WHEN WE LEAD THE DOG WILL FOLLOW.

A DOG WHO IS FORCED TO LEAD, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT TAKING CHARGE, WILL DEVELOP A VARIETY OF STRESS RELATED BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS.

Your dog can only comply when he gets it. Otherwise he will always have to be physically controlled. Comprehending your dog and teaching him sensibly what you want forms a fertile ground where trust and friendship can grow. The more you know, the better you teach, the more sense you make to your dog and the more powerful a leader you are. You can't ask your dog to compensate for your lack of skill, or interest, or knowledge, because than you are asking her to take charge. Humans are the self-proclaimed cream of the crop - the brainiest mammal on earth. Yet, many of us lay blame and responsibility on the dog when things don't work out.

Let's take charge and lead! Everything else is symptom control.


To be the leader to the satisfaction of your dog, (your dog will only follow if HE thinks that you are a trustworthy leader, regardless how you see yourself) you never have to alpha-roll him, speak dog, growl in his face, forcefully take things away from him, forbid him on the bed, eat first, enter and exit first, or make sure that he walks behind you.

The two aspects that are paramountedly important to impress your dog enough to follow are:

You protecting him when he feels unsafe and you making available everything he wants.


Protection means to instill in your dog's mind that she not only socially belongs, but that she is 100% safe when she is with her social group. The criteria what safe is differs for every dog - and is part of what you should learn and know about your dog. That includes to socialize her at her comfort level. Don't let boisterous puppies pick on her in puppy class, or well-meaning children crowd her when she is shy. Don't attend dog classes where methods are used that intimidate her; introduce her to the groomer and veterinarian gently and look for someone else if they don't agree with your methods. Investigate thoroughly if you have to kennel her or need a dog sitter. Be predictable when you engage with her. She does not understand a hard day at work, a bad mood, or money problems. She's just happy to see you and erratic human behavior messes her up.

For fearful dogs protection is probably the most important part of leadership, especially initially, before a bond is formed and until a sense of safety is instilled.

Protection and leadership are extensively discussed in the book Dump Dog.


The second aspect that will tell your dog very clearly that you are undisputably in charge is resource control. The word resource is interchangeable with reward, reinforcement, drive, motivator. It is anything your dog wants at the moment and can include food, attention, play, the off-leash park, being let out of a crate - or in, being let outside, permission to sniff the latest pee-mail at the lamp pole, and so on.

The drive is your dog's currency. If your dog wants to sleep on your bed at night, having the privilege of being close to you is what he's after (okay, maybe the cushy blanket as well). The bed, but more importantly, your space, becomes the resource. Make it work for you by allowing him up with permission only. Your dog should look at you, wait for your cue word or hand signal, and then jump up.

Sheep are the resource for every decent Border Collie. Only if the little herder is attentive to the human shepherd, follows his cues, is he allowed on the sheep - they are the reward for attentiveness and obedience.

The more you are able to direct your dog's natural drive, the hardwired motivation, his purpose and passion, into behaviors that are acceptable and desireable for you, the more powerful you are. That is training without force. Not ever needed! Don't shy away from giving freely, but don't give all for free. Psychologically speaking, the giver has the power, never the receiver. So don't worry if your dog's passion is food - you can use yummy treats. But more than anything, because most dogs seek social belonging, being engaged and involved with your dog, should become the most desired reward.

In Dump Dog I describe how I hang my nose into a bush my dogs extensively sniff, or how I complimented Davie on finding a freshly gutted rabbit (she didn't gut it, just found it), and how I tell Will how brilliant she is when she finds me in tracking class. That is what I mean when I say engaged. If your dog feels that she is important, she'll stick close, especially if you happen to have that second thing she loves, the ball or liver cake, with you as well.

The more you fail to do that, the more you give for free and on demand, the more your dog will have a sense of entitlement and follow only the boundaries he set for himself.

On the flipside of that coin is the owner who ignores her dog, is not involved, does not direct with rewards and fails to reinforce behaviors she likes. That owner will have to control and correct behaviors the doesn't like. Hardly leadership, more like despotism.

Once you have established leadership, your behavior problems dissipate and you can enjoy any activity you like together.



CONTACT SILVIA IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR WANT TO SHARE A THOUGHT.

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