Claim your space

Dogs know that the pack leader has an area of space that is his/hers.  Dogs are amenable to this but they do they will test these boundaries until the Pack Leader claims there space.  It is an interesting concept and goes hand and hand with the idea of energy projection.  Our energy state is how we communicate with our pack.  If we are calm-assertive we can create our own space without saying a word.  The dogs in our pack will get a sense of energy that says this is my line in the sand, don't cross it or you will be violating the rules of the pack leader.  As we have mentioned before, dogs do not want to violate pack rules because instinctively they know order in the pack is necessary for their survival. 

So then why is it so hard for people to claim their space? 
The main reason is energy projection.  If we are not in the calm-assertive mode, our dogs will not feel secure, stable or deferential to us as the leader.  They will automatically sense a void or a vacuum in the leadership role.  The result is predictable.  Dogs value a stable pack, they need this structure to feel safe and secure.  One of the dogs will usually act out in more dominent ways or become more agitated with the other dogs.  However, if we are in the right state of mind, projecting the calm-assertive energy that brings the firmness of structure to the pack, claiming your space will be a mere formality.  It take a little longer with a puppy but they will catch on very quickly too. 

The way to claim your space is simple once your energy is calm-assertive.  If your intent is to move your dog out of your space you need to stand up tall, facing the dog.  At times you can use a stick or a tennis racket or anything to extend your arm length.  This is not to hit the dog or hurt the dog in anyway, it is just easier to calm the dog down once he feels he is "locked in" the space right in front of you.  Some dogs will resist and turn sides, some will sit and aquese, some will growl, but eventually most will lay down and relax and accept the boundary.  You can gradually move closer to the dog until he gets the message that you are the pack leader and you are claiming your space. 

On rare circumstances dogs may try to bite or nip at you in resistance but if you are in the right state of mind and you are doing it with your own dog, a dog that you are familiar with, you should get a postive result. It will take repetition and have to be done each time your dog enters your space uninvited but after a few time it will be all over. 

Information for this article was taken from the book "The Power of Calm-Assertive Energy-How It Can Make You The Pack Leader" .  The books discusses how to be a pack leader to your dogs and how to apply the power of calm assertive energy to your daily life. 

Be Pack leader and still learn from your dogs

You can get a lot of help from your dogs.  Your dogs will instinctively protect their pack from instability.  They will also instinctively protect their calm-assertive pack leader from this negative energy.  Most stable dogs know that stability of the pack is essential for their survival.  Dogs can not be constantly fighting for dominance or breaking from the pack routine.  For thousands of years dogs have used their innate ability to live within a stable pack as an advantage over less successful species.  This should make it clear that dogs understand the importance of being in a pack and the importance of keeping the pack healthy.  They also understand the importance of the pack leader and will go to great lengths to keep the pack leader safe and free to lead.

It was such a long day following the Pack Leader

You can see behavior like this often at the dog park or in your home when bringing an unstable dog into the mix.  The other dogs will rally around the pack leader and warn the unstable dog.  Often it is just do that is unfamiliar with the pack rules and how to approach and interact with the pack.  Certain dogs, especially younger ones, tend to be unschooled in back etiquette but tend to learn quickly if the other dogs are persistent.

The biggest obstacle I have seen lately when taking I try to be pack leader for my dogs and the dog park is the dogs staring each other down through the fence.  For some dogs it seems to be a territorial thing and for others more fun or play when they race up and down the on each side of fence.  It is a challenge to get certain dogs to pay attention to the pack leader when when there are dogs to run with on the other side of the fence. 


I also have noticed that a recent addition to my pack tends to become more playful and a bit more aggressive at the dog park.  He is young and loves to play but has yet to take his well adjusted in home pack behavior to the park.  I am working on keeping him a bit more calm and more focused on me rather than all of the smells, sounds and other dogs.  It is taking a while but I am seeing progress daily and soon expect him to be fully adjusted and enjoying calm yet fun trips to the dog park. 

Do your dogs fight over food?

I have heard many people talk about their dogs as such beautiful, loving and loyal dogs until they get to the subject of feeding.  Often the look of terror comes in to their as as they think about dinner time for their puppies.  For some reason this is a common problem in households with more than one dog.  The strange thing is that it happens even when the dogs have been raised by one family and have always had ample food to eat. 
It is easy to understand how aggression can be an outcome if dogs are deprived of food or have had to fight to get enough food.  But for some reason even well fed and well nurtured dogs become food aggressive to the point of fighting with their pack members.  Some food aggressive dogs may even nip at their owner.  Of course this is not a good sign if your dog is threatening you, the pack leader, with exposed teeth and growls no matter what they are protecting. 

This is behavior that need to be addressed as soon as possible regardless of the dog may be protecting their food.  It can lead to dangerous situations down the road if anyone tried to come between the dog and food.

One way to address the issue is to place multiple bowls of food out.  You don't want to put more food out but just divide it up into several bowls if you have 2 or more dogs.  This will often relieve some of the tension from the dogs knowing that their are more places to eat.  This is the best way to start because it is a very simple solution.  If this doesn't work then we go on to plan B but I think this will solve the problem most of the time.

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