Who's The "BOSS"?
Our one-year-old dog doesn't seem to have any respect for us. He's been to obedience class but he seldom obeys our commands.
He always wants something. He's become very demanding. He never seems to get enough attention even though we give him
attention all the time. He even runs through the door so he can get outside first. He's a very loving dog but we need to get him
under control.
It's like he is telling us what to do!
You're right! It sounds like your dog has a dominance problem and is on his way toward becoming the leader of your family
"His Pack" He has also reached the age of adolescence where, similar to a teenaged child, he's testing your limits. Now is an ideal
time to nip these problems in the bud. I think of my teenager who is 14 years old and think he can do what he wants too! "WRONG"
A dog's social system has a pecking order. The leader of the pack is the "Number 1" the "BOSS" He (or she) gets the best of
everything, the best food, the best place to sleep, the best toy, etc. The BOSS also gets to be first in everything, he gets to eat first,
to leave first and to get attention first. All the other dogs in the pack respect the BOSS dog's wishes. A BOSS dog doesn't ask for
what he wants, he demand it. He lets you know in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go out, that he
wants to play or be petted and that he wants these things right now.
Your family is your dog's pack. Most dogs fit easily into the lower levels of their human pack's pecking order and don't make trouble.
They do what they're told and don't challenge authority. Other dogs don't fit in quite as well. Some are natural leaders; others are
social climbers always looking for ways to get a little closer to the top of the family ladder. These dogs can become problems to an
unsuspecting family that's not aware of their natural pack instincts. Some families unknowingly encourage their dogs to take over the
pack. They treat their dogs as equals, not as subordinates. They give them special privileges like being
allowed sleeping on the bed or couch. They let them get away with disobeying commands. In a real dog pack, only the BOSS dog
would get this kind of treatment.
Dogs need and want leaders. And that is you! They have an instinctive need to fit into a pack. They want the security of knowing
their place and what's expected of them. Most of them don't want to be the boss they want someone else to give orders and make
decisions. But if his humans don't provide that leadership, the dog will take over the role himself. To reclaim your family's rightful
place as leaders of the pack, your dog needs to learn how to be a subordinate, not an equal. He knew this once, as a baby puppy,
because his mother taught him. She showed him very early in life that she was boss (MOTHER) and that he had to respect her.
This is were I come in, the (FATHER) and when the teen did not do what the mother says I back the mother up! ""YOU HEARD
YOUR MOTHER!"
Before you can remove your dog from his boss position, you must become boss and earn his respect. Being the boss is an attitude.
It involves confidence, dignity, intelligence, and authority. A dog can sense this attitude almost immediately it's how his mother
acted toward him. Watch a good trainer or obedience instructor. They stand tall and use their voices and eyes to project the idea
that they're capable of getting what they want. They're gentle but firm, loving but tough, all at the same time. Most dogs are
immediately submissive towards this type of personality because they recognize and respect the boss when they see it.
Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Walk tall. Practice using a new tone of voices, one that's deep and firm. Don't ask your
dog to do something tell him. There's a difference and he knows it! As "THE BOSS", you're entitled to make the rules and give the
orders. Your dog understands that instinctively. Since your dog has been used to getting what he wants on demand, it's likely to take
more than just a change in your attitude to make him mind better. He's been getting a free ride for a long time but you're going to
teach him that from now on, he has to earn what he gets. This will be a shock to his system at first but you'll be surprised how quickly
he'll catch on and that he'll actually become eager to please you.
Your dog already knows the command "SIT" now every time your dog wants something, his dinner, a trip outside, a walk, some
attention, anything tell him (remember don't ask him, tell him) to sit first. When he does, praise him with a "Good Boy!" then tell
him OKAY and give him whatever it is he wants as a reward. If he refuses to sit, walk away and ignore him. No sit, no reward. If you
don't think he understands the command, work on his training some more. If he just doesn't want to obey, ignore him don't give in to
him!
Make him sit before giving him his dinner, make him sit at the door before going outside, make him sit in front of you to be petted,
make him sit before giving him his toy. If you normally leave food out for him all the time, stop doing that. You are the boss. You
decide what time of day he'll be fed. Make him sit for his if he won't obey the command no food. Walk away and ignore him. Bring
the food out later and tell him again to sit. If he understands the command, don't tell him more than once. He heard you the first time.
Give commands from a standing position and use a deep, firm tone of voice. To keep him from running out the door, put a leash on
him. Make him sit and wait while you open the door and give him permission to go out the door!
The bossy dogs are used to being fussed over. In a real dog pack, subordinate dogs are forever touching, licking and grooming the
boss dog. It's a show of respect and submission. Until your dog's attitude has improved, cut down on the amount of cuddling he gets.
When he wants attention, make him sit first, give him a few kind words and pats, then stop. Go back to whatever you were doing and
ignore him. If he pesters you, tell him "NO!" in a firm voice and ignore him some more. Pet him when you want to, not just because
he wants you to. Also, don't get down on the floor or on your knees to pet your dog. That, too, is a show of submission. Give praise,
petting and rewards from a position that's higher than the dog.
Don't allow wrestling or roughhousing with your dog. These games encourage dogs to dominate people physically. In a dog pack or
in a litter, these games are more than just playing they help to establish pack order based on physical strength. Your dog is already
stronger and quicker than you are. Rough, physical games prove that to him. And if a child encourages roughhousing stop it! It could
get a child killed some day!
Where does your dog sleep? Not in your bedroom and especially not on your bed! Your bedroom is a special place - it's your den.
A bossy dog thinks he has a right to sleep in your den because he considers himself your equal. Until your dog's I'm the boss problems
are fully under control, the bedroom should be off limits. The same goes for sleeping on furniture. If you can't keep him off the
couch without a fight, deny him access to the room.
If you're "WHO'S THE BOSS" program is successful; your dog should start looking to you for directions and permission. He'll show an
eagerness to please. Watch how your dog approaches and greets you. Does he come to you "standing tall," with his head and ears
held high and erect? It may look impressive and proud but it means he's still acting like the boss and you still have problems! A dog
that accepts humans as superiors will approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or off to the sides. He'll show of
submission. Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays this submissive posture to some of them, but not others,
those are the ones who need to work harder on their own who's the boss program.
Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new position in the family, you should take him through another
obedience course with a qualified trainer. Obedience training is a lifelong process. Obedience commands need to be practiced
and incorporated into your daily life. In a dog pack, the boss dog (animal) uses occasional reminders to reinforce his authority.
Certain commands, like DOWN/STAY, are especially effective reminders of a dog's place in the family pack order and who's really
in charge here. A well-trained dog that's secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and confident. He
knows what's expected of him. He knows his limits and who his leaders are. He's free to be your loving companion and not your boss!
