20 www.petloverscompanion.com • 703.780.4400 to misbehave with no consequences from the Pack Leader, the more trust in his leadership is lost. When we don’t honor these needs, a dog suffers from extreme confusion, frustration and feelings of instability. If there is no clear leader, he may feel his very survival is threatened, and will feel compelled to fill the void and become Pack Leader. Once your dog feels he is Pack Leader, be prepared for many adverse consequences: misbehavior, disobedience and signs of disrespect. This situation should be avoided at all costs. How do you know if your dog has taken on the leadership role? If your dog exhibits any of these classic behaviors, he is the Pack Leader of your family: (Use of the male pronoun is for simplicity, refers to both genders). • He races out of doors and doorways ahead of you. • He completely ignores your commands. • He gives you a blank stare or walks away when you call his name. • He humps you or your guests. • He demands your constant attention through nudges, leaning on you, sitting on your foot or whining • He barks excessively, especially if you leave the house (since no one leaves the Pack Leader!) • He lacks respect for your territory: He refuses to move out of your way. He gets on furniture or the bed (your territory) without permission. • He lacks respect for your personal space: he walks on top of you, gets too close, gets between you and another person. • He stares at you and won’t avert his eyes. Dogs use eye contact to demonstrate dominance. • He bares his teeth and/or growls at you; This is the ultimate disrespect. Such behavior should never be tolerated. If your dog exhibits these signs, how do you take back control and establish yourself as Pack Leader? Here are some Do’s and Don’ts. Do’s: Lead through example. Do what pack leaders do: eat first, take the best sleeping spots, go through a doorway first, and “move” a dog out of your way instead of walking around or stepping over him. Be calm and assertive. Adopt a dominant posture, energy, attitude and tone of voice. Showing leadership is as much an attitude as it is a set of behaviors. Let your dog know what he can and cannot do. Use “corrections” to discourage bad behaviors. Catch him in the act, then give a one word stern command or do a quick pull on his leash. The point is to startle him, then re-direct his behavior. You can also try techniques used by wolf packs to communicate in your dog’s language. The alpha female placed unruly pups on their backs and held them until they stopped resisting to force them to realize they are subordinate. Don’ts: Never get angry, yell or hit your dog. This will only scare him. Don’t use sentences to correct him. The point is to get his attention, not have a conversation with him. Becoming Pack Leader is neither an immediate nor a simple process. You have to prove yourself and earn the respect and trust of your dog. You also have to “unteach” his bad behav
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