Befriend Your Dog

Dog, a man's best friend, that is what we have all grown up to believe; but if you ask your next door neighbor who their best friend is, the answer will most likely be Jack, Sue, or Kevin, etc. Why is this the case when a dog is a man's best friend? Well, the answer is simple. Your neighbor's best friend is Jack, Sue, or Kevin because she/he is able to relate with you on a human level. You can laugh, argue, lend each other money, cry together, or a host of other human "tangibles" that are not expected from a dog.

Stoop to its level:
But a dog can be your best friend if you understand that you sometimes have to "stoop" to its level in order to relate. In other words, understand its nature. It is not a human being, it is an animal which depends on you for all its needs, including food, good health, and a loving environment.

The Pack Structure:
One thing you have to appreciate is a dog's pack structure. This is the driving force behind a dog's life. The first day that you introduce a dog into your home, this "structure" is disrupted by the new living environment. It is no longer among its own and it will be up to you to re-create its pack structure among humans. In a pack structure, there is a pack leader and this has to be you. Your dog depends on you and you must control its life firmly and consistently if you are to get any respect.

Intervention:
One mistake pet owners make is to procrastinate on interventions when a dog misbehaves. Remember, you are the pack leader and you must demand respect through fair means; your dog must expect to be denied if he fails to follow directions which are "known" to him/her through training, and reward when he/she obeys. Never punish your dog for directions he does not understand. The most important thing to be is consistent. Correct minor infractions with a simple "NO", and aggressive behavior accordingly, never over-doing it.

Dog training is about, first and foremost, understanding your dog; then,

• Understanding that a pack structure requires a pack leader. Do not share power with your dog.
• Repeating commands until they are learned.
• Immediate interventions for an infraction, and reward for obedience.

Your dog can be your best friend, but the association must be based on respect.

Have a Happy-Dog-Training day......