Rescue a Dog and learn to be the pack leader

These dogs get their own couch.

Many dogs that are up for adoption are not bad dogs but they need to have a strong pack leader.  Rescuing or adopting a dog from the shelter can be a very rewarding experience if you are willing to do what it takes to be a leader of the pack.

 You have to keep in mind having a dog is not that much different from having young children.  You have to spend time with your dog everyday, make sure they get exercise everyday, make sure they have food and water everyday and you can't go on vacation unless you take the dog with your or find a dog sitter.  You will have to spend time training them and working with them if they are young or old.  You will have to work hard to be a good pack leader. 

You will not have complete freedom in your life and you will have to sacrifice some things in order to be a good pack leader.  Dogs take a lot of time and a serious commitment and once you take the dog with you, both you and the dog deserve a fair chance to become good pack members.  One of the worst things you can do is to take a dog home for a few days and change your mind.  You have to be prepared to stick it out and to accept the responsibility that comes with having a dog.  Dogs deserve a chance to have a good home. 

Bobo in one of her favorite shady spots

It is very important to realize that the problems you have with your dog will likely have to do with how you interact with the dog.  The dogs will follow you if your are a good pack leader and have the calm-assertive energy that dogs understand.  Usually this takes time and a lot of practice on your part.  Dogs are receptive and want to learn.  They understand rules and boundaries because this has been their way of life in pack for thousands of years. 

As the pack leader you will be responsible for acting like a pack leader and be sure the pack is doing well.  Please adopt a dog from a local shelter.  Just keep in mind that you will probably have to change a few things about yourself in order to be a good pack leader. 



If you getting dog you should know that it will be a great way to evaluate your own personality and energy.  You will have to become more aware of your energy state and be sure to learn how to project calm-assertive energy that is needed to be a good pack leader.

Being a Calm-assertive Pack Leader can be good for everyone

Being the Calm-assertive pack leader can be a lot of fun.  Your time spent with your dogs will be so much more rewarding if you can become the pack leader by practicing calm-assertive behavior.  If you become the pack leader by using other methods you can be the pack leader.  Your dogs will not have the respect for you that they would have if your energy was in the proper place. 

This is very important to understand.  If you have read this far or searched the internet and are still reading this article you probably are very devoted to your dogs.  You probably were looking for information that would help your dogs live a calm, stable and happy existence.  Most people, I think, have good intentions when they take in a rescue dog or when they adopted a puppy. 

People have many different stories to tell about how they ended up with their dogs but it usually seems to have something to do with how cute they puppy was or they couldn’t let another dog be euthanized.  The popularity of the Dog Whisperer show would lead us to believe that people are becoming more aware the extreme over crowding at dog shelters across the country.  

There is really no need for puppy mills or such a large number of breeders in the USA.  It is tragic that we are putting dogs down every single day of the year in the hundreds and thousands because people couldn’t deal with keeping them.  I would not be bothered a bit if there was a moratorium put on dog breeding for a couple of years.  I know some people to this for their full time living but breeding dogs should be illegal.  We don’t need to be killing more dogs at the shelters because someone wanted to have papers to go with their new puppy.  The breeding of dogs is a complete manipulation of the species to make sure people feel like their dog is better than the neighbors.

There about putting down so many dogs that could be great dogs if they were given the chance.  By making your commitment to becoming a calm-assertive pack leader, you are doing something that will help reduce over crowding at the local shelters.  The more we can get people to connect with their pets on a different level by using the calm-assertive dog training techniques we will be reducing the likelihood of people taking their dogs to the shelter out of frustration and anger. 

As people get in touch with their more subtle forms of communication as they work on being good pack leaders they will be amazed at the joy of projecting calm-assertive energy.  They will be doing what is right for the dogs and they will be doing what is right for them.  Their new found energy will begin to make significant changes in the rest of their lives as they become a better top dog. 

Being a calm-assertive pack leader means that we are living more in line with the natural energy of the universe.  Being good pack leader is a great launching pad for us all.  If we can master our emotions while training our dogs will be on the path to changing our energy.  Our dogs will sense this and give you more and more respect and the universe will be more in harmony all areas of your life.

Trusting your intuition about your dogs will make you a better pack leader

What I was noticing was the start of tumor several years before it grew to block my dog's air way.  She suffered a long time as it grew.  I continued to ask the doctors but not one of them did the right thing to find out what really was going on.  I went as far as asking them directly about her breathing and why she was panting so much and the night before she died I even went as far as to ask if they thought she was choking on something.  I was assured it was her lungs.  It wasn't her lungs. 

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It is a sad story and I know many people have tragic, heart breaking stories about losing their dogs to some illness or accident.  But I wanted to explain to you the bond you will have with your dog if you use you other senses more when you communicate with your dog.  You will also have to use you calm-assertive energy to make sure your dogs get the proper care they deserve.  I did not do this with Bobo, and I made the mistake of relying on the "experts" and asking family if they thought something was wrong.  Everyone said she looked fine but I should have been more assertive with the doctors.  It may have helped avoid some needless suffering if the tumor could have been treated at such an early stage.  I don't know for sure but I learned a good lesson about my own intuition and my assertive behavior.  I have been much more assertive with the doctors and I have also made sure to be a lot more informed about what certain symptoms could mean.   

Being the pack leader is a lot of things besides just holding your dog on a leash.  It is something that will impact your life forever.  If you can learn to be a great pack leader you will be doing all the things you need to do to have a healthier, happier and more successful life.  Our dogs have so much to teach us if we are willing to listen. 

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pack leader and dog whisperer make for a special bond between man and dog

They look so innocent. 

Becoming a dog whisperer doesn't happen over night.  As humans we are used to communicating everything through speech or the written word.  Our energy is important but people are less perceptive than dogs in reference to our energy.  We may be able to to pretend we are strong and assertive to humans and they might to for it, but our dogs can sense what is behind the facade.  If our energy is not calm-assertive our dogs will know right away and will not willingly follow as part of your pack.  But humans may believe what you tell them.  We all have been fooled by someone who was a smooth talker that later turned out to be a cheat or a fraud. 

Our dogs can read between the lines better than we can but we have the potential to use our intuition more.  We have instincts and senses that we have let go dormant for years.  As we evolved we learned to trust our senses less and less and it often has left us vulnerable to the "smooth talkers".  But as we become a better, stronger pack leader we will be projecting calm-assertive energy as well as developing our intuition.  As pack leader we will be using our intuition to assess the health and energy of our dogs.  They won't be able to tell us what is wrong.  But the more we get in tune with our pack and our dog training becomes more of a partnership, we will be able to tell things about our dogs that no one else would ever know. 

I could see something wrong with one of my dogs several years before she died.  I had spent a great deal of time with her for 5 or 6 years and I could tell if something was wrong.  The problems arise when our special bond with our dog can not be matched by the vet.  I noticed one of her eyes seemed to be drooping or bulging out and I took her to the doctor right away.  They assured me that it was nothing and it was normal for Labradors and it was totally fine. 
I knew it wasn't totally fine had her checked several times and everyone seem to placate me but never really give me a good answer.  I don't think modern medicine can account for intuition and vets tend to see most people as overly nervous about their dogs.  But about a year or two later the vet said it may be glaucoma in her eye and started her on daily eye drops.  This went on for a few years and I knew it wasn't working and that something just wasn't right  but I deferred to the doctors expertise.  I have sense changed my philosophy on that with my other dogs and cats. 

More to the story here. 



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Cesar’s Way or another dog training method?

Cesar’s Way or another dog training method?  

This article will give you a few suggestions on how to find the right dog training method for you and your pack. 

There are hundreds of dog training methods to choose from when you get your new dog or puppy.  It seems like there are dog training experts everywhere selling their “best” ever dog training methods.  Since Cesar Millan came on the National Geographic Channel as the Dog Whisperer, everyone decided dog training was a new money maker.  I am sure most trainers have the expertise they claim but before you pick a method you will have to do some research.  After you have gathered enough information you can then make a much better decision. 

A lot depends on you the dog owner.  Her are a few questions you need to answer when you start your search for a dog trainer or dog training method. 

1. Do you want what is best for the dog or do you just want obedience? 


2. Do you want to hire a trainer or be the trainer? 


3. Do you want to train your dog using treats and positive reinforcement?


4. Do you want to use the Clicker method?


5. Do you want to use electronic collars that use electricity to control your dog?


6. Do you want to illicit obedience by force or by creating fear in your dog?  

                                          -OR-

7. Do you want to use training as a way to develop a stronger bond with your dog? 


8. Do you want to use a method of training that has little need for the use of treats?  A method that does not call for you to hit, spank, prod or abuse your dog in anyway?    

This method relies on your energy as the Alpha dog and pack leader rather than electricity.  This way of training is commonly referred to as Cesar’s Way.  If you want to be a dog whisperer this is the method you need to use. 

One of the things I had always tried to resist was the use of treats as a reward to train any of my dogs.  I had little training or experience in training dogs but I just didn’t want to have to “bribe” my dog into behaving.  I was not sure this was possible but I was certain that I wanted to have a stronger bond with my pet.  My thought was that the treats might get in the way of building a better handler/dog relationship.  It wasn’t until several years later I was fortunate enough to see the Dog Whisperer show.  I immediately realized this was what I was looking for all along. 

 

However, this method of training had many more hurdles for me to get over before I felt like I was making any real progress.  I was not surprised that I was influencing my dog’s behavior with my energy but I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to train myself first before I could project the calm-assertive energy necessary to be the top dog.  So I was going to have to be learning about pack behavior right along with my dog Bobo.

I can say with out hesitation, after using the Dog Whisperer techniques on 7 dogs and having my own pack for over 10 years, that the way of the pack leader is the most rewarding and most satisfying way to train your dog.  If you are truly concerned about what is best for your dog and are willing to look in the mirror at how your own behavior influences the behavior of your pets, you will love Cesar’s Way.  You will be doing what is best for you and your dog.  You will not regret it. 

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Why do dogs take so well to Cesar's Millan Methods?

Pack Leader at the Dog Park-a dog training lesson

Don't Forget the Treats

 

Sammy, Buddy, Jake, Bobo, Scruffy and Jack

Yesterday I was at the dog park and saw a perfect example of a pack leader.  This was the best dog training lesson for anyone to witness because it is much different to see it happening before your eyes rather than on the Dog Whisperer Show.  It was fun to see. 

 The dog park is set up with three large areas that are fenced off around the outside and divided with two fences down the middle.  The large square area and the two dividers have gates to pass from one section to the other.  A woman with a medium size dog and very small dog was walking in the farthest corner of the third section.  On one end of her section some larger dogs were playing and it looked as though she didn’t want to go that direction.  I was in the middle section with my six large dogs, one of them a young Pit Bull who likes to greet everyone who comes into the gate with great enthusiasm.  It was quite clear she felt a little trapped. 

The only way for her to get out was to go through one of the areas with the large dogs.  She tried the back end gate which is always locked in order to keep a limited number open so there is not complete chaos at the park with dogs coming and going from every direction. 

 I was getting ready to approach the woman and ask her if she wanted me to corral my dogs so she could walk through with her dogs on the leash.  My dogs are typically very good with other dogs.  However, I have Aussies and they like to herd anything in site and if they all start off together it can frighten some of the dogs.  If I am not close enough to get their attention I don’t like it.  Keep in mind this is a huge dog park that is over 10 acres and if I am by one gate and someone comes through the other gate I can’t keep up with the dogs if they decide to go investigate. These three are usually so interested in chasing the tennis ball that they don’t even pay attention to other dogs.  The Pit Bull puppy still has puppy energy and is a little over friendly at times.  He is learning though and doing well when I am being a good pack leader.

The woman in the other section was on the phone so I didn’t say anything to her and then got distracted picking up a few tennis balls a few hundred feet away from the gate.  The next thing I see is this young woman walking through the end gate with no warning.  She had both her two smaller dogs on leashes and she was in complete control.  She exuded calm, assertive energy as she entered the gate, her dogs following perfectly. My Pit Bull ran over to say hello to the dogs and I was a little nervous being a long way away.  But her pack was on a mission. 

She held her head up, had one hand on the phone, the other hand holding both leashes.  As my dog approached she paid no attention to him and told her dogs to keep moving.  My dog got in one sniff and they were still on the move.  His playful energy was completely neutralized by the woman’s strong assertive energy.  She was going to complete her mission and get through the park without any big dogs bothering her or her little ones.  She did it just the way Cesar would have done. 

It would be nice to have gotten it on video because it would have been a great dog training aid while reinforcing the dog whisperer methods.  It was the first time I have seen another person practice being the pack leader in person.  I have seen it on the Dog Whisperer Television show, read about it in books, and try to be a good pack leader myself but witnessing this event totally convinced me that dog training is all about energy.  I could feel it myself and my Pit Bull didn’t know what to do.  He was completely obedient and did not try to disrupt her pack. 

I already was a big believer in the methods Cesar teaches but this made me even more certain that it really is possible for our calm, assertive energy to have a major influence over our dogs.  If you are interested in doing what is best for your pack I would recommend watching the Dog Whisperer Show or go ahead and try the Cesar Millan DVD’s on dog training. 

Why do dogs take so well to Dog Whisperer Methods of training?

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 There are a number of reasons why dogs do well when being trained by a calm and assertive pack leader. The Dog Whisperer way allows us to use the dogs natural strengths to enhance rehabilitation or training. The most obvious as I have mentioned in previous articles is instinct.  The pack mentality has played a very vital role in the amazing evolution and adaptability of the canine species.  Fighting among themselves, hurting each other or running off on their own was a sure way to shorten their lifespan.  Even though dogs do not have the same predators threatening them today, they still have plenty of reasons to follow a good pack leader and they still have the instinctual drive to do as they have done for thousands of years.  

Another major difference between dogs and humans that often can cause training problems, is that dogs live in the moment.  They live more in the present that most humans and they have little capacity or use for holding grudges or looking backward or forward in time.  It is not uncommon for people to get a puppy to fulfill some need of their own rather than to provide the dog with a stable, balanced life.  Of course, this  understandable and the cuteness of puppies is natures way of luring us in before we realize how much work it takes to bring up healthy, stable and well adjusted dog. However, having a puppy is one of the great joys of life so its well worth the effort. But if we start to treat our dogs to much like humans it can lead to a very unbalanced and unstable pack.  





I certainly do believe that dogs have feelings and that they are in tune with our feelings as their master but the philosophy behind the dog whisperer training calls for treating the dogs much more like they would be treated if they were living in a real dog pack. It is a way to stimulate the mind in ways that work with there DNA rather than against it.  

The first and foremost thing a dog needs to do to channel some of their instinctual energy is to get plenty of exercise.  The role of exercise is two fold for the dog whisperer because it is used for more than just exercise.  The walk is a very good way to bond with your dog and to tap into their natural desire to bond with their pack leader.  Dogs used to spend most of their days or nights walking or running in a pack looking for food.  You can see the same behavior in wolves in the wild.   Although desert coyotes seem to be a bit more solitary, at least when they venture into the foot hills of the city.  The most I have ever seen has been a pack of two. 

Walking your dog is like taking an aspirin a day.  The doctors aren't sure why it helps your aches and pains, why exactly how it can be used to prevent heart disease but they just know it is good for you in multiple ways.  The same is true for the walk with your dog and it should be part of your daily routine as often as possible.

More on the Dog Walk for training in the next post. 

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Dog training for the human pack leader

Dog training takes a tremendous amount of patience.  Dogs, especially puppies can be trying on our nerves and if we are not careful we will make things worse by being a poor pack leader.  Maintaining our calm assertive energy at all times is a must.  Easier said then done or at least that was the case with me.  Dogs are willing to follow us in the pack and do what we want but first we have to be trained in the art of living like a dog so to speak.  Well, we don’t have to go that far but we do have to adopt some of the behaviors of the alpha dog and of a good pack leader.  First and foremost is to keep our mood as even as possible no matter what our puppies do to drive us up a wall.  Our unstable moods or unstable energy will be acted out buy our dogs and they will not be able to be calm and stable until we learn to be calm and assertive as the pack leader. 

I was lucky enough to find 3 beautiful Australian Shepard puppies at the dog park one night many years ago and it changed my life in many ways.  In the short term it changed my house a lot too.  By this I mean so long to the new carpet, hello to the new bushes and new sprinkler drip system and hello to a major makeover of my personality. 

I already had 3 dogs that I rescued but they were getting a little older, very set in their ways and our routine was simple and low stress.  It is hard to say way I would take on such a task as to raising three high energy puppies but it might just be that they saw me coming a mile away and visions of dog biscuits started dancing in their heads.  For whatever reason I took on this challenge I can honestly say it changed my life for the better. 

It was funny that I soon realized that my patience was thin and that my dogs didn’t take well to me yelling at them after they chewed up my telephone.  It seemed to confuse them more than anything.  It was soon

there after that I became more interested in the dog whisperer and Cesar Millan way of dog training. 

I was fascinated by his control over his pack and how he was able to maintain such a calm and assertive energy under all types of circumstances.  I was also amazed at just how quickly the dogs took to his methods and how much more under control his dogs were than mine.  What I didn’t expect to learn was that my behavior was the primary cause of my dog’s energy output and placement. 

It was really a human psychology education rather than an exercise in dog training.   So was the beginning of my journey and education on being a good pack leader.  The “dog training” label just seems to be a way to draw you in until you find out that the dogs are really not the problem. 

Dogs are natural followers if they have a strong pack leader to fall behind.  It is just nature’s way and it has been part of the evolution of the dog because these instinctual behaviors lead, in part, to the survival of the species.  Wolf packs and other wild dog packs need an order to their pack structure or they would be constantly fighting one

another over limited resources and likely would have extinguished themselves thousands of years ago.     

The reality is that dogs know how to behave in the pack structure.  They just need a good alpha dog that is a strong leader.  This is where we humans come into the mix.  By default we have become the pack leader for our dogs but if we act in ways that are not conducive to being a good pack leader or if we are unable to channel our calm assertive energy our dogs will try to take over the lead role. 

Dogs and teeth Cleaning

There has been more and more concern about dogs teeth and a lot of talk about the best ways to keep them clean and healthy.  It is becoming more and more common for dogs to get their teeth cleaned at the Vet which was something was rarely done 20 years ago.  The theory is that the bacteria in the dogs teeth will spread to other areas of the body and cause illness.  Now teeth brushing is even fairly common among dog owners so the awareness of how important it is to keep your dogs teeth clean but people are much more hesitant to put the dog under anesthesia.  Even though the teeth cleaning procedure may seem fairly minor there is always the risk of complications when putting your anesthezing your pet. 

However, fortunately for those of us who have a little difficulty getting Fido to sit still while brush their teeth and who would rather not have their dog in for unnecessary surgery the standard procedure is lots of chew treats that hopefully will help reduce the tartar and plaque build up.  There are assortment of treats that can be good for your dogs but only if they are chewers.  If your dog doesn't like to chew on the raw hides or nylabones you can rely on milk bone biscuits.  If none of those do the trick you might have get your dogs teeth cleaned by the vet in order to prevent complications later in life. 

Dog teeth cleaning is one more good reason to always consider dental insurance as well.  Some insurance plans may cover certain preventative maintenance procedures like teeth cleaning or yearly check ups.  If you have more than one dog or cat you will definitely want to look into a couple of different types of insurance policies to keep the rising cost of pet care under control. 

Dog Whisperer technique for dog training

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.