In my work as a dog training professional, this is usually the reason I get a call. "My dog is driving me crazy!" Well, if you think you are miserable, you should put yourself in your dog's place.....
A dog owner that focuses exclusively on how a dog makes him feel will always meet up with dog trouble. This is understandable and the dogs can't speak for themselves but rarely do people ask me how they can make their dog happier and more confident and secure. In actuality these things go hand in hand. Some folks have the misconception that the two are mutually exclusive, but nothing could be further from the truth! Although there are some homes where there simply aren't sufficient skills or the time necessary so that life can be tweaked to make things pleasant for both animal and human, most people need only understand and meet the needs of their dog/breed, to make things right and create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility and change the entire picture for the better!
Dogs basically need these 4 things:
food and shelter
leadership
exercise (mental and physical)
affection
Notice that affection was last on the list!
One of the Greatest Misconceptions in the Dog World: Folks commonly think that "if we just show them that he's loved then he will eventually trust us and behave better". Wow! If that were true then anyone who loved dogs would be a dog training expert!! We all know it's not that easy. One of the most important things in a dogs life, right up there with food is having a leader. Dogs in nature will live in a pack. The pack always has a leader. Now this doesn't mean that we have to be harsh or rough with our dogs. A good leader in the dog world is the one who makes sure everyone feels safe so the others don't have to worry about who's in charge or where the next meal is coming from, they just follow the leader. Dogs instinctively know that a leader is required for them to be safe but they don't necessarily instantly know that it's you. We must campaign for the job to BE a leader in your dog's eyes. If you aren't the leader then your dog may get the impression that you need for HIM to take on that role. This is not a situation you want to be in, nor does your furry friend really.
leadership
exercise (mental and physical)
affection
Notice that affection was last on the list!
One of the Greatest Misconceptions in the Dog World: Folks commonly think that "if we just show them that he's loved then he will eventually trust us and behave better". Wow! If that were true then anyone who loved dogs would be a dog training expert!! We all know it's not that easy. One of the most important things in a dogs life, right up there with food is having a leader. Dogs in nature will live in a pack. The pack always has a leader. Now this doesn't mean that we have to be harsh or rough with our dogs. A good leader in the dog world is the one who makes sure everyone feels safe so the others don't have to worry about who's in charge or where the next meal is coming from, they just follow the leader. Dogs instinctively know that a leader is required for them to be safe but they don't necessarily instantly know that it's you. We must campaign for the job to BE a leader in your dog's eyes. If you aren't the leader then your dog may get the impression that you need for HIM to take on that role. This is not a situation you want to be in, nor does your furry friend really.
Put Affection Last: Because people view affection in a much different way than dogs do, this confuses many dog owners. A dog is always more content when he receives his leadership and his exercise before he is smothered with kisses. If your dog has trouble looking at you as a leader then maybe you should look in this area to see if you are showing human affection before canine leadership. Petting your dog first thing in the morning or the minute we walk in the door after being gone for hours may be seen by a dog as an act of submission by you and it makes him feel as though you are the one who needs a leader. Not because he wants to dominate you but because he knows instinctively that someone needs to lead.
Let your dog smell you when you first get home, as you go about your business for 15 minutes or so or until his heart rate returns
to normal before petting him. This is the way leader dogs greet the rest of the dogs in a pack and it makes your dog more confident. It will also decrease separation anxiety. If he is in a crate while you are gone, leave him in the crate until he has a chance to calm down. Only open the door when he is calm. During this time refrain from talking to him or giving him eye contact. This could be over stimulating and could cause him to take longer to become calm.
Food is a given, everyone knows that a dog needs to be fed and have fresh water. Many people don't realize that a dog needs exercise almost as much as he needs food. In fact, a dog will be happier while a little underfed than under-exercised. Some dogs, like the Husky or the Border Collie will require much more physical exercise to maintain a calm, follower attitude. While a Basset Hound may be content with a less active lifestyle. Mental exercise is as important if not more so than physical exercise. A dog who has a large back yard and chases squirrels may not be getting enough exercise. If he is anxious and acting out then he might need more mental stimulation as well. This can be accomplished in several ways including long disciplined walks (not wandering about at the end of his leash sniffing at everything in sight). It’s okay for him to stop and sniff if you give him permission for a short time but that’s not what a walk is for. A good walk includes proper manners and focus on the task of traveling at a steady pace, like a human when he is jogging. You might also play games such as ‘find the toy’. This will engage his brain and his nose as he searches for the hidden toy
Food is a given, everyone knows that a dog needs to be fed and have fresh water. Many people don't realize that a dog needs exercise almost as much as he needs food. In fact, a dog will be happier while a little underfed than under-exercised. Some dogs, like the Husky or the Border Collie will require much more physical exercise to maintain a calm, follower attitude. While a Basset Hound may be content with a less active lifestyle. Mental exercise is as important if not more so than physical exercise. A dog who has a large back yard and chases squirrels may not be getting enough exercise. If he is anxious and acting out then he might need more mental stimulation as well. This can be accomplished in several ways including long disciplined walks (not wandering about at the end of his leash sniffing at everything in sight). It’s okay for him to stop and sniff if you give him permission for a short time but that’s not what a walk is for. A good walk includes proper manners and focus on the task of traveling at a steady pace, like a human when he is jogging. You might also play games such as ‘find the toy’. This will engage his brain and his nose as he searches for the hidden toy
Remember, as much as you love your dog and think of him as one of the family, he is still a dog first. Meeting his needs as a dog will bring him more contentment and make him a pleasure to be around. He will enjoy life more fully and be a pleasure to live with from day to day. Embrace his dogness! Don't try to make him into a human. He will love you for it!!
By Mary Kowalczyk
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