Gaining Leadership/Respect Prerequisite:  Temperament Evaluation/Settle Exercise Why does My Dog want to “Lead the Pack?” Your dog is a pack animal.  Your dog knows instinctively, that a pack without a leader, will not survive.  If the pack doesn’t survive, neither does the individual dog.  As with any animal, the instinct to survive is very strong, even in today’s domestic pets.    So, unless you present yourself as the pack leader, your dog may be under the impression that the position needs to be filled.   The following exercises are designed to put you in the leadership position - by controlling important resources such as food, toys, moving space, and sleeping space. 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.   You have three seconds or less to deliver an effective correction.  Corrections must be consistent, timely, and motivational.                         Food Resources The leader of a pack controls food resources.   1.  Whenever your dog is getting food, treats, bones, or toys, you need to own it first.   Use treats, food, toys, etc. with this exercise. 2.  Give your dog the ‘leave it' command. 3.  Lower the food to dog-nose level. 4.  If your dog goes for the food, 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, 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.  Repeat the above exercise until you have 10 refusals (dog turns away from food without a correction). 8.  Practice this exercise daily with your dog. Moving Space The leader of a pack does just that: LEADS the pack – into new areas, on hunts, etc.   The leader doesn’t put itself in submissive positions - he or she 'owns' the space. 1.  Take ownership of doorways, stairways, hallways, etc. 2.  Give the 'wait' command. 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.   You said it once, now you are enforcing it. 6.  When you are ready for the dog to come through, give the ‘release.’ 7.  Repeat the above exercise until you have 10 refusals (the dog waits at the door without a correction). 8.  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. 1.  Spend time in your dog’s favorite sleeping areas, including his bed! 2.  Occassionally move your dog from his favorite sleeping spaces, using the leash. 3.  Slip socks that have been worn, but not washed under his bedding or crate to ‘mark’ that you’ve been sleeping there.