We’d like to begin this weeks article with the ending statement from last weeks… Maintain pack structure and above all “Lead  your dog before you love them.”

Some of you may be asking yourselves, well what does that mean?  

That you guide the dogs based on a set of structured guidelines rather than superimposing your emotional needs onto their physical needs.

Meaning, they need rules, guidance and protection, not fear, sympathy and uncertainty.

Rules ,Guidance and Protection, what does this mean?
 
Rules: To have rules means to have a clearly defined set of guidelines that govern your actions. Without these guidelines you would have chaos. Imagine a world with no laws. With no legal or moral obligations people would be running around with no inhibitions. Actions without consequences lead to havoc and self destruction. Having a system of checks and balances where the rules are governed and punishment for breaking them is swift and direct creates the stability needed for successful well structured pack.

Guidance:  Every pack is unique. Like your children, your dogs need to be taught the rules and given the opportunity to learn at their pace with patience and compassion. You have to have respect for the animals and it’s unique abilities and it’s capacity to learn. You must first teach them what the desired action is before correcting for an undesirable one giving them the opportunity to build on success. Once they have learned the rules you will continue to guide them through the enforcement of these rules. As the enforcer your job will now be to correct inappropriate behaviors instantly so as not to create confusion in the dogs mind as to which rule was broken. Remember that you are dealing with dogs brains not a humans. Punishing the dog for an act he performed at some point in the past is useless your dog lacks the capacity to relate your punishment of some long forgotten indiscretion.  Timing is critical. Punishment must be delivered at the time of the crime in order for the dog to make a direct association between the two. Therefore creating the necessary inhibition and allowing the dog the opportunity in the future to make better choices.

Protection:  Yes your dog needs to feel safe in your presence ,but what protection really means is “trust.” Your dog needs to trust that you will always be there for them even when you’re not. They must have the absolute confidence in your abilities as pack leader whether you are physically in his presence or away they must still believe that you have total control.

Your dog needs to know that you’re captain of the ship, and the captain always has the answers, even when he doesn’t.  

When you and your dog are  faced with a situation that you are uncertain how to handle properly remember that your dog is not wondering how to handle this problem, he’s wondering “ who’s in charge” Who’s going to take charge of this problem. That is the first question that you must answer, and as pack leader, that answer must always be YOU.