.One dog in Atlanta, Georgia, proved
his loyalty when Michael Mason spotted the four-legged hero
outside of his local church on July 22, 2014. Standing over his
injured friend, the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier
named Herman protected his fallen companion by the side of
the road. Mason was so touched by the gesture that he snapped
a photo of the duo, sending it to a friend and asking for
help.According to WSB-TV Atlanta, the image took off and went
viral, even earning a Facebook post from actress Kylie Szymanski,
one of the stars of AMC's "The Walking Dead." Following the massive
popularity of the photo, Herman was picked up by Fulton County
Animal Services - the employees provided his moniker. They're
hoping to find the hero dog a new home.However, Herman isn't alone
in watching over and protecting his friends.What makes dogs
so loyalFrom
bomb sniffing dogs saving soldiers' lives
overseas to seeing-eye companions guiding vision-impaired
owners, there's no shortage of uplifting stories about the loyalty
of canines. Cesar Millan, the renowned dog trainer, discussed the
long-winding history of dog companionship and thereason behind this animal's
steadfast loyalty to owners and their families
.Dogs are naturally pack animals, making friendship a standard
aspect of their personalities. Whether the pack is made up of
humans or other dogs, these furry friends love to be part of a
collective. Whenever they lose a member, even for a short while
such as soldiers deploying overseas or owners going on long
vacations, dogs feel like a part of themselves is
missing.They're also an affectionate species with instincts that
cause them to form bonds. They want to share love and feel it, too.
This drives dogs to contribute to their pack and protect fellow
members from danger. With Herman and his injured friend, he was
following his natural instincts to watch over a member of his
proverbial family.The relationship between dogs and friendship
dates back thousand of years. Herman is merely one example of the
loyalty and companionship that canines exhibit when the people - or
animals - they love are hurt or in danger.
Does Your Pet Look at You as the Pack Leader?
Dogs being pack animals, look for a pack leader to get a sense
of security. If you do not establish rules and boundaries, and
display actions that station you as the pack leader, your pet will
just look at you as a playmate or even position himself as the pack
leader. It can become difficult for you to command, control or
discipline him/her when he/she does not look at you as a pack
leader, while it can also be stressful for him/her. Here is a look
at signs that your dog does or does not look at you as a pack
leader.
Leading the way
If your dog is leading you when you take him/her for a walk,
then you are probably not being a pack leader. Of course, it is a
little different if you have a sniffer dog on the leash. Your pet would not want to follow you if he/she is sniffing a
trail, and it would make more sense that he/she leads. You can even
watch for cues on how your dog behaves when you are walking in/out
of a room. If your dog looks at you as a pack leader then he will
let you take the lead. If he/she is having a free run around the
house, jumping on the couch, bed, kitchen and everywhere else, then
you have not set clear boundaries with your pet.
Food rules
Do you feed your pet first before you eat? It may be a nice
gesture, but in canine world you are clearly marking yourself as
one of the pack members, and your dog as the pack leader by doing
so. In canine packs, the leaders always eat first. So if you want
to establish yourself as the leader, you eat first. Stealingfood
is a big no-no. Your dog would not steal from a pack leader, and
if he is stealing food from you then it means that he/she does not
respect you as the leader. Be sure to set clear boundaries on who
is the pack leader with your pet.
Vocalization and
actions
Do you find the need to yell or scream to get your dog's
attention? Does that sound like what a pack leader would do? Pack
leaders effortlessly command attention and respect. Dogs easily
pick up cues from your body language, energy and tone of voice. If
you have to use force or yelling to get your dog to listen to you,
then you are probably doing something wrong. Also, this kind of
energy can make your dog feel anxious or scared, so you want to
refrain from being that way around your pet.
