John Ross and Crea, a field-bred Springer Spaniel. Obedience training has made Crea a wonderful family companion. She is also a certified therapy dog. Crea's life is filled with interesting adventures because she is well behaved. With training, your dog can enjoy a great life, too!
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Pack Leader
Training through a Canine Point of View
In order to successfully train your dog, you must first learn to think like a canine. Dogs can only think like dogs. They cannot think on a human level. Canines consist of a group that includes wolves, coyotes and dingoes. Domestic dogs have been selectively bred to be a specific breed or a mix of breeds. However, first and foremost your pet dog is a canine.Because your dog is a canine, he has the same instincts and drives as his wild cousins. These instincts and drives influence dog behavior.We humans have the ability to understand how dogs learn. We can understand what causes dogs to behave the way that they do. Understanding canine behavior will improve communication with your dog. Learning how to emulate canine behavior will enhance training success. In the wild, canines such as wolves live in packs.It is my opinion that the biggest myth ever perpetuated about dogs is that they want to please humans. This is untrue. Dogs only want to please the pack leader. Only after a human becomes the dog’s pack leader will the dog seek approval and follow direction from that person. As an owner/trainer, you need to tap into your dog’s instinct to follow a pack leader.Wild canines interact with each other in a cooperative manner for survival. They find food and shelter together. They raise their young as a group. This is an extremely successful arrangement that has evolved over thousands of years and helps each member of the canine pack survive. Leading the pack is an alpha pair. There is an alpha male and an alpha female, along with a hierarchy of followers. The ultimate pack leader is generally the most dominant individual in the pack. Typically this is a large adult male. The pack hierarchy is shaped by dominance and submission among the individuals. This produces a pecking order in which each individual holds a particular ranking in the pack.Your new puppy or adopted dog’s first pack experience was with his mother and littermate brother and sisters. Interactions with mother dog and littermates teach a puppy the skills necessary to adapt to pack life. Mother dog is pack leader. Each littermate will find a position in the hierarchy of the puppy pack. The biggest, toughest, and loudest puppy will become “top dog.” This individual does the most growling and biting. A breeder once told me that it was her experience that the most dominate puppy was usually the largest male or the loudest female. Hmm, I find that interesting!The submissive puppy who accepts being growled at and bitten will assume a lower ranking in the pack. Each puppy’s ranking is determined by how dominant or submissive his or her personality is. When your puppy or adopted dog arrives in your home, he or she will view your family as his or her new pack. Your dog will use the behavior learned from prior pack experience to seek a position in this new pack. If allowed to do whatever he or she wants, your dog will naturally assume the role of pack leader. Your dog will by nature assert his or her dominance and walk all over you.Dogs acquire their adult personality at around two years old. If your dog reaches adulthood assuming that he or she is pack leader, you can expect to deal with behavioral problems. You will have an extremely challenging experience trying to train your dog. Your dog will probably resist training much in the same manner that an old wolf would defend his position from a young challenger – by growling and biting. It is much easer to convince a puppy or a young dog that you are pack leader while he or she is initially seeking a position in the pack. It will be much harder after the dog has assumed the pack leader role.This problem can be avoided if you make a dedicated effort to learn proper techniques to gain leadership. If you are incapable or unwilling to provide the leadership that a dog needs, do yourself and your dog a favor – find him a good home. Yes, it’s that important.However, don’t be intimidated. Becoming pack leader is not such a daunting task. You do not need to be mean or cruel to your dog in order to achieve a pack leader status. In fact, that is the 100% wrong approach. If you treat a dog abusively, he or she will only learn to fear and distrust you. Instead, you simply need to learn to be firm and consistent, as well as loving and fair, and your dog will accept you as pack leader. Canine pack leaders are always consistent, and they always maintain their leadership position. Pack followers always know what to expect from the pack leader. If you are inconsistent, it is a clear sign of weakness to your dog. If you show weakness, your dog, by his very nature, will test you. Obedience training capitalizes on a dog’s pack leader instincts, but it is not brute force and dominance. You need to be gentle and assertive. These are not contradictory terms! Gentle yet assertive is the art of dog training.Canine pack leaders show affection toward their followers. They play with subordinates. They share food with and groom subordinates. They even sleep close to them. This is why it is very important to pet, praise and show affection to your dog. Along with teaching your dog that he or she must obey you, you must also show what we humans call love. Let your dog know that obedient behavior pleases you. Praising your dog positively reinforces behavior that you want your dog to repeat. Positive reinforcement is an essential part of successful dog training.How many humans can be pack leader in a family?Dog often do not respond to everyone in the family in the same way. The person who spends the most time training and exercising the dog will get the best results. Young children often cannot convince most dogs that they are a more dominant member of the pack than the dog is. School-age children or teens also should not be given the primary responsibility of training the family’s dog. This is a job for adults in the family. If older children are interested, they should help under the guidance of an adult.If you, as the dog’s trainer, make a strong effort to be consistent with your dog’s training—even though your spouse or children may not—your dog will learn to follow direction from you. He or she may not pay very much attention to commands from other family members. And the good news is that once your dog is properly trained, be reassured that no one can undo the training that you have achieved. No one can undo your pack leadership role! Your dog will never “resent” you for being pack leader. In fact, he or she will love and respect you more. In the wild, the pack leader is the most respected member of the pack. The Canine TriangleTraining through a canine point of view will profoundly strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Dogs are happier and more secure when they are treated like canines. In my 30+ years experience as a trainer, I’ve observed that the most confused and unhappy dogs are those that are trained from an anthropomorphic (humanized) point of view. And their owners are often the most frustrated people who have ever owned a dog. And don’t forget the other components to success: exercise and socialization. Dogs that receive adequate daily exercise are mentally balanced creatures who can maintain emotional control. A dog that is out of emotional control cannot learn to behave properly. And socialization is imperative if a dog is going to be a secure, confident canine citizen. Enjoy training your dog. Be confident, gentle, calm and assertive. Think pack leader! © Canine Communications
1. Train, don’t complain. If your dog is doing something that you don’t like, it can only be fixed through training.
2. Never use your dog’s name as a correction. If you do, he will learn to ignore you when you call him. Correct with a growl-like tone, such as "Nhaa!" It’s Dog Talk!
3. Restraint teaches dogs nothing. Don’t use training techniques that involve a tight leash.
4. Tired dogs are good dogs. Make sure your dog is well exercised on a daily basis.
5. Housebreaking tip: Before you bring a new puppy inside for the first time, take him to the place in the yard where you want him to go.
6. Avoid Old Wives Tales when training. Never hit your dog, rub his nose in poop, or knee him in the chest when he jumps.
7. Timing is the key to success. Correct your dog only if you catch him "in the act" or about to do an unwanted behavior. Ten seconds after is too late.
8. If you want your dog to come when you call him, never correct him when gets there.
9. Train through a canine point of view. Your dog can’t think like a human, but you can learn to think like a dog.
10. "Dog" is "God" spelled backwards. Train your dog religiously!
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John Ross offers both a 7-week beginner group obedience training course and a private 3-Lesson in-home training course.
These programs are designed to teach owners how to handle and train their own dogs.
Pet-Oriented Training: The 7-session group course covers everything a dog needs to be a well-behaved member of the family: sit, down, stay, and come on command; walking on a leash without pulling; greeting people without jumping; and lots more.
Detailed reference sheets accompany each meeting. Free phone help to clients at any time.
For registration information, contact John Ross at dogtalk1@bellsouth.net
Upcoming Group Classes & start dates
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast -- Palm City, Fl.
Class Size: limited to 8 dogs.
Price: $120. per dog.
Please visit http://www.hstc1.org/obediencemain to get the most up to date information about John Ross's classes.
What will you need?
- A 6-foot training leash (cloth, leather or nylon only)
- One of three types of training collars, to be discussed at the first class session
- A roll of paper towels
- A small bowl for water
- A willingness to learn and to practice 10-15 minutes each day
Why Take This Course?
Dog owners know that unlike other pets, dogs have a huge impact on their human families. Dogs form complex relationships with each family member, they test household rules, they misbehave, and they need guidance for good behavior just like children and teens do.
Well-behaved, well-socialized dogs don’t happen by accident! Good nutrition, veterinary care, exercise, and especially training all help dogs to become valued members of our families.
Think your dog is too old to train? There’s no such thing. Every pet owner can improve their dog’s behavior with expert help. Younger dogs can learn good habits that will last a lifetime. And older dogs can overcome unwanted, bad habits.
Additional Information
- Dogs must be 4 months or older to take this course
- Any family members over age 10 may attend (with at least one adult)
- Class size is limited
- For the safety of all, adult dogs with serious aggression or biting problems may not participate in this course.
Invest in your family’s happiness.
Train your dog!
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