Leader of the Pack

The absolute best steps you can take, for the sake of your fur baby, yourself and your family is to set boundaries, maintain control and establish your role as The Leader of the Pack.

Don’t get me wrong, our beautiful fur babies receive a tremendous amount of love and affection. We love to spoil them. We love to play with them. We spend a great deal of time working with them and training them. They know who their Pack Leader is and that we are the ones in complete control.

Bringing a new pup home is such an exciting time for everyone. It’s the beginning of your new life together. It’s the beginning of so many new adventures and a chance to create unforgettable memories. When introducing a new dog to the family it can also be kind of stressful, for not only you, but for the dog as well. Your new pup will be searching for the Pack Leader. If they cannot identify a Pack Leader, then they will eventually take that role upon themselves; so you must set boundaries! When it comes to food, other family members and visitors, boundaries are a priority! You’re dog must not only listen to you, but also to the rest of the family. My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter can feed my big dogs by placing their bowls in their designated area and calling them by name to come eat. They will also sit on her command. We are continuously teaching our grandkids how to handle our dogs and to know their boundaries with our dogs. They know to treat these dogs with love and respect. Children have to be educated on the proper way to handle dogs, especially big dogs and you are the one that has to maintain control. With the proper control and a little work, you can be assured that you and your pet will have a healthy, happy life together.

Keep in mind. To be a Pack Leader is a matter of being confident and assertive, not aggressive. A Pack Leader is to establish respect, not fear. (Please read those two sentences again!). You have to be consistent in what you expect from your dog and diligent in correcting bad behavior. Some dog owners and trainers believe that a dogs place is not on the couch, but always in the floor. In the beginning stages of establishing your role as Pack Leader, I believe this to be true. It will totally depend though on your preference and the dogs submissive state. I personally don’t have a problem with my dog on the couch, but they know to move when I’m ready to sit down. Just remember, when a dog respects you, they will do their best to try and please you, some just need a little more guidance than others. They need and want to know their place in the Pack. They want to know what is expected of them.

When you work hard and put forth the effort of establishing the role of Pack Leader, you will form an unbelievable bond between you and your Dog. You will then know the amazing feeling of having a loyal, trustworthy, devoted best friend that will protect you and love you unconditionally.