If you are interested in dog training you have to look into the dog whisperer Cesar Milan. He is amazing with animals and has a unique approach to he says he rehabilitates people first to get them to see how their behavior is effecting their dog or dogs. The philosophy is that it paramount to be the pack leader so you can interact with your dogs on their natural instinctual level.
In order to be the pack leader you have to behave like the alpha dog. The alpha dog is the boss and is the one that the other dogs look to for leadership and guidance. This is natural behavior to the dogs and they are most at peace and comfortable when they are in the presence of a strong pack leader. Dogs have evolved from wolves through natural selection and breeding and but they have many of the natural instincts of wolves deeply ingrained into their psyche. This is why we have to be conscious of the ways of dogs and not treat them the same way we treat humans. Dogs understand this natural hierarchy and unless there is a strong pack leader in their pack, which typically will be you and your pets, spouses and children etc, one of the dogs will want to fill that void.
It is like a vacuum in nature. It is always said that nature does not like a vacuum so the empty space is soon filled with something naturally. The void in the dog pack come when there is no leader and one dog will instinctively move to fill that void and you will have a very confused and unstable household on your hands. Dogs are social and pack animals and they will be part of your pack whether you have one dog or several. The humans can be just as good of a pack leader as another dog and it is a must if you are going to have a stable dog and a stable household.
There are several things you have to do to be a good pack leader and Cesar recommends the walk as the most important bonding exercise with your dog. However, this can not be a walk where the dog pulls you up and down the street. You have to walk with your dog like you are the pack leader and you must be able to channel your strong assertive energy in order to be in control.
The calm assertive energy is what dogs respond to the best. If you ever see a mother dog dealing with an unruly puppy you will get the point. The mother dog reaches her breaking point but it only takes a calm and assertive grasp or bite on the scruff of the neck and the puppy usually gets the message that it is time to settle down. It is quick and simple and has little aggression or aggressive energy behind the discipline. This is a key for humans to understand when training their own dog. It is difficult for the dog to understand what you are doing if you act out of frustration or anger. If you raise your voice and try to discipline your pets with an aggressive or angry tone, you will be just confusing your dogs and causing them more undue stress. Your energy will be mirrored by your dogs and if you are angry and aggressive you will be making it much harder for your dog to be calm and well adjusted.
No comments:
Post a Comment