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Who's the Boss?When you invite a dog into your home, teach him that you are the boss, or leader. Dogs want to know who is in charge. If they don't know who the boss is, they will take the job. |
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Like humans, dogs have families. For dogs, these families are called packs. In a pack there is always one leader and several followers. The leader is the dog who makes the rules and watches out for others in the pack. When a dog lives in your house, your family becomes his family, or 'pack'. It is important that you let your dog know who the leader is. If he doesn't know, he will try to become the leader. It's an instinct (he's born with it) to try to be a leader. When this happens, a dog may be pushy and not follow the rules. By teaching the dog obedience and giving him things to do, he will realize that a human is the leader and he will follow, instead of lead. |
 Can you tell who the boss is here? |
Signs that your dog is trying out for the job of boss:
If your dog is doing these things, then it's time for you to become the boss. |
How
to be the Leader |
Becoming your dog's boss or leader does not mean you will be pushy or bossy. It means that you will make the rules and your dog will have to follow them. Your job is to make the rules clear enough for your dog to understand. |
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About Rules Getting up on the table is not where dogs should be, no matter how funny it is. Jumping on the couch is only cute if you allow your dog to do that. Some people like that, some don't. Rules must be clear to your dog. If you can't make up your mind and you let your dog on your bed sometimes, but not other times, he will be confused. |
 This dog thinks he is the boss. |
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Always Be Consistent! Being consistent means doing something the same way over and over again. Make your rules and stick to them. Everyone in the family needs to know the rules and help your dog to remember them. This is called 'being consistent'. If your dog is not allowed on the couch on Monday, then he should not be allowed on the couch on Tuesday, Wednesday, or any other day. Try not to confuse your dog by changing the rules from day to day. |
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Make the Rules Sit down with your whole family and decide what the rules of the house will be for your dog. Everyone must agree so that your dog will get the same rules from everyone. Here is a sample list of rules. Yours may be different.
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Once your have your list, decide what words you will use to teach your dog. You can use the teaching words from this website (Obedience pages) or make up your own, but everyone in the family must use the same words, all the time. For instance, when your dog tries to take a cookie from the table, do you want to say, "No" or "Don't Touch"? It's up to you. |
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That's
it!
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Here are our favorite training books and a video written for kids:
 
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Puppy Training
for Kids, by Sarah Whitehead, Barrons Juveniles 2001 This book has easy-to-understand instructions for children on puppy training and care. With an emphasis on fun. Learn what to feed puppies and how much to give them, and how to play games that are safe and enjoyable. They also learn basics of puppy handling, grooming, giving commands, teaching obedience, tricks, and much more. There are great full-color photos throughout the book. For ages 9-12, or 4-8 with parents' guidance. |
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Dog
Training For Kids, by Carol Lea Benjamin,
Howell Book House Inc. 1988 This is a great book for kids written by one of the best. It explains all of the basic training that a child will need to get a good start with a dog. Also covers common behavior problems. Ages 9-12 |
Video
| The Best! |
This video is a little older, but excellent, nonetheless. Ian Dunbar has a wonderful way with the children - clear, gentle, and kind. Easy to watch and understand, kids can be completely successful with this positive method of training. Adapted from the British television program, Dogs With Dunbar. Topics include: Taking on a new puppy. Housetraining. Early leash training. Teaching Sit and Down. Developing a rapport. Focusing attention. Improving off-leash control. Training a fast recall. Training as a family. Family competitions. Improving the Sit Stay. Teaching with toys. Playing training games. |
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 Read
our Privacy Policy How To Love Your Dog http://www.loveyourdog.com Copyright © 1998 - 2008 by Janet Wall and Rick Wall May be reproduced for individual or classroom use only. Photographs, graphics, and backgrounds may not be reproduced to other websites or for any other purpose. |
What is Pack Behavior?
No jumping on people.
