I have come to realize that some of the stuff I've written about pack leadership is a little complicated, so here's a short and sweet article to drill it down to the basics of how. For more detail about the whys, be sure to take a look at Who's the Boss? Establishing Pack Leadership and without further ado, here are your five simple steps. The goal of these steps is to give your dog the impression that you control every aspect of his life. Because you do. And if your dog is aggressive or otherwise trouble, you absolutely must because it could be your dog's life if you don't.
Step 1 Control Your Dog's Movements
At first, your dog should be on a leash all the time. You should keep him close to you in the house and he should be at rest when you're at rest. When you are standing, but not moving, he should be sitting at your side and when you are sitting, he should be laying at your feet. You should take the time to obedience train your dog and practice daily. You can and should practice and walks and during playtime. When you are doing something that makes it difficult or impossible to supervise your dog, he should be secured in a crate. You make all the decisions about where you go and when and you go first.
Step 2 Control Your Dog's Schedule
Feed your dog at the same time every day (1-3 times based on age and size) and give him 15 minutes to eat. After 15 minutes pick up the bowl and put the food away till the next meal time. Never feed your dog because he's begging. If you want to give him table scraps, save them for the next meal and put him in his bowl. Very small treats can be given as training rewards. Take your dog outside to go potty at the same time every day (4-10 times a day depending on age). Take your dog to the potty spot and give him a command to potty. Take your dog for a walk (1-2 times a day) at the same time every day. When you get up in the morning, ignore your dog while you brush your teeth, make your coffee and put on your clothes and shoes, only then call him over and put him on his leash for his morning walk. When you come home, hang up your coat, put away your purse, get yourself a refreshing beverage before you even look at your dog. Then, when you're ready, call him over and put on his leash for his afternoon walk.
Do not respond to requests by your dog to alter the schedule.
Step 3 Control Your Dog's Stuff
Actually, your dog has no stuff. Everything in your house is yours, not your dog's. All the dog toys in the house belong to you. You simply allow your dog to play with your toys when the mood strikes you and you end the game likewise when you decide the game is over. All the furniture is yours. Your dog is not allowed on it unless you invite him. If he ever shows any possession over the furniture, such as spreading himself out over the couch so there's no room for you, leaning on and pushing people off the furniture, or growling at people when he is moved off the furniture, he can not go on the furniture. At all. Ever. The crate is yours, you tell him when to go in it and when to come out of it (and graciously allow him to retreat to it for comfort and security). The yard is yours; you decide when he goes out in it and what part of it he's allowed to use as a bathroom. Etc.
Step 4 Make Your Dog Earn Everything
Your dog must sit and stay while you are getting his dinner ready and putting the bowl down (If he breaks his stay, put the food away and walk away, come back a few minutes later and try again). He must sit and stay while you are getting his leash, putting the leash on and opening the door and must not get up until you invite him to do so. He must not have free access to toys. You decide when to play with the toys, you start the game and end it. He must sit to earn a ball throw, etc. If your dog wants to be petted, he must sit calmly first or do some other trick at your whim.
Step 5 Exercise Your Dog
Engage your dog 15 to 30 minutes a day in obedience training practice. Practice sit/stay, down/stay, leave it, drop it, come, place, kennel up and more. You can and should combine your obedience practice with games and walks. See Games Good Dogs Play: Three Ways to Stay. Once you've got your basic obedience down, you can add more tricks to his repertoire. Check out The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book.
Your dog needs 30 minutes to an hour of brisk walking every day and 15 to 30 minutes of play. For that matter, so do you.
Training your dog and leading him in walks and play enforces your standing as pack leader. However, if your dog becomes aggressive or overly hyper during play, end the game immediately, put the toys away and try again in a few days. If you are at all frightened during play, then don't do it at all. No big deal.
If your dog is already extremely bossy, you may need to do a reboot. Spend a three days to a week ignoring your dog. Let him out to go potty, put down his food, put him in his crate and go about your business. Once the time you've determined on has passed, re-establish your relationship using these five rules. Note that very bossy dogs may become extremely sassy during this time, butt-biting is not unheard of. If this occurs, do what you need to do to protect your bottom and continue to ignore her until she gets well past that (Although I usually use him/her randomly when I write, using her here is very appropriate). Very sensitive dogs may become withdrawn and depressed. If you see any sign of this, abort the reboot and go straight to the rules.
Step 1 Control Your Dog's Movements
At first, your dog should be on a leash all the time. You should keep him close to you in the house and he should be at rest when you're at rest. When you are standing, but not moving, he should be sitting at your side and when you are sitting, he should be laying at your feet. You should take the time to obedience train your dog and practice daily. You can and should practice and walks and during playtime. When you are doing something that makes it difficult or impossible to supervise your dog, he should be secured in a crate. You make all the decisions about where you go and when and you go first.
Step 2 Control Your Dog's Schedule
Feed your dog at the same time every day (1-3 times based on age and size) and give him 15 minutes to eat. After 15 minutes pick up the bowl and put the food away till the next meal time. Never feed your dog because he's begging. If you want to give him table scraps, save them for the next meal and put him in his bowl. Very small treats can be given as training rewards. Take your dog outside to go potty at the same time every day (4-10 times a day depending on age). Take your dog to the potty spot and give him a command to potty. Take your dog for a walk (1-2 times a day) at the same time every day. When you get up in the morning, ignore your dog while you brush your teeth, make your coffee and put on your clothes and shoes, only then call him over and put him on his leash for his morning walk. When you come home, hang up your coat, put away your purse, get yourself a refreshing beverage before you even look at your dog. Then, when you're ready, call him over and put on his leash for his afternoon walk.
Do not respond to requests by your dog to alter the schedule.
Step 3 Control Your Dog's Stuff
Actually, your dog has no stuff. Everything in your house is yours, not your dog's. All the dog toys in the house belong to you. You simply allow your dog to play with your toys when the mood strikes you and you end the game likewise when you decide the game is over. All the furniture is yours. Your dog is not allowed on it unless you invite him. If he ever shows any possession over the furniture, such as spreading himself out over the couch so there's no room for you, leaning on and pushing people off the furniture, or growling at people when he is moved off the furniture, he can not go on the furniture. At all. Ever. The crate is yours, you tell him when to go in it and when to come out of it (and graciously allow him to retreat to it for comfort and security). The yard is yours; you decide when he goes out in it and what part of it he's allowed to use as a bathroom. Etc.
Step 4 Make Your Dog Earn Everything
Your dog must sit and stay while you are getting his dinner ready and putting the bowl down (If he breaks his stay, put the food away and walk away, come back a few minutes later and try again). He must sit and stay while you are getting his leash, putting the leash on and opening the door and must not get up until you invite him to do so. He must not have free access to toys. You decide when to play with the toys, you start the game and end it. He must sit to earn a ball throw, etc. If your dog wants to be petted, he must sit calmly first or do some other trick at your whim.
Step 5 Exercise Your Dog
Engage your dog 15 to 30 minutes a day in obedience training practice. Practice sit/stay, down/stay, leave it, drop it, come, place, kennel up and more. You can and should combine your obedience practice with games and walks. See Games Good Dogs Play: Three Ways to Stay. Once you've got your basic obedience down, you can add more tricks to his repertoire. Check out The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book.
Your dog needs 30 minutes to an hour of brisk walking every day and 15 to 30 minutes of play. For that matter, so do you.
Training your dog and leading him in walks and play enforces your standing as pack leader. However, if your dog becomes aggressive or overly hyper during play, end the game immediately, put the toys away and try again in a few days. If you are at all frightened during play, then don't do it at all. No big deal.
If your dog is already extremely bossy, you may need to do a reboot. Spend a three days to a week ignoring your dog. Let him out to go potty, put down his food, put him in his crate and go about your business. Once the time you've determined on has passed, re-establish your relationship using these five rules. Note that very bossy dogs may become extremely sassy during this time, butt-biting is not unheard of. If this occurs, do what you need to do to protect your bottom and continue to ignore her until she gets well past that (Although I usually use him/her randomly when I write, using her here is very appropriate). Very sensitive dogs may become withdrawn and depressed. If you see any sign of this, abort the reboot and go straight to the rules.
2 comments:
I actually think some of these tips are horrible. You shouldn't wake up and ignore your dog while you get ready, and you shouldn't come home and relax for a while and ignore your dog. Your dog has been "holding it" for a long time. Take your poor puppy outside to go potty! There is no reason to be cruel to try to assert dominance.
Anonymous- It's really too bad you're posting this anonymously and won't get my reply because this is an important question that is at the heart of many behavior issues.
If you are ready to take your dog for a walk the moment you roll out of bed, you are a better person that most folks. Most of us have to stagger around cursing the clock for awhile, go to the bathroom and put on clothes and shoes. Doing this while a dog who is used to being let out within three seconds of the alarm clock is jumping all over you is annoying when you're groggy. Yea, he's been holding it and he can hold it a few minutes more while I put on some pants. If you're really worried about it, set your alarm clock earlier. The more you are ready for your day before you begin your walk, the better you and your dog can enjoy your walk without you being rushed.
Again when I come home from my commute, I am usually grumpy, a bit dehydrated and my bladder is close to bursting. I need to use the bathroom, get a drink and change my shoes at the very least before I can even thing about being of any use to anyone, even my dog.
If a dog receives immediate and enthusiastic attention whenever you walk in the door, he's likely to respond enthusiastically whenever anyone walks in the door (and this may include piddling). By ignoring him for a few minutes when you come home, while you put away your things, go to the bathroom, etc. you make coming home a non-event, greatly reducing the chances your dog will get over excited and knock grandma on her butt the next time she comes over. Walking in the door and going straight for the leash makes the coming home event too exciting AND sets you up for an unpleasant walk as well. Walks should always start from a calm place. So, let the excitement of coming home subside before doing anything else with your dog. Yes, he can hold it for five more minutes. It's not cruel, it's practical and if you do it regularly, habitually, your dog will be a better dog for it.
Anyway, your dog should be on a schedule and your waking up and coming home should coincide with that. Whenever you wake up normally, your dog should be scheduled to go out 15 to 30 minutes later and likewise for coming home each day. If he's on this schedule, he won't be doing the potty dance because he will know when it's time to go potty and his body will adjust and it will be a GOOD thing for him to be adjusted this way.
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