Who's the Boss? Establishing Pack Leadership

Many behavioral problems are rooted in pack leadership issues and often disappear once the dog has firmly established his place at the bottom of the pack. Unfortunately, humans don't think like dogs so owners often don't associate many dominant behaviors with dominance. It can look like affection, even submission, so it's very common for a dog to be confused about his place in the household based on mixed signals from the owner. If you want a well-behaved dog, it is imperative that your dog knows that he is the low man on the totem pole, otherwise you face the risk that your dog will begin competing for position with you, other household members, children and guests.

Humans and Dogs, Differing Points of View

Most people I talk to about pack leadership are concerned that their dog will be sad if he is forced to the bottom rung of the social ladder. But dogs don't look at it like we do. Being a leader is hard work and most dogs are perfectly happy to let someone else take the job over. Dogs are put into alot of situations they don't understand, therefore it's best to let the humans, who created the situations and understand them, handle it.

When your dog looks up at you with those puppy eyes, he's not necessarily sad. Those eyes evolved as a survival trait to keep us humans taking good care of our dogs even after they ate our favorite chair. It's a defense mechanism and, at times, a weapon. If you're dog isn't eating, is being lethargic and doesn't want to play, he may be sad (or sick) but if our dogs were deeply sad every time they looked at us like that, they would all need puppy prozac.

A canine pack leader is going to try to keep the status quo, he's going to challenge invaders, freak out about major (and sometimes minor) changes in the environment and maybe even be really nervous when he leaves the terretory and people he's responsible for. If you take all that pressure off him he will be happier, even if that submissive look he gives you brings you to tears. Trust me.

Behavior and Leadership

Dogs who are struggling with their perceived leadership role in the household may exhibit many behaviors that seem very practical from the dog's point of view.

Marking Territory In the pack, the dominant dog marks his territory, it's just the way of things. He is saying, "My pack lives here and if you don't like it, find me and we'll discuss it!". If there is a person who lives in the house who has an ambiguous place in the pack or who the dog perceives to be a threat to his position in the pack, the dog may feel inclined to pee on that person's stuff as well. If your dog is pretty much house trained but is marking around the house or specifically marking some member of the household's belongings, you could be dealing with a pack leadership issue.

Aggression In the wild, canines approaching adulthood may challenge the pack leader for his position. If they are successful they assume the leadership role but may still squabble with their peers over it for awhile until things are settled. If there is no decisive victory one way or another, a canine will bide his time and repeat the challenge periodically until he is successful. If your dog is being aggressive, guarding food, comfy chairs, toys and other things, or growling or barking at you instead of obeying commands, you could have a pack leadership issue. Remember also that the pack leader is responsible for the defense of the pack. It's not surprising then that he should attack the occasional unauthorized (by him) visitor! Your dominant dog may also periodically attack family members who are behaving in ways that seem to him to be challenging or dominating.

Anxiety Being the pack leader is hard work, especially if various members of your pack aren't acting appropriately submissive. This could lead to various anxiety issues. Separation anxiety is one of these because the pack leader should know where his pack is at all times, otherwise how is he to protect them?

Barking Since the pack leader is responsible for maintaining the security of the pack, it's not surprising that he should bark to warn the pack of danger and continue barking to scare away the threat until the danger is passed and since he's the boss, it is even more urgent that he continue barking if you just don't get it!

Begging and Stealing Food: The pack leader gets what he wants. It's only natural that if he comes across a delicious slice of pizza sitting there unattended he's going to think it's his very right to grab it and take off with it. Likewise he's going to expect you to turn over a tidbit if he stares at you expectantly long enough.

Common Submissive Human Behaviors

Many of our affectionate human behaviors can be seen as submissive to a dog and can lead him to believe that you actually want him to take on the leadership role, or leave him terribly confused about exactly what it is he's supposed to be doing.

Since puppies often lick the muzzle of the dominant dog as an show of appeasement and to ask for a share of the food, kissing your dog on the mouth can confuse the heck out of him (and is a good way for a kid to get bit, especially if there are also hugs involved so the poor confused fellow can't back away from the strange confusing human).

In a pack situation, the dominant canine often goes on patrol, sometimes with other members of the pack. When they return, everyone greets the pack leader first (often licking the muzzle) so when your dog is the first person you greet when you come in the door, you are affirming that you are submissive to him. You should ignore your dog when you come home and greet other family members first then call the dog over for some attention.

The pack leader gets the best of everything including the best spots to lay down. You will often find the leader of a wild canine pack sitting on the highest perch, looking down over his subjects. By allowing your dog to sit on the furniture or lay on your bed, especially if he is positioned so that his head is higher than yours, you are affirming his status as pack leader.

The pack leader also gets the best food. If another canine is eating and the pack leader decides he wants some, the other canine will immediately move aside to allow the pack leader to eat. If you pause in your meal and feed your dog from your plate, you are affirming his place as pack leader.

The pack leader always goes first. He must because it's his job to challange any threats and protect his pack. So again, if you let your dog pull ahead of you on the leash, you're allowing him to assert his dominance.

Walk the Dominant Walk

Maintaining pack leadership with your dog is hard work and it's not always fun. Many people got their dog thinking it was going to be a cuddly plaything. It's especially difficult to teach kids to maintain pack leadership, but it's important that every family member learns how to behave like a pack leader and maintain consistancy.

Obedience: Obedience training is paramount and make sure everyone in the family practices frequently. Be firm and consistant. Make sure that you give the message that you expect obedience every time. Correct your dog with a firm no (and a leash correction only if necessary) when he doesn't obey and then make him do it. Reward immediate complience with praise and the occasional treat.

Always go first: Train your dog to wait at the door, at the stairs and at any opening and allow you to go first. It helps to teach sit and stay and/or down and stay first so your dog has an idea about not moving on command. When out walking, if your dog pulls ahead on the leash reverse direction and move away quickly so you're always out front. He'll get the idea eventually. You should be walking your dog daily, for so many reasons!

Control the Food: Never give your dog food unless he has earned it. When it is time to feed your dog, make him sit and stay while you prepare the food. Then put it down and make him hold his stay for a few seconds till you tell him it's okay to eat it. Also, make your dog earn his treats. Make him sit, lay down, or do a cute trick before he gets any snacks. If you want to feed him a treat from the table, set it aside and make him work for it after everyone else is done eating.

Make him Earn Everything: (Dogs who learn this trick learn lots of tricks!) including pets, bellyrubs, being allowed on the sofa, a walk, a ride in the car, a raucus game of fetch or tug of war ALL must be earned by following a command or two from you. If your dog brings you a toy or pushes at your hand for pets, ignore him until he stops and then you can call him over for attention. It should always be on your terms.

Don't Greet the Dog First: When you come home, the dog should be the last person you greet when you come home. If you live alone, ignore the dog while you take off your coat and shoes and hang up your keys and then call him over when you're ready to relax.



The Canine Sidekick

Female dogs especially (but male dogs as well sometimes) may decide to be the "second in command" to a dominant dog or person in the household and this can cause a whole range of new problems. She may not listen to anyone but the person she has decided is top man (or woman) and may guard the person, showing aggression toward her master's spouse or children. In this case, it is very important that other members of the household maintain pack leadership behaviors and that the object of the dog's adoration display behaviors toward other family members that will give the dog the idea that they are more dominant. For example, not allowing the dog on the bed or sofa, but moving over to allow family members on; greeting other family members first; insisting that all other family members finish eating before feeding the dog. It is also important that the object of adoration not be the only person performing doggie care duties. Everyone should take turns walking, feeding and grooming the dog so that he knows that everyone is the boss.

Different Strokes for Different Dogs


Although I have used "him" and "he" throughout this article, don't think that only male dogs assert their dominance, female dogs do too and if you have a male dog and a female dog they may both assert their dominance and get along just fine doing it.

Not every dog tries to be the boss of the house. Some dogs take on the dominant role just because there is no strong leader in the house and that is an unacceptable way for a dog to live. Some dogs will be submissive no matter what. All dogs will be more comfortable, safer and happier in the long run if you take on the dominance role and allow them to be what you really want them to be, your pet. (not the boss!)