UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG

The main reason for this is the age-old myth that you must use physical force and punishment to establish rank. If your dog sees you as pack leader it will never be necessary to resort to this, if he doesn't then it will cause more problems than it will solve.

Dogs and humans are both social animals that are well adapted to living in groups. This is one of the main reasons we get along together so well. In human society, as in dog or wolf packs, a pecking order exists. This enables each individual to know where they stand in relation to other members of their society and avoids unnecessary conflicts. The same is true when humans and dogs live together.

Many problems experienced by pet owners are usually due to a lack of understanding on the owners part of doggy rules and etiquette and a tendency to treat dogs as if they are human. Additionally, dogs do not instinctively understand human rules, many of which are so fundamental to us that we sometimes forget that they are not to our dogs. In order to maintain a good relationship between our dogs and ourselves it is necessary for us to teach our dogs what we expect. By doing this we also establish our dogs respect and the right to lead, making training easy and fun for dog and owner alike.

To understand how your dog views life it is important to understand these instincts. You should consider what is important to him:

· Food & water – a vital part of his life and the most valuable resource to any animal

· Warmth & comfort – again essential and favourite areas are often the source of competition

· Possessions – toys, bones, his food bowls, your smelly socks. All may be equally valuable to your dog

· Company & attention – from you and your family but also from other humans and animals.

· Freedom – dogs are inquisitive animals who enjoy the freedom to investigate their surroundings

· Security – dogs are pre-programmed to guard themselves and their environment, unless they perceive someone else is already doing this

You may think that if you give your dog all of these things then he will be content and therefore the perfect pet. This would be true if all that you require of your dog is to live in your home and behave as a normal dog. Unfortunately very few people want this of a pet dog.

A normal dog scavenges or hunts for food to eat (unless of course food is readily available without doing so), he sleeps wherever he chooses (usually the most comfy place like your sofa or bed), he comes and goes whenever he pleases (not when you call him), he chews whatever looks interesting or tasty (his toys, your TV remote, the chair leg etc), he guards his possessions and his territory from anyone who threatens them (could be you or your kids), he toilets anywhere which is not close to his sleeping and feeding areas (this may still be in the house) and scent marks to make others aware of his territory.

This is all normal dog behaviour, however most of it would be quite unacceptable for a pet dog living in a home. Although dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years they still retain the instincts of their wild ancestors. Selective breeding has exaggerated some of these behaviours for the benefit of man, such as the role of the German Shepherd as a guard dog or the herding abilities of the Border Collie. The instincts for survival however remain intact. These are learned in the nest and puppies, from the moment they are born, will be establishing rank within the litter.

The most dominant puppy will usually get the most productive teat at the milk bar and as they get older will take the largest share of the food offered by the breeder. In the wild and in times of famine this would ensure that only the fittest survive to reproduce next year. They will sleep in the warmest and comfiest part of the nest. They will gain and retain possession of toys, only allowing the more submissive members of the litter access to these trophies if they do not want them, with the knowledge that they can regain possession at any time they want!

If you have more than one dog they will have amicably sorted out their own pecking order. It is wise to bear in mind that if you grant more privileges to the lower ranking dog(s), such as giving them more attention in the presence of the higher ranking dog(s) you run the risk of upsetting the balance and causing problems.

Hopefully this helps you to realise how much we are asking of our dogs when we expect them to live in our homes and follow our rules and why problems so frequently arise. If you enjoy a good relationship with you dog and find training easy and enjoyable then there is no need to alter the way in which you live with your dog.

If however you find yourself constantly nagging him and getting little or no response to your attempts at basic training then you may need to consider controlling some of the things that he wants. You will probably be pleasantly surprised to find that he will become much happier and more secure. By asking your dog to earn the valuable things in his life you automatically put yourself in control. He needs you to feed him, walk him, keep him warm and comfy and provide company for him.

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