Leader of the (dog) Pack

Dogs are pack animals. By this, I mean they love to live within a pack community where a dominant leader makes all the rules and decisions. This may seem rather strange but they feel very secure in this type of environment. When a dog moves in with a family, a pack is formed, even if that family is one person. They want and need to become part of that pack.

As I mentioned earlier, dogs need to be considered part of a pack. They also need to know where they stand within that pack. Because they have a need for a leader, if you do not immediately establish yourself as leader of the pack, your dog will automatically assume the role. Keep in mind, it is the leader who establishes all the rules and makes all the decisions for the pack.

Man's best friend and dependent

A man's best friend can certainly be his dog and vice versa, but your dog is also depending on you. He needs you for food, exercise, and protection from fleas, ticks or sharp objects he may put in his mouth. Dogs do not understand why they cannot have chocolate or why they cannot chase after cars. They only know they need someone to keep them out of harms way.

It is important to train your dog to be obedient to your commands and to behave in a positive manner. Start slowly and remember to be positive or the results will be negative. Do not expect him to learn everything all at once. Even we humans need to be trained slowly at times. The better trained your dog is the more places you can go to together.

Dogs have brains too

Just like a human's brain, a dog's brain will develop as it is used. As the leader of the pack, you need to teach him to respect and obey. They feel more secure when they know what is expected of them. They need to know what they can or cannot get away with. Dogs are natural followers. They are very willing to learn commands that will trigger a positive response from their human companions. An educated dog will be able to listen and read your facial expressions and body language and give you his best shot at understanding how you feel.

A few words of advice