Gaining Leadership/Respect
Prerequisite: Temperament Evaluation/Settle Exercise
Why does my dog need a leader?
Much like children need guidance and help from their parents, dogs need guidance from us
to help them live safely in a human world.
The following exercises are designed to put you in the leadership position - by teaching you to
teach your dog everyday manners that are vital for any well behaved dog.
Remember: If you're planning on interacting with your dog, you MUST be able to back up
what you say. That means if you are with the dog and supervising it, the dog is ALWAYS
LEASHED and ready to work.
Table Manners
You wouldn't let your child just help themselves to someone else's dinner, or have horrible table manners - your dog
needs to learn manners regarding food, toys, etc. as well!
1. Use treats, food, toys, etc. with this exercise - you can simulate eating the treat first to engage your dog's
attention.
2. Give your dog the ‘leave it' command, while holding the treat or toy up - but not too close to the dog.
3. Lower the food to dog-nose level.
4. If your dog goes for the food (even sniffing!), say "AH!" and give a correction. Do NOT pull the food away.
5. When your dog clearly refuses the food by turning his head away, stepping back, sitting very still, or
turning eyes away, praise.
6. When you are ready for the dog to take the food, give the ‘release’ command and
allow the dog to take the food.
7. Practice this exercise daily with your dog.
Freedom - moving about in the world.
The leader of a pack does just that: LEADS the pack – into new areas, on hunts, etc. This exercise is about safety
(teaching the dog to wait for permission to go through doors) and respect (teaching the dog to be polite while waiting).
1. Approach the doorway and turn your back to the opening. Be sure you are between the dog and the doorway.
2. Give the 'wait' command. NOTE: the dog does NOT need to sit before you wait - if you make the dog sit, that is
just one more command you have to enforce...make it easy on yourself & your dog right now, and only give the 'wait.'
3. Move through the doorway in front of the dog.
4. If the dog tries to go through with you or before you, correct with the “AH!” and begin again. Use your body to
block the dog.
5. Do NOT repeat the ‘wait’ command. Repeated commands lose their meaning to dogs.
6. When you are ready for the dog to come through, give the ‘release.’
7. Practice this exercise daily with your dog.
Do not allow your dog to race you up and down stairs, or hallways – keep your dog's respect by ‘leading’ the pack!
Sleeping Space
The leader of a pack sleeps wherever it wants to. No one sleeps in the leader's bed. Sound familiar? Most human
parents have the 'master bedroom' and only very young children sleep in bed with their parents when they feel
scared or ill. Once they grow up a bit, it's expected they'll sleep in their own space...the same is true with dogs!
1. Spend time in your dog’s favorite sleeping areas, including his bed!
2. Occasionally, move your dog from his favorite sleeping spaces, using the leash - and take the space.
3. Only allow your dog onto your sleeping spaces (couches, beds, etc.), when and IF you are inviting them up there.
SNEAK PEEK:
Congratulations! You're on your way to having a happy, well-behaved dog. The next step is attention training. I
think you'll agree, if your dog isn't paying any attention to you, it's going to be quite difficult for the dog to hear (much
less understand) any new skills you try to teach it.
In our next lesson, we're going to convince your dog that you are the most important thing in the universe. Yep.
More important than other dogs, people, even squirrels or bunnies! Can you think of any situations in the past where
having your dog's complete attention would have helped to avoid trouble?