Dog Ownership 101 - May/June 2016

It’s part of the pack mentality that keeps things
running smoothly in her world. It’s important
for there to be a leader in every group.
NOT KNOWING WHEN YOUR DOG
6 IS SEEKING GUIDANCE
A confused child is usually not
ignored, but many people do, unfortunately,
ignore a dog with a confused expression on its
face. Dogs, particularly when they are young,
are genetically designed to look for a leader
and follow them. Human beings can and
should take full advantage of that. A dog will
almost always remember a behavior that got
someone’s attention and repeat that behavior
later on, instituting a cycle that is hard to
break. You may notice your dog staring at you
with adoration and looking for you to tell him
what to do. The only problem is that a dog
that is constantly looking for guidance may
get restless and cause trouble. He might have
accidents in the house, steal things, break
things or chew things up around your home.
LETTING YOUR PUPPY TRY TO
7 DOMINATE THE HOUSEHOLD
A puppy that starts out with an assertive
attitude may wind up trying to dominate the
household, as it grows. You will need to stay on
top of keeping him in his place and make sure
that he knows you are the leader. If, on the other
hand, a dog doesn’t try to be dominant until it gets
older, it’s because you have not taken your role as
the proper leader of the household. You will then
have to regain your status as the leader and put
your dog back in the place of the follower. Being
a leader takes a lot of effort. So, he will probably
like it when you take over those duties. If you
notice that your dog is dictating what you do and
when, it’s time to change things up a bit. Make
sure that you are the trainer, not the trainee.
Have a “can do” attitude and do what you want
when you want. Your dog will follow your lead, as
dogs are genetically programmed to do.
It is now time to begin training your puppy.
Remember to keep your sessions short at first
so that your puppy is not overwhelmed. Also
remember to be patient. Both you and your puppy
will learn a lot about each other as you progress
and training will become easier as you go along.
Good luck teaching your puppy how to be a great
dog!
72 DOG ownership 101 | MAY / JUNE 2016