Dog Psychology: Who leads and who follows?

You need to establish the pack leaders position, before you try and train your dog to do anything, If the dog naturally sees you as the leader and takes the position of follower, it will respond to your requests out of respect rather than bribery with a treat. With alot of the treats on today's market containing sugars and EC preservatives, you can in fact make the dog more hyperactive and untrainable with these added chemicals.


 In a dogs world they think about 2 things? Am I the leader? Or Am I the follower! 
So how do you know if you are the leader of your dog or in fact you are the follower? 

Refer to this simple checklist to find out if you are the pack leader or in fact your dogs follower! 


 If you are the leader your dog will...... 

 Walk by your side or slightly behind you in the house and out on the walk 

 Wake up when you get up 

 Listen to your commands and look to you for instruction 

 Not beg or demand food from you 

 Sit on the floor by your feet and not on the sofas or bed with you 

 Let you answer the door to strangers and let you greet them first 

 Not demand attention from you 

 Wait quietly for your return when you leave the house 

 Move out your way when you want to pass 

 Greet you with four paws on the ground 

 Not enter your space uninvited 

 Not stare at you in the face or jump all over you 

 Urinate and defecate in the place you want it to 


 If you are the follower your dog will..... 

 Wake you up in the morning 

 Demand attention from you 

 Run through doorways ahead of you 

 Greet strangers at the door before you 

 Jump at you or visitors when you arrive in the house 

 Bark for your attention 

 Growl when you try and move it or take food or toys from it 

 Jump on the sofa or beds 

 Become aggressive around feeding time 

 Not move out the way when you want to pass 

 Lean their body on you or place their paws on you 

 Become aggressive towards other dogs or people 

 Pull you for a walk when on the lead 

 Not return when you call them whilst off the lead or in the house 

 Beg for food 

 Stare at you directly in the face 

 Mouth or bite you 

 Not listen to you or respond to your requests 

 Urinate or defecate in the house Become anxious when you leave the house 

 SOURCES
 
 [1] "Psychology Today" 

 [2] "Udemy" 

 [3] "Masters in Psychology" 

 [4] "Pet Care Rx" 

 [5] "Canine Angel" 

 [6] "Association of Professional Dog Trainers" 

 [7] "Canine Mind" 
 
 [8] "Dog Conspiracy"