How to Correct Your Dog’s Behavior as the Pack Leader

How to Correct Your Dog’s Behavior as the Pack Leader 

When you correct your dog you must always release the energy as soon as the dog relaxes.  You must be relaxed at this time as well.  Breathe in and let it out so you can release your fear, frustration or anger and get back to the calm-assertive state. 

It is no secret that dog training and behavior modification is often very stressful.  It can be stressful on the dog, the owner and the rest of the pack.  We often may get into our own “Red Zone” when we reach the limit of our patience.  It is best if you can correct your dog when you are in a calm-assertive state but there will be times when your frustration will get the best of you.  It happens to everyone who is trying to train a puppy or a dog but this behavior causes us to project anger energy. 

This anger energy will give your dog the wrong impression.  He will feel that you are not projecting the calm-assertive energy and they will not be willing to follow your direction for the right reasons.  They may become calm-submissive but it will be out of fear than out of respect. 

An example would be if your dog was being too aggressive with another dog.  It happens a lot with different breads or dogs of different ages.  One dog may think he is playing or being playful when the other dog is just getting upset or angry.  It is up to the human pack leader to make sure their dog doesn’t get overly aggressive or overly playful with dogs in the pack.  The same thing holds true for the pack leader, you or me, if our dog is being “too playful” with a dog from another pack.

Often we will have to take action quickly.  If the dogs are off leash it will be easy for us to get excited and to project fearful or anger energy.  Once we reach the dog we can correct them by getting them into the calm-submissive state. We do this by making them sit, lie down or have them lie down and roll over.  As soon as you get the dog’s attention and you have accomplished your goal for that moment you have to make sure you are in a calm-assertive state free from frustration or anger.

The mission is accomplished.  You then need to let go of that frustration and release it Forget about it so you can get back into the present moment.  It is what your dog will understand the best.  They know they have been corrected by the pack leader.  Dogs are willing to accept being corrected by the pack leader if they are projecting the calm-assertive energy.  If the pack leader has the respect of the pack corrections will be done with less resistance. 

This type of correction reminds me of how an older dog or mother dog corrects their pup.  Certain times even the cutest of all puppies will try the patience of their older pack members.  When the breaking point of the older dog is reached they will correct the puppy swiftly and certainly.  It all happens in a matter of seconds and then it is over.  You might hear a short growl and see a strategic placement of the older dog’s mouth on the neck of the puppy. Regardless of how it happens, it is short, assertive and full of intention.  The older dog means business and the puppy understands 100%.  They just received a very quick and powerful lesson about boundaries.