When it comes to being an effective leader, little things mean a lot. Understanding the importance of the little things determines your quality of leadership. Your respect for the fact that some things have very important meanings for your dog will nurture mutual respect. You may not mind if your dog sleeps on the furniture, but I assure you, to your dog it has more meaning than you can imagine!
Leaders do go through the door first. Since no doors exist naturally in the wild, this is a purely socially influenced rule. There is no magic about the door and leadership, but this is one additional opportunity to direct your dog activities and develop some door manners in the process.
Manage instinctual behaviors. Sometimes we all feel the need to let a dog be a dog. However, some of the activities in which a dog engages reinforce natural instincts that should be discouraged. Activities like rolling on the back to either pick up or lay down scent should be discouraged. If you catch your dog in this behavior, give a light leash correction with NO and praise for redirecting.
Urinary "marking activities" should be discouraged as well. If your male (or female) dog is obsessive about marking over other scent markers, redirect their activities to a neutral site. Require male dogs to urinate in the open without marking on an object like a tree or shrub.
As some dogs mature they develop a habit of "scratching" with their feet after elimination. The action involves an action similar to a bull preparing to charge. You will know it when you see it. This action, while really no big deal, is just another attempt by your dog to over inflate his ego. As soon as your dog begins to scratch with his feet, give the leash a quick snap, tell him NO, and praise him for stopping
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