Leadership will cultivate a mutual respect between you and your dog, insuring a long and enjoyable relationship together.
Make a framework of attitudes, standards, and actions. Without a proper leadership protocol, you are leaving your dog’s mental development to chance and hoping all will turn out for the best. Without clear leadership your dog will gradually become insecure and attempt to assume the role.
To be an effective leader you must learn to view things from your dogs perspective.
Making sure the crate is not seen as jail but a source of security. Create a schedule. The crate is a valuable tool for providing time management for your dog. A fair leader provides consistency in rules and structure, sets and maintains boundaries, and allows room for expansion of liberties and boundaries as responsibility is proven.
Another effective leadership trait is to direct activities. Always have something for your dog to do when he is out of the crate. Mentally plan obedience workouts, play, social activities, and rest.
When your dog is out of the crate they need to be supervised, keep the leash and collar on your dog and keep the leash in your hand.
Use your obedience commands to actively teach your dog how to behave inside your house and in all environments.
Consistency leads to a clear understanding of what behaviour is expected. Use the same words and the same sequence of words each time you ask for a certain action or behaviour.
Yelling is a combination of inappropriate vocal tones and inappropriate emotional responses. Leaders need to remain in control of their emotions and their voice so that negative reinforcements like removal of freedom, crating, or NO retain their corrective meanings and do not become punishment.
