Pack Leaders

Many people believe that the 'pack' and 'alpha' theories are outdated training techniques. They prefer to use new, poitive reinforcement techniques; such as clicker and marker training. These techniques are very useful and do work. However I would only use these techniques to teach a dog tricks and working tasks. The dogs I work with a 'red zone' cases. Many have attacked and seriously injured other dogs and in extreme cases; humans. These dogs will not listen to me if I shove a treat under their nose. In fact I coud roast a chicken and shove it in their face and they wouldn't notice.

I have to establish myself as the leader with these dogs. Every dog needs a leader; from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane. Dogs' brains are hard-wired to follow an 'aplha' person. I don't like to use the word 'dominant' as it has negative connations. All it means is that you must be a powerful, trusting, no-nonsense person in your dogs eyes. It is easy to acheive this status. By doing so you will eliminate or reduce problem behaviours in your dog such as: Aggression, nervousness, chewing, pulling and barking. (There is no quick-fix - problem behaviours will need specific work.)

Here are a set of rules, my dogs and I live by:

• You go out of EVERY door/gateway first. Make your dog wait. No barging out in front of you.
• The dog must eat AFTER you and sit and wait before eating.
• Take your dog on a walk before a meal. It's natural for a dog to travel long distances to find food.
• Have your dog walk next to or behind you. You must lead YOUR pack. Don't let your dog pull you up the street.
• Use a slip lead at the top of the neck behind the ears while walking your dog. This is the most sensitive part of the neck and you will have more control. If you can't walk you dog because he is a bad puller, use a Gentle Leader or a Halti of some sort.
• Correct your dog for every bad behaviour. Consistensy is the only way you will make progress.
• Give affection to the dog ON YOUR TERMS. Not his. If you nudges, paws or licks you ignore him.
• Do not praise a nervous, demanding or excited state. Ignore it. Reward calmness.
• Make sure your dog gets a WALK EVERYDAY for 1 hour at least. My dogs get 2-3 hours exercise a day as well as swimming and training.
• Stay calm and relaxed around your dog. He will learn to trust you in all situations.

This is me walking an extremely dog aggressive German Shepherd. He had put several dogs into the vets and his owners could not control him. He would lunge at every dog he passed and re-direct his aggression at his owners.

His owners could not believe it when I took him from them and returned him in a pack of 7 dogs. I am building his socialization skills and people ask me if he is the same dog. The last hurdle is to get his owners to become confident while walking him.

If you look closly you can see I am not holding either leads. Tilly's is around my chest and the Shepherd's is around my neck. This stops any bad energy from transfering to him.

His ears are back, and his tail is down; showing that he is in a migrating mode. This was apparently unheard of, ecspecially with another dog so close!