Understanding Your Dog - Part 1 - the Pack Mentality
This is Part 1 of a series of articles to follow, discussing how to understand your dog.
Pack Mentality:
Let's face it. Sometime dogs do the strangest things. Like sniffing everything, rolling in the dirt right after you gave her a bath and eating some items that are repulsive to us.
Does your dog occasionally do things you thought she knew not to do? Does she stand and stare at you when you call her? Does she bark at inappropriate times? If so, you have a dog that owns a pet...you! Your dog is in control of your relationship instead of the other way around.
To understand your dog, you need to understand a dog's mentality. This is a large subject and could consume books, so we will discuss just one of the most important aspects of a dog's mentality. And, it is this...dogs are pack animals. Although dogs have been domesticated for hundreds of years, they still have an inherent pack mentality. This means your dog considers you and every member of your household members of her pack.
Your dog expects (actually requires) that the pack have a leader and followers. Someone must be the boss. There is no democracy expected within the pack. In light of this, you must assume the role of leader. Because if you do not, your dog will!
When the dog is the leader, it usually leads to discord in the household. The dog begins to take you for a walk rather than you taking her for a walk. Eventually, you become unhappy with the dog's behavior and the dog becomes unhappy because you are unhappy.
Being the leader of the pack is not something the dog knowingly pursues. She does it if there is no other clear leader. She is perfectly happy for you to be the leader. And controlling her food and access to the house or yard does not make you the leader in her mind.
There are several specific things you should do to establish that you are the leader. Here are a few:
1. Do not allow your dog to sleep in your bed. Dogs expect the leader to have the best sleeping quarters. When she sleeps where you sleep, it confuses her as to who is the leader.
2. When passing through a door together, do not allow your dog to lead. Gently, position her behind you so that she follows.
3. If you and your dog eat around the same time, never feed your dog before you eat. And never feed her from your plate while you eat. She must learn that the leader eats first (actually she expects this) and she always eats after you.
4. Do not allow your dog to dictate when she gets attention. If she jumps, scratches or barks, ignore her until she stops. Then give her attention. She will learn that you determine when she gets petted or a treat.
Some of these actions may appear a little cold or harsh but, in the end, they will provide you with a happier pet and more tranquil household.
Above all, in every interaction with your dog or any other pet make sure you comply with the following rules:
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER hit your dog. Not with your hand, your foot, a newspaper or anything else. This will instill fear in your dog. You want a dog that loves and respects you, not one that fears you.
2. Do not scream or make threatening motions at your dog. Same reason as above. A stern voice and your natural body language is all you will ever need to discipline your dog. Your dog can sense when you are angry through observing your body language. And, when the leader is unhappy, she knows she has misbehaved. It may take her a while to figure out just what she did wrong, but she will understand when the scenario is repeated a few times.
3. Dogs are social animals (remember "pack"?). It is unnatural and cruel to leave your dog alone for extended periods. And, please, never tie a dog to a rope in the yard for days alone. If you must do this, why do you even want the dog? Give her to someone that will take care of her.
Your dog truly can be your best friend. She never questions your motives. She can have fear, but she does not know how to hate or deceive. She will never lie or seek revenge. All those traits are reserved for another species of this world. So love your friend and she will repay you with loyalty, love and companionship that is so very rare.
Ken Miller is a free lance writer and webmaster for several web sites. For more info about caring for your pet, read his blog, Understanding Your Dog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Miller
Pack Mentality:
Let's face it. Sometime dogs do the strangest things. Like sniffing everything, rolling in the dirt right after you gave her a bath and eating some items that are repulsive to us.
Does your dog occasionally do things you thought she knew not to do? Does she stand and stare at you when you call her? Does she bark at inappropriate times? If so, you have a dog that owns a pet...you! Your dog is in control of your relationship instead of the other way around.
To understand your dog, you need to understand a dog's mentality. This is a large subject and could consume books, so we will discuss just one of the most important aspects of a dog's mentality. And, it is this...dogs are pack animals. Although dogs have been domesticated for hundreds of years, they still have an inherent pack mentality. This means your dog considers you and every member of your household members of her pack.
Your dog expects (actually requires) that the pack have a leader and followers. Someone must be the boss. There is no democracy expected within the pack. In light of this, you must assume the role of leader. Because if you do not, your dog will!
When the dog is the leader, it usually leads to discord in the household. The dog begins to take you for a walk rather than you taking her for a walk. Eventually, you become unhappy with the dog's behavior and the dog becomes unhappy because you are unhappy.
Being the leader of the pack is not something the dog knowingly pursues. She does it if there is no other clear leader. She is perfectly happy for you to be the leader. And controlling her food and access to the house or yard does not make you the leader in her mind.
There are several specific things you should do to establish that you are the leader. Here are a few:
1. Do not allow your dog to sleep in your bed. Dogs expect the leader to have the best sleeping quarters. When she sleeps where you sleep, it confuses her as to who is the leader.
2. When passing through a door together, do not allow your dog to lead. Gently, position her behind you so that she follows.
3. If you and your dog eat around the same time, never feed your dog before you eat. And never feed her from your plate while you eat. She must learn that the leader eats first (actually she expects this) and she always eats after you.
4. Do not allow your dog to dictate when she gets attention. If she jumps, scratches or barks, ignore her until she stops. Then give her attention. She will learn that you determine when she gets petted or a treat.
Some of these actions may appear a little cold or harsh but, in the end, they will provide you with a happier pet and more tranquil household.
Above all, in every interaction with your dog or any other pet make sure you comply with the following rules:
1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER hit your dog. Not with your hand, your foot, a newspaper or anything else. This will instill fear in your dog. You want a dog that loves and respects you, not one that fears you.
2. Do not scream or make threatening motions at your dog. Same reason as above. A stern voice and your natural body language is all you will ever need to discipline your dog. Your dog can sense when you are angry through observing your body language. And, when the leader is unhappy, she knows she has misbehaved. It may take her a while to figure out just what she did wrong, but she will understand when the scenario is repeated a few times.
3. Dogs are social animals (remember "pack"?). It is unnatural and cruel to leave your dog alone for extended periods. And, please, never tie a dog to a rope in the yard for days alone. If you must do this, why do you even want the dog? Give her to someone that will take care of her.
Your dog truly can be your best friend. She never questions your motives. She can have fear, but she does not know how to hate or deceive. She will never lie or seek revenge. All those traits are reserved for another species of this world. So love your friend and she will repay you with loyalty, love and companionship that is so very rare.
Ken Miller is a free lance writer and webmaster for several web sites. For more info about caring for your pet, read his blog, Understanding Your Dog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Miller
posted by Scott Brown | 1:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home