The Old Trainer: To a dog, confidence means leadership
DEAR OLD TRAINER: A guy told me I should not let Swifty, my year-old whippet, sleep with me because he will not respect me as a leader ...
Sylvan, Seattle
DEAR OLD TRAINER: At obedience school the trainer said I should always make Bonz, my English setter, walk behind me or he will think he is the leader ...
Rita, Tulsa
DEAR OLD TRAINER: ... if I pet my dog Koko too much he will not see me as a leader ...
Dave, Omaha
A: The examples in these letters, all based on the fallacious belief that canine psychology is the same as the human variety, have nothing to do with your dog accepting you as leader of the pack.
Being a leader is all about confidence. It’s easy if you have confidence, impossible if you don’t.
People devise tricks like those above to try to fool their dog, but dogs read body language with such ease it is impossible to fool them.
The first step in being a leader is to understand canine psychology.
The easiest way to do that is to watch the documentary “Wolves at Our Door.” It should be required viewing for everyone who owns a dog. All dogs are descended from wolves and are governed by the same psychology that rules a wolf pack. You may view it for free on Youtube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHTNXRPHsDY.
Kamatz, the pack leader, conducts a master’s class in what it takes to be leader of the pack. He rules by a combination of body language, will, confidence and love. Body language is everything in the canine world and your dog is always watching you and evaluating your actions.
Dogs are pragmatic. If their human doesn’t live up to the canine standard of a leader, they take over and run the pack. And feel no guilt about bossing you around.
A puppy does not come into a family and think, “Well, they are humans and I am only a little dog so I will obey all orders.” They think, “I love my new pack. Wonder what I can get away with?”
Showing your dog you are in charge is a process, not an event. You begin by remembering he is a dog and does not think the way you do.
A good place to hone your skills is the daily walk. Walk your dog every day. Make him sit while you attach the leash. Use every facet of the walk, starting, stopping and turning, to teach him you are in control.
Use food as part of your training. Order your dog to sit, put the food down, order him to stay for a second or two, then give him the command to eat. Every time you go in and out the door order him to sit, pause for a second, then allow him to proceed
Stand erect, be confident, correct him when he is wrong, love on him when he is right. If you do, he will accept you as a leader.
Loving on a dog or allowing him to sleep with you or letting him walk in front of you does not make your dog think you are weak. The reason is that you, the leader, made the decision. That makes you a stronger leader.
A trainer for more than 30 years, Jack Haskins has rescued, trained and placed more than 2,500 dogs. Send questions to theoldtrainer@gmail.com.
This story was originally published May 22, 2015 at 1:43 PM with the headline "The Old Trainer: To a dog, confidence means leadership."