Tuesday Training Byte: Establishing leadership humanely

Dogs are pack animals and establish leadership and a pack hierarchy. As the owner, you should be the leader of the pack. Many dogs will gladly take on the role if you do not. And who wants to have the dog in charge? Establishing the role of leader can be done gently and humanely. I want to have a dog that feels safe with me and trusts me, therefore I do not do "Alpha Rolls".

With a puppy or smaller dog, I start out by holding the dog in my lap on it's back like a baby, while I stroke him and reassure him. The dog will soon relax and not struggle to get into a less vulnerable position.

Second, I train my dogs to wait while I put their food bowl down for them until I release them with Okay! to eat it.

Third, I don't let my dog steal my seat on the sofa when he sees me coming to sit down. We generally don't allow the dogs on the furniture to begin with, but should he jump up just before I sit, I immediately tell my dog to "Off!".

Forth, When I am walking through a room and my dog is laying in my path or blocking the doorway, I train my dogs to move. I shuffle my feet as I approach and command, "Move". If he does not take the hint, I nudge him gently with my toe. When he moves, I be sure to praise his willing response.

Fifth, I establish the speed and direction of our walks, not my dog. So working on focus and loose leash walking will help you become the leader.

Lastly, puppies tend to get mouthy especially when they get excited. If the pup's teeth make contact with my skin, I grab the pup at the scruff of the neck and turn his head away from me firmly, then calmly I walk away- withdrawing attention. Dogs communicate at the neck and the dominant dog will make the less dominant turn away, so dogs understand this method. I do not yell, hit, or otherwise hurt my dog. I have seen many small breed dogs that are absolutely the head of their household and with a bit of training, they could be a willing partner. Establish your boundaries and be consistent. Happy training!

A very old photo of my son holding a 4-month old Rottweiler puppy like a baby as described.