Leadership

There are two roles in a dog's world, that of leader and follower. It's important for you to be the leader. Some dogs naturally want to be the leader and some don't, but they will all take the role of leader if nobody else does. Many issues people have with their dogs arise from a lack of leadership on their part.

Being the leader doesn't mean you don't love or show your dog affection. Nor does it mean being harsh or cruel. Leadership means being in control of your dog's behaviour, actions and resources.

What are the resources?

• food
• water
• toys
• bones
• bed
• affection
• outings
• furniture
• back yard
• car
• in a nutshell ... everything

Have your dog work for her favourite things. Use the commands:

• sit before you give her affection
• wait before you feed her
• lie down before you play with her
• shake a paw before you give her a bone

Switch up the commands and rewards so you or your dog don't get bored. This is also great mental stimulation as well as establishing you as the leader.

Signs your dog is in control or is challenging you

• jumps, leans or steps on you
• will not move out of your way
• growls or nips at you when she disagrees with a command
• whines for something and you give it to her (food, affection, toy)
• doesn't listen to commands
• doesn't come when called
• growls when you approach her eating
• barks uncontrollably

Effective leadership qualities

• calm and assertiveness
• fairness
• consistency
• trustworthiness
• confidence
• awareness

Ways to practice leadership

• walk every day with your dog beside or behind you
• get her to earn her favourite resources
• do not look or talk (other than commands) to your dog, let her look to you
• decide when play begins and ends
• feed meals by hand
• have her move out of your way (unless she is sleeping or arthritic)
• walk through doors first
• go up and down stairs first
• invite your dog on the couch or bed if you really want her there*

* Refrain having your dog on the couch or bed while you are establishing yourself as the leader, especially if your dog is challenging you.

Discipline

When it comes to disciplining your dog you can use tone, a look, body language or a quick leash correction. Do not yell and scream or ever hit your dog.

 

Mouthing and Nipping

Dogs use their mouths to communicate with each other from the time they are puppies to adults.

A puppy will mouth things to explore and investigate the world around him, when he’s teething and playing.  This is a perfect time to teach him manners where his mouth and human skin are concerned. Since mouthing is a normal behavior, make sure he always has suitable chew toys available and praise him when he uses them.

If your puppy nips or mouths you during play, you can say "OUCH" really loud and stop the play immediately. DO NOT hit his nose, you are trying to teach him respect not fear and aggression. Ignore him for a few minutes and then resume your play time. Every time he nips do the same thing. His siblings and mother would react much the same way. You want to teach your puppy not to use pressure with his mouth at an early age so that when he grows up he will continue to have that same respect even though his jaw will be much stronger.

If an adolescent or adult dog nips at you, he may be doing it for a different reason. He may be trying to control you with mouth if he disagrees with what you are doing (maybe you are grooming him or moving him off a bed or couch). In this case you must brush up on your leadership skills because your dog is either challenging you or already thinks he's in control.

This is also the case when a dog herds you by nipping at your heels when you walk or run. He is controlling your movement and/or telling you he wants to play. This should not be tolerated as it can pose potential problems if your dog is loose at a playground or somewhere with a lot of kids running around.  You can interrupt his behavior with the word “HEY” in a calm but stern voice every time he nips at you. Be consistent and he will eventually learn. Once he learns the word, you can use it to interrupt him if he’s nipping at someone else.

If you take the time to educate your dog and provide him with the proper leadership, he will respond to you.

Why do dogs run away?

Does your dog bolt out the door the second you open it?

Have you ever had to chase your dog to get her back?

Has your dog passed all of her obedience training but you still don't feel comfortable taking her off leash?

Do you arm yourself with treats every time you go out to keep your dog's attention focused on you or in case she gets away?

Do you use your dog's breed to excuse her desire to run away?

If your dog is running away from you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I give my dog enough exercise?
• Do I give my dog enough mental stimulation?
• Do provide my dog leadership?
• Does my dog trust me?
• Do I have a bond with my dog?
• Do I play with my dog?

These are valid questions. Your dog may need more exercise than you are giving her. She may be bored and the open door leads to fun, adventure and yummy smells. Dogs don't understand the possible consequences of bolting out the door. So it's up to us to teach them that it's not acceptable behaviour.

When you meet your dog's needs of exercise and leadership, she will naturally follow you. But also teaching her about patience and rules will solidify your bond when she is faced with distractions, whether it is another dog, a cat, squirrel or any scent that might catch her attention.

Many owners think their dogs are well trained until they get out in the real world where the temptations and distractions are everywhere. That is why it's important to practice basic training (sit, stay, wait, and stop) anywhere and everywhere you go.

Respecting the front door

Use commands your dog already knows like "sit" or "stay" before you open the door. Ask someone to ring the doorbell or knock so you can practice. If your dog breaks the command, calmly go get her, and gently lead her back to where she was and do it again.

Corrections at the door

Use a leash, but have no tension. Open the door just a crack and the second your dog moves towards the door, give a quick correction with the leash to get her attention back on you. Do this several times until she does not move when the door opens a crack. Now practice the same exercise but this time open the door wider.

Claim the door

If your dog is at the door waiting for you to open it and dash away, walk in front of it and move her with your body language and the command "back". Be assertive and don't yell. You are asking for space around the door. Do that over and over and eventually your dog will move back as you head to the door or when you say the command.

* If you have a fenced back yard, start practicing these exercises at the back door so that your dog will be safe if she makes mistakes while learning.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Please don't fall into this mindset. So many owners think their dog's behaviour is "just the way she is" and never try to make a change. The truth is dogs are never too old to learn. They live in the moment so it's never too late to educate and train them. The same goes for adopted dogs. Don't assume their current behaviour cannot be changed.

Blaming the breed

Give your dog a fair chance and don't use her breed as an excuse. Yes a dog's breed can give you insight to her natural instincts and they do differ however every dog has the potential to be well mannered and balanced. It's up to you to make sure that happens.

What you can do when your dog gets away

Never yell if your dog has run away from you. No matter what you always want to associate coming to you as something positive. This can be very challenging as we often get very frustrated and angry when our dogs run away. So strive to always remain calm and in control.

• Run in the opposite direction while calling her name
• Whistle (make it unique so your dog will recognize it)
• Crouch down and open your arms wide (this is a positive invitation)
• Clap your hands on your legs or in the air
• If all else fails, go and get your dog as calmly as you can

Accidents in the house

Occasionally a dog that has been properly house trained will have an accident inside. This could be the result of a medical condition, a sudden fear, a change in routine or food, overexcitement or a reaction to something going on in your house. Have you been away more than usual? Have you recently moved furniture?  Has another person moved in or out? Are you expecting a new addition to your family?

Changes in your life, whether positive or negative can be very confusing for your dog. They don't understand that you may be getting a nursery ready for a new baby, but they do pick up on your anxious and excited emotions. So staying calm will help your dog to better cope with the changes going on around her.

Confidence does help

The more confident your dog, the easier it will be for her to handle the inevitable changes in your life. Dogs love routine but variety is just as important. Walking many different routes can help condition your dog to accept change and respect your leadership. If you walk the same route every single time, your dog doesn't really have to follow you since she has long since memorized it. So change it up, keep your pooch on her toes.

When accidents happen

If it’s already happened, you can show her and use a disappointing tone when addressing it. There is absolutely no reason to hit your dog or rub her nose in it. It’s just plain cruel and won’t solve anything. You want to show your disapproval, that’s all.

If you catch her in the act, interrupt her and lead her outside. When she goes to finish, praise her.

It's very important to never put your dog in her crate as a punishment if you find a mess. Or when you are feeling stressed, anxious or frustrated. Her crate should represent rest, relaxation and safety at all times.

If you have been extra busy, tired or stressed and your walks have turned into quick outings in the backyard, you shouldn't be surprised by your dog's reaction. Listen to what she is telling you.