Whether you have just purchased a puppy or an older dog, there are some tips you should know to send your dog the message that you are the boss.
Playtime
You should avoid rough play with your dog and advise other family members to do the same. Aggression, even in what appears to be playing, can encourage a dog to nip or bite, and while this may not be a bit problem when it is little, consider the potential effects when your dog is an adult.
Allowing the dog to get away with biting sends your dog the message that it is okay, and the dog will consider itself the ‘winner’ of the fight and believe he/she is higher up in rank than you. This can lead to the dog disrespecting your and failing to respond to your commands.
Sleeping Arrangements
With outside dogs this is much simpler. Providing they have a warm kennel, close to the house (as they want to be as close to the pack as possible), sleeping arrangements wont be much of an issue.
Inside dogs however can pose a problem. You should provide them with their own comfortable bed, and refrain from letting them sleep on yours. This is difficult for some people as they want to feel closeness with their pets who are often considered their ‘baby’.
In the wild, only the alpha dogs sleep in the best sleeping spot, so by letting your dog sleep on your bed, they will consider themselves higher up in the pecking order, and may possibly challenge you for the alpha position.
Having said this however, letting your dog sleep on your bed occasionally may be ok, as long as you make sure to keep your rank, for example using a command, such as “Bedtime” indicating that they need to go to their own beds, and providing they go. Consistency is important for dogs though, so you need to keep this in mind so as not to confuse your dog. Most dogs are smart enough to be trained to understand when you are putting your foot down.
Sitting on the Furniture
Dog like to sit on chairs and couches for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they are very comfy and they offer a good view of outside if placed near a window. They also like to gain height to feel more dominant. A dog that feels that it is higher up in rank, will sit higher, then a lower ranking dog that sits on the floor.
There are some schools of thought that feel that you shouldn’t allow your dog to sit on the couch or even on your lap as this will give it a belief that you are of similar rank. Others disagree with this to a degree, feeling that having a dog sit on your lap is a very nice way of bonding for both of you.
The key here is to ensure the dog doesn’t jump up until invited, and gets down as soon as you say so. You are still in control this way, but you still get to enjoy doggie cuddles. If you want a dog that sits in his bed all day and night, perhaps you should consider a goldfish.
No dog is perfect, but it’s not difficult to have a well-behaved dog if you put a bit of thought into training, and an understanding of how a dog thinks and see the family unit. If your dog develops aggressive or dominant tendencies that you are unable to correct, consult your veterinarian or a specialist trainer, for advise.
You may also be interested in reading Why Does My Dog Roll Over And Expose His Belly and The Importance Of Socializing Your Dog.
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