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Who calls the shots in your house- is it you or your pet? Whether
you are a new pet parent or one with a dominating pet, here are
some tips that you can use to station yourself as the pack
leader.
Understanding puppy pack leader psychology
You should establish yourself as the pack leader right from day
one, when you bring your
puppy
home. Do not wait until your puppy is older or has settled in to
start the training, for you will be giving out mixed signals to
your pet. Most puppies have their interactions limited to just
the other litter members and the mother before being adopted. The
mother dog lays down rules for pups right from when they are
young. From setting boundaries on how far they can wander off to
making them wait for their food, puppies find it easy to
understand these rules imposed by their pack leader.If you do not
position yourself as the pack leader, then your newly adopted
puppy might take up the role herself or interact with you as she
did with her litter members. Yes, that means she will bite and
chase you just as she did with the other puppies in the litter.
This is where you should draw the line, and teach your pet that
such behavior is not allowed. The intensity, actions and words
that you use while training your pet can make a lot of
difference; too harsh and your pet will grow up to be shy and
timid, too subtle and your pet will take up a dominating stance.
Crates, toys and treats
If you have nervous or unsure energy, then your dog will not look
up to you as a pack leader. You want to maintain a calm and
collected approach when you train your pet. Do not lose your
temper if your pet does not follow your commands. Instead use a
calm and assertive tone while giving out commands to your puppy.
This could be any situation. Say you are setting a time limit on
your pup's playtime, then you want him to drop the toy when you
give out a command for the same. You could even use treats to
train your pet. For instance, you could get your pet to drop the
toy every time you say โStopโ, and give him a treat in return.You
may also want to look at getting a
crate
while house-training your pet. This should help set boundaries
when you have a newly adopted pup running around wildly in the
house. Your puppy may not take it to the crate right away, but
you should not go running back to him every time he starts to
howl or bark. Instead, leave a few treats or a toy in the crate,
so he learns to calm down, and picks up the manners and rules set
down by his pack leader.
Make Yourself the Ultimate Pack Leader
Dogs are loving companions who can help their owners in many
ways, from relaxing on the couch together to guiding visually
impaired pet parents around town. Every day, canines make a
difference in people's lives.Livingston Daily reported that Karen
Spear, a resident of Clinton Township, Michigan, has
steadily been going blind her entire life. After visiting the
doctor in 1992, she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a
rare disease that damages the retina. Her physician told her
there was no cure and that one day she'd be completely
blind.Today, her sight is comparable to the circumference of a
straw and she lacks peripheral vision, making her legally
blind. Although Spear learned to walk with the help of a cane,
she constantly bruised herself from bumping into things around
the house. A friend
recommended Leader Dogs for the
Blind
, a place where people can get help dogs, located in Rochester
Hills, Michigan. Spear decided to get one, however, before
she can bring her pooch home, she has to spend 26 days at the
organization's campus, training with and learning about her new
guide dog.There are approximately 90 dogs in the breeding stock
at Leader, including both males and females who begin their
training at just 3 days old. The choices of Leader Dogs
are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and
Labrador-Golden mixes. When the puppies are born, host families
have to acclimate the pooches to being handled and introduce them
to various textures and sounds. These volunteer homes are
responsible for everything from basic training to socialization
to get the canines prepared for their work as service
dogs.Training is the most important part of the process, as these
pooches need to respond to commands from their owners without
hesitating. It's essential for pet parents to be
pack
leaders
, too.
Establishing leadership with
your new dog
During the first days of owning a pooch, it's critical for owners
to create a
strong bond and balanced
relationship with their new canine
, Cesar's Way explained. While becoming the
pack
leader
takes time, following through on training is what builds the most
strength in the household.The source suggested that owners start
every day with a 30- to 45-minute walk, which is pivotal to your
dog's physical and mental health. Rather than freely giving
affection, use it as a reward for exercises that demonstrate
obedience. Pet parents should also include the entire family in
the process of training the new pooch because giving
each member a responsibility reinforces the
pack
leader
mentality.During the first weeks of owning your dog, sign up for
PetPlus to purchase discounted accessories that can help make you
the best
pack
leader
.
