Tuesday Training Byte: Showing your dog who is boss

This blog is not about being the "alpha" dominating your dog. There are many outdated ideas in dog training that are still common. One of my favorite sayings is, as we know better, we can do better. We have well-researched scientific evidence in the field of dog behavior. Dogs will mirror your emotions and energy, so what you are seeing in your dog may be a reflection of you. So how do I show my dog that I am boss when I have a large, powerful breed like a Rottweiler? The answer is by setting reasonable boundaries and enforcing them. Once we decide on the rule or boundary, we must be consistent or we end up confusing the dog. When I open the door to go outside, if my dogs rush toward the door, I send them back with a simple command "get back". I take my dogs out on a schedule- hence very predictable for my dogs. As I am heading toward the door, I ask, "ready to go out?", then I hold the door open for them and I follow. It is not about me having to go through first to show I am alpha. I hold the door and send them out ahead of me, but only at certain times. If I have my dog leashed to go to the vet, I hold the door open and send him through, but he waits while I shut and lock the door behind me. I am automatically the boss or the one in charge, because my dogs depend on me. I let them in to go to their crates and they wait calmly with the crate doors open while I deliver their food bowls one at a time. I do not let my dogs get on the furniture or jump up in my chair right behind me. Should a young dog attempt that, I calmly put the dog down on the floor, saying, "Off". I expect my dog to respect my personal space and I enforce that calmly. I do not permit constant attention getting behavior. When my dog moves away or lays down nicely while I tell my husband something, I praise and reward my dog for this good behavior. Another expectation I have is no begging for food while I eat. When I lived in a small house, the dining table was at the end of the living room. I trained my dogs that they could hang around the table until we came to sit down for dinner. I would send them to go lay down on the rug in front of the sofa at the opposite end. (Teaching the place command can be useful for other applications as well.) Rewarding the behaviors we want to see repeated along with clear boundaries, and calm but consistent enforcement can quickly turn your dog into a well-mannered best friend. Happy training!

Teach your dog "Place" for him to wait on his rug while you eat dinner at the table. Be sure to reward and praise him for remaining in his place.