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All dogs are basically wolves..and retain the basic wolf language and outlook on life. The wolf lives in a pack with a structured hierarchy. They communicate through sound, facial expression, body posture. There is also communication through actions.
When people took the wolf into their homes the partnership worked so well because there are such great similarities in the way we live. We too live in packs or families, we also have a hierarchy even if we don't always realize it. We communicate through speech, facial expression and body posture. We also communicate through actions.
When the dog lives with us he regards us as...a two legged...wolf and tries to communicate with us in the same way as any other wolf. He tries to interpret our language as best he can into his own language.
The structure of the pack is of great importance to your dog, he must know who the boss is. Most dogs are quite content not to be pack leader, some could take it or leave it and for some it is their right (that's how they see it anyway). It is now that the communication through actions begins to get important, you may not realize that the dog is saying "am I boss" and that you are answering, "yes".
So how does the pack leader think?
- The pack leader:
- Is in charge of the pack
- Leads the pack (goes first)
- Protects the pack
- Owns all pack possessions
- Eats when he pleases
- Sleeps where he pleases, but no one sleeps in his place
- Goes where he pleases
- Is the most important pack member
- Receives attention on demand
- Does not give attention on demand
- Will not put himself in a submission position.
Try and think how these attitudes will be conveyed by the dog. Here are some examples:
- Pushes past you at doorways and upstairs - Leads the pack (goes first)
- Barks and growls at other dogs and strangers - Protects the pack
- Steals food and begs - Eats when he pleases
- Growls when you try to move him off the furniture or your bed, or won't let you sit by him - Sleeps where he pleases, but no one sleeps in his place
- Has all the house to wander in - Goes where he pleases
- Gets praised and petted constantly - Is the most important pack member
- Puts his paw on you and you smooth him - Receives attention on demand
- Won't stay for a cuddle, pulls away - Does not give attention on demand
- You can't make him lie down and you can't step over him - Will not put himself in a submissive position
Eye contact is another way dominance is conveyed. The more dominant dog should not be stared at. The more submissive will look away first or will not even dare to make eye contact. The pack leader will often take up a high vantage point, like the top of the stairs. Now most people look down before going up stairs, so if your dog is at the top he will interpret this as a submissive gesture.
There is one other thing to say about the dominant dog, he is probably lovely. Just because he thinks he should be in charge does not make him a monster. Most pack leaders are loving creatures and care very much about their pack. Aggression is not usually needed, they have already conveyed that they are pack leader through their actions, and you have accepted by your actions, so there is no need for force. Also the dominant dog is by definition bold and self-assured and so often aggression is linked to fear and uncertainty.
In days gone by force was considered the only answer, after all if you make the dog do things by force you show your dominance, don't you? Not always! A naturally dominant person may get away with this, but remember aggression can be a show of fear, so if you are not careful, your dominant dog could interpret your aggression as fear and only make matters worse.
It seems logical that you can regain leadership by doing the following:
- Start training classes
- Don't let him push past you, pull him back or knee him out of the way (not kick, just nudge)
- Never act fearful of situations when out with him, fear can be conveyed by tightening the lead, speaking softly (usually done to reassure him)
- Don't leave his toys and bones down for him, keep them put away, get them out for him, and when you decide to, put them away
- Don't play tug-of-war games unless you will win then put the toy away
- Don't feed tidbits unless as a reward for training
- Don't give attention on demand, either ignore him or make him sit down first
- Make him sleep in his own bed, and then occasionally sit in it yourself
- Don't let him follow you around the house all the time, shut the door behind you and make him wait
- Try to give attention as a reward rather than a right - make him come to you don't go to him
- If you can't make him lie down, stop trying. Every time you lose the battle it reassures him that he is leader
- If he goes to lie down say "down" to him. He will begin to associate the word with the action and will eventually lie down
- If he is laid down, step over him, if he is standing in your way, push past him
- If he tries these things on you turn the tables on him
By taking these steps he should get the message, some dogs however are a constant battle and you will need to be on your guard to the next takeover bid. Your dog will not love you any less by treating him this way, if you remember to think of him as a dog/wolf you will hopefully see that it's the way another dog/wolf would treat him.
Excerpted from Pack Leaders: Looking through the eyes of the dog...from the British Boxer Quarterly
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