Pack Leadership Do’s and Don’ts

Want to be the leader of your pack?
Follow these simple rules.

DO

• Eat before you feed your dog.
• Restrict access to your bedrooms and furniture.
• Take the shortest route to your destination and make your dog move out of the way.
• Proceed first through narrow passages.
• Run the opposite direction if your dog “takes off” on a walk.
• Take your dog’s “kills” (stolen articles or food) away.
• Call your dog to you to give affection.
• Ignore or discourage pawing, nudging, and whining.
• Ignore your dog first thing in the morning, when you get home, or when you come in.
• Restrict your dog’s movements with the “long down” exercise.
• Initiate games with your dog, make sure you win them and end up with possession of the toy.
• Reward your dog for completing an exercise well.

DON’T

• Feed your dog first.
• Let your dog sleep in or on your bed.
• Let your dog restrict your access to anything in the house or take up residence in a doorway.
• Let your dog bound out ahead of you.
• Chase your dog yelling “Come!”
• Allow your dog to keep or play with the “kill.”
• Go over to your dog to give affection.
• Give attention when your dog demands it.
• Make a large fuss over your dog whenever he demands that you do so.
• Give more than one command, or give up.
• Play games, especially tug of war, if you can’t win, or give the toy to your dog after the game is over.
• Give any command if you are not prepared to enforce it.

From: Cranbourne Dog Training School