You don't have to be the ‘Pack Leader’ to have a well-behaved dog

Your dog is out of control. Jumping on you and your guests, barking at you, mouthing, nipping, chewing stuff up, digging…the list goes on.

He’s Mr Destructive. Destroying your relationship and your property.

You need him to stop harassing you and stop destroying your stuff.

Something’s got to change.

Be Careful!

Can I warn you of one so-called solution that isn’t actually helpful?

“You have to be the Pack Leader.” You’re going to hear lots of voices saying you have to be Alpha, or tell him who’s boss, or be dominant, etc. for a well-behaved dog.

It isn’t true.

Your dog’s bad behavior isn’t proof of anarchy (although it might feel like it).

Providing more feedback, clarity and predictability could definitely help your dog, but you don’t need to:

• Eat meals first

• Go through the door first

• Prevent your dog from walking in front of you

• Keep your dog off the furniture

• Make your dog to long-duration Down-Stays

• Alpha-roll your dog

• Scruff your dog

• Urinate on your dog or his stuff

• (Or anything else you hear about that’s supposed to make you ‘dominant’ or the ‘alpha’ or ‘the boss’.)

Being the “leader” doesn’t automatically solve the underlying communication problem between two species.

Your dog speaks dog and you speak English. Simply being a “leader” doesn’t change that, any more than the President of France being the President enables me to understand what he wants from me or what is appropriate in French culture.

The Real Solution

So, what can you do to cultivate a calmer canine?

For Rowdy dogs, we need to establish communication that specifically addresses the problem scenarios (“please keep your feet on the floor when I come home”)*, but we also need to look at indirect solutions so the dog is able to do what we ask.

It’s unfair to expect Rowdy Dogs to chill if they haven’t: 1) been taught what they should do, 2) been given appropriate outlets for their mental energy, and 3) been given appropriate outlets or their physical energy.

Mia has gotten LOTS of feedback that lying Down pays. This means she’s more likely to lie Down — even if I’m cooking.

1. What should he do? Capture Downs. This is SUCH a simple thing, but it really makes a big difference!
   
   Keep some of your dog’s dry food in a treat bag that you wear around the house. Anytime you see your dog volunteer to lie down, put a treat on the ground by his paws. This teaches your dog that good stuff happens when he chooses to settle down — without you telling him.

2. Mental exercise. Feed his meals from toys or through games. This is such an easy way to burn some of that mental energy so your Wild Child is more likely to rest! Click here for instructions for Boredom Buster activities to drain some of his energy.

3. Physical exercise. Let him sniff. Did you know sniffing is physically exhausting for dogs?? Consider swapping some of your usual neighborhood walks for long-line Sniffaris. Click here to read more about the walk of your dog’s dreams.

*You may hear people say that correcting you dog is part of communicating with them. But I would challenge you to focus more on what you want your dog to do and proactively make that the easy choice for him, vs reactively correcting your dog for the wrong behavior. Click here to read more about why “no” isn’t enough information for your dog and can lead to more frustration and distress.