Sit Means Sit, Stay Means Stay - 5 Critical Points For Being the “Top Dog”
Dogs are great and when they behave, it is easy to understand why they are considered "man’s best friend". Anyone that has ever owned a dog or been around a dog that misbehaves is also aware of the flip side of the "best friend" reputation. Dogs are "wired" to please their masters and take great pleasure in doing so. They also get confused/frustrated/anxious when they do not know how to please their masters or have a defined direction. It is this type of anxiety and confusion that can lead to destructive behavior and a really bad relationship between the dog and his master(s).
Someone in the relationship between a dog and his family has to be the "Top Dog" (the recognized leader) and if the dog does not recognize that someone as you, he will work to establish himself in that role.
Point #1
Dogs are pack animals; they want and need a place in the social order. If you do not teach them their place, they will establish their own.
From the moment you bring your new puppy home, its brain is an open book and eager to learn the ways of his master. He is a sponge and through his experiences and your guidance, he will act as you teach him and more importantly, as you let him. This can either be good or bad.
As with most people, dogs never stop learning. They learn through repetition and not through analytical thought like humans. They do not rationalize their decisions or justify their choices. Plain and simple, they do what they were taught.
Point #2
A dog does not think like a person and thus, does not learn by the same process as a person. Repetition and consistency breed success.
Similar to people, a systemic and tiered approach to learning is necessary. They need to understand socialization, acceptable behavior fundamental commands for obedience and ultimately specialized behavior expectations (such as hunting or tricks). None of this happens over night or by accident. It happens by making sure that your expectations of the dog’s behavior are clear to him and repeating this conditioning over and over, thousands of times, until it becomes second nature and there is no question in the dog’s mind as to what is right or wrong.
Point #3
Your dog will challenge your authority.
In your dog’s eyes, someone has to be recognized as the leader (Top Dog) of the pack. If he does not recognized as the leader, you may notice obvious behavioral issues as he works to demonstrate dominance.
- Humping (male dogs);
- Blatent disobedience;
- Jumping up on people;
- Urinating and marking territory in the home;
- Obvious aggressive behavior (i.e. growling, nipping, biting);
- Subtle aggression (chewing, fear biting, intolerance of young children)
Point #4
Sit means sit, stay means stay.
Dogs respond to commands and not requests. The leader in the house issues the command once and the dog willingly obeys. Allowing the dog to ignore commands or having to request obedience multiple times allows the dog the freedom to make their own decisions; this will only get worse until he understands what is acceptable and what is not.
Point #5
You have to have a plan or a system.
Because most of us do not train dogs for a living or have the time to spend hours on end with the dog to achieve desired results, a plan or system is a necessity. Find a training plan or system that fits your dog and your lifestyle and stay with it.
Written by Dan Bryan
