Gentle and Effective Leadership

Leadership is Crucial

During Puppy Training

Leadership for your puppy is crucial in preventing potential behavior problems and it can be fairly simple to put into place. Unfortunately many pet owners who don't lead effectively aren't aware of it.

Your puppy can learn that you're the boss in very logical and gentle ways during his puppy training stages. Here are just a few ways of asserting your position of leadership naturally, in which you won't even need a leash. Note: NEVER use punitive methods on any puppy. There is no benefit from it and no need for it if you appropriately "shape your puppy's behavior".

Puppy Train-Leadership Principles

1.Never lose your temper; it shows that you're not in control. Solve problems in a matter of fact manner.

2.Your furniture belongs to you. If you let your puppy on the furniture, don't let him do so until YOU say it is ok. Teach him "off", and "up" or whatever command you want to use to let him on the furniture. Without your permission, he is not to get on.

3.Don't let your puppy or dog sleep in the bed, or be on the bed as that is the "leader's" sleeping place. Sleeping in your bed puts your puppy on equal authority with you and/or your spouse. Some dogs do ok with this, but with others it can possibly present a dominance problem and/or form a habit of actually eliminating in the bed.

4.Don't leave your puppy's food down all the time. The leaders are responsible for feeding the pack and they control the food. It actually puts STRESS on your puppy or dog that you don't realize when you leave food down all the time.

This isn't the only problem that "free feeding" presents. Free feeding makes potty training harder, can keep your dog from paying attention to your commands and does not provide your dog with the outlet of using his natural predatory behaviors.(When one natural behavior is squelched there has to be another avenue for it...that avenue? usually stress related behavior problems)

IMPORTANT NOTE

The leader bears the burdens- the follower is just happy to be along for the ride. Many dogs have aggression problems, anxiety, or bad behaviors brought on by stress; because their owners unknowingly put stress on them when they confuse them about who bears the burden of being the leader and/or many times unrealistic expectations of possessing human characteristic are placed on the dog. He is destined to fail before he starts in these situations. We must be the clear leader and gently "shape" our dog's behavior in a way that he can understand in order to have happy well adjusted dogs.

6.Use the "no free lunch" policy. This means that unless your dog/puppy sits for you or does some simple command, he doesn't get a treat. The "no free lunch policy" is a good way to start getting your dog/puppy to listen to you better. After all, why should he work for something that you always give him for free? This is also a non-aggressive way to show your dog that he depends on you for his food and you will take care of him".

More on leadership and puppy training.