How To Plan For Training Your Dog - Your Relationship
When planning a dog training program, it’s important to remember that dogs are pack animals. In wild dog societies, packs are formed, and each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the pecking order. Except in the event of death or injury to the alpha dog, the hierarchy never changes once it’s been established. The lower dogs know better than to challenge the alpha dog, and the alpha dog understand his place as leader of the pack.
This is why it’s essential for you to fulfill the alpha position in order to properly train your dog and gain its respect. A dog that sees its owner as a superior leader will follow commands without question. This relationship will form the basis of all subsequent training.
Understanding your relationship with your dog does not mean you should confuse human behavior with dog behavior. While there is a great temptation on the part of dog owners to see their dogs as almost human, in reality dogs and humans have very different motivations, and very different reactions to similar situations.
Next time out we’ll take a look at your dog’s motivation.
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