LEADERSHIP
WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE!??!

Leadership can be defined by us as a person or thing that is the most successful or advanced in a particular area. A leader, as defined by YOUR DOG can be expanded to mean the strongest, smartest and most successful member of my pack who keeps me safe, provides me with food, provides me with exercise and stimulation, is clear and consistent in what they ask me to do and is fair and loving in return for my devotion and willing compliance.

To your dogs, having a leader is an essential part of their life. So essential in fact, that if a trustworthy leader is not found within their home environment (their pack) , they will take on that role themselves. It is when dogs take on this role that problems arise. In the society that we live in, dogs cannot be allowed to make their own decision and thus decide their own course of action. This is because dogs make decisions based on canine instinct (not human social conformities and laws) and are obviously limited to their choices of reactions and actions –growling, biting, barking, guarding, running, herding, protecting etc.

Feeling the need to take on a leadership role in a human pack puts dogs under tremendous and continuous stress. This stress they are under and the way the choose to perform their role as pack leader results in many behaviours-all of which are termed as problems by humans. Most , if not all behaviour problems addressed in our training are a result of lack or inappropriate leadership or a clear misunderstanding of the leadership role as it pertains to YOUR DOG. These behaviours can include those as serious as biting and dog-to-dog or dog-to-human aggression and/or those as mild as dancing just out of reach when you try to leash your dog, jumping on people, sleeping on the couch when they are not allowed.

According to experts (see reading list for reference) and our own personal experience, dogs look to their human companions for leadership in a few key areas:

• how you allow your dog to greet and interact with you
• how your dog is allowed to greet people and other dogs
• how your dog walks with you
• where your dog sleeps
• eating or doling out food

To a dog, a pack leader would determine all these (and more) decisions. A pack leader would command all the respect and get all the priority and a leader would determine how the individual members of the pack react in any given circumstance. A canine leader (as observed by wolf-pack observations-our dogs wild ancestors) would eat first and allow other pack members access to food only after the leaders hunger has been satisfied. They would determine what posed a threat and what did not in any encounter. They would determine how any potential threats should be handled (fight, freeze or flight). They would be greeted with respect by other subordinate pack members. These subordinate members would respect the leaders personal space and only come forward when asked to do so. Subordinates would respect the leaders prime sleeping or resting areas by never attempting to rest on them.

We have to continuously remind ourselves that dogs do not naturally understand English language (or any language other than dog) and have no way of automatically understanding what is expected of them in our world without some very clear guidance (leadership) from us. Dogs understand and are masters of body language, space and tone of voice. All of which we can use to mimic their own behaviours so that we can be clearer in our communication. So if you can’t sit down and explain to your dog that you’re the pack leader how do you do it? By being consistent and clear in your direction, using our actions (body language) and tone to convey our wishes. Consistency, clarity, calmness and compassion will automatically get us elected as leader in any dog pack.

What can you do starting today to be a good leader?

-Do not allow your dog to sleep on your bed, recline on your lap or lay beside you on the couch.

Leaders of the pack are entitled to the highest and best sleeping and resting areas. If your dog is allowed to freely jump on your bed, your lap or your couch to sleep, you are granting that privilege to your dog instead of assuming it yourself. Once your dog accepts you whole heartedly as the leader they may be invited up upon respectfully waiting for you invitation.

-Nothing in life is free.

If your dog wants something, ensure that it asks nicely before getting anything by using your obedience commands. Such as WAIT on your bed quietly while dinner is being prepared. Sit before leash goes on or going in an out the doorways.

-Ignore unwanted, attention getting behaviour.

Ignore all jumping, barking, whining and fussing as your dog attempts to get your attention. Walking in the front door is a great place to start. Simply turn your back, body block your dog for invading your space or walk away in indifference until your dog shows respectful behaviour which is backing away from you, sitting or lying down patiently until you call him/her over and then reward the calm self-controlled behaviour with affection.

-Greet people and dogs on your terms.

You should first in line between your dog and any other interaction. Ask your dog to sit calmly beside you when approaching a person or dog then direct them to say hello on your command. This teaches your dog to always look to you for direction in any situation instead of trying to control it themselves.

• Set clear boundaries and manners in the house-some examples
• eat before your dog or pretend to eat your dogs food before they get it
• calmly sit before exiting into the yard or any door outside
• only exit the front door when on leash and after being directed to do so after the human has exited first.
• lie down and wait for an invitation to eat their meal
• go to their OWN bed during human eating times
• no jumping or bossing of guests
• go up or down stairs after the human leaders have gone ahead first to prevent trampling and tripping
• thanks for barking and alerting me to someone outside, now go to your bed and sit quietly while the human leaders invite of deal with the potential intruders.

This handout is only a part of what your dog is looking for in a leader and only part of the skills you need to be that leader for your dog. But it is a great place to start! Additional reading material to help you and your dog understand each other are;

READING LIST: The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell, Bones would rain from the sky by Suzanne Clothier, How to be the leader of your pack, and , The other end of the leash by Patricia B McConnell

K9 Kinship ltd. 2008 www.k9kinship.com