Bark About! Blog

A puppy pile of dog information and stories

Are You a Good Pack Leader to Your Pups?

Published June 2, 2017
| Comments: 0

Dog training has come a long way in recent years. With popularized trainers like Caesar Milan and Victoria Stillwell, we have been given better methods to connect with our four legged canine friends.

We have been taught that positive reinforcement is the best way to train your pup, as it puts less stress on your dog and let’s face it, less stress on the relationship you have with your pup. No one wants to be yelled at, swatted on the nose with a newspaper, or have your face rubbed in anything. It makes perfect sense that this would not be the way you would want to learn, so why did it take so long for us to come around to the idea of a gentle, intelligent, caring, and respectful leader would be the best way to lead?

Dogs respond much better to positive reinforcement training. Photo by Destiny Wiens

Well, some studies were done back in the 70’s that set out to prove that dogs were like a pack of wolves and that wolves were guided by the principle of domination. That principle would allow for others to challenge the “pack leader”, whenever they wanted to become the dominate in the group. This challenge was simply an attack on the leader to seem whom was strongest, and the strongest would be boss.

So being the pack leader meant being strong and able to dominate your pack. It wasn’t a matter of intelligence, kindness, compassion and least of all respect. It was commanding by the element of fear. Not really the way you would think of communicating with “mans best friend”.

Those studies turned out to be no so valid for a host of reasons including the fact that true packs are created by blood relatives and not unrelated wolves that were used in the studies, but also the sheer fact that dogs are NOT wolves and dogs know that humans are not dogs.

So it was been proven that dogs are not wolves and they do not have that same pack like mentality, but dogs are social pack animals. They like to be with one another, they create bonds with other dogs, meaning they can make friends, and they can respect a good, patient, and compassionate leader.

So, I put the question out there again….Are you a good “pack” leader?

Recent Blog Posts

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

We all want to get away from the hustle, the bustle, the daily stress and the people, all those people! Camping allows us to see new sights, be alone, figure out stuff, bonds us as a family, creates life-long memories and reminds us how lucky we are to live in this...

A New Year, A New You, and A Better Life for Your Dog

New Year's resolutions for dog owners can help enhance the well-being of both the owner and their furry companion. Here are some resolutions that dog owners may consider: Increase Exercise Routine: Commit to more frequent and longer walks.Take your pup to dog daycare,...

To Test or Not to Test?

With advances in human medicine, we often see advances in animal medicine as well, which is great, because we want the best for our furry (or scaly or feathered) companions. One interesting capability that has grown in popularity over the last decade is pet DNA...

How Does Your Dog Halloween?

Halloween kicks off the holiday season, breaking ten months of peaceful calm and quiet. How your dog handles the holidays is mostly an inborn quality. You know your dog better than anyone else, so you know how they will react to changes in their routine. They will...

Is Your Pup Feeling the Back to School Blues?

It’s not just the kids who get back-to-school blues. Our dogs may also feel the blues, just for different reasons. After a summer with their people, filled with trips and fun outings, staying at home alone for longer stretches can be a challenge. In this post, we’ll...

Doggone Hot! Keeping Your Pawsome Pooch Cool and Happy This Summer

The summer sun sizzles and the pavement turns into a frying pan. It's time to talk about our furry friends' favorite season: summer! While dogs adore outdoor adventures, it's crucial to keep them cool and comfortable during the dog days of summer. So, grab a popsicle...

Does My Dog Watch TV?

These days, in the competitive pet care industry, some dog boarding businesses offer TV in their overnight suites. Usually, DOGTV or Animal Planet are the chosen channels. This assumes your dog is going to watch TV in the first place, which is meant as a calming tool...

Comments

0 Comments

Recent Blog Posts

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

Dogs Make Happy Campers Happier

We all want to get away from the hustle, and camping allows us to do just that. And camping with your dog can make it even better! Learn how to explore with your best buddy safely and easily.

read more