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Blog 1 – Becoming the leader your dog deserves
Nigel Reed • July 7, 2020
Becoming the leader your dog deserves
There is an abundance of information available through the Internet, T.V and books on how to become a good leader to your dog. I believe however the majority of it is just that, information, rather than knowledge. There are many dedicated owners who invest a lot of time, effort and money caring for their dog only to find themselves experiencing a range of problem behaviour including aggression, pulling on the lead, separation anxiety, not coming back when called and much more. Even the most experienced owners have admitted defeat when up against a particularly challenging dog.
If you’ve struggled to address your dogs behavioural issues there are generally two reasons why:
Exercising
I regularly hear owners claim, ‘my dog does not like going out when it is raining’, to which I would reply, ‘then do not take your dog out for a walk when it is raining’. People often look puzzled by this response, due to the deep-set belief that you must strictly abide by the list and take your dog out a certain number of times a day, rain or shine, or you are a bad dog owner, despite the dog communicating a need to stay at home where it is warm and dry.
Owners may comment that their dog will misbehave in the home if they do not walk them for a certain amount of time per day. The dog not having enough exercise is often used as an excuse for undesirable behaviour. But here is where it becomes less obvious – undesirable behaviour frequently originates from a different unmet need altogether. For example, the dog could be pacing up and down in the home and garden in an attempt to deal with perceived security needs. Or it may be constantly pestering the owner because it believes it is in charge of the household and so makes the decisions. The undesirable behaviour that occurred in the home is often reduced after a walk, as the dog has burnt off its nervous energy. However, walking the dog for these reasons fails to identify or address why the problematic behaviour occurred in the first place. Exercising the dog in this scenario will result in simply treating the symptoms rather than the disease. The dog will wake up the next day with the same problem behaviours and the guardian will likely repeat the same exercising and distraction technique. All that is really achieved by doing this is producing a fitter dog. Likewise, if you had debts and decided to go for a run, you will likely feel better afterwards. However, the next day, you would wake up with the same problems.
Socialising: this should be an important part of a dogs daily life, designed to boost their confidence needs by getting them used to other dogs. However if you stand back and allow your dog to get bullied or scared the experience will be unpleasant and her needs won’t be being fulfilled. In turn she may choose aggressive behaviour to warn dogs off in the future. In moments your dog feels uncertain in, it is necessary as her leader, you intervene so she understands that you will protect her.
Training: If your dog does develop behavioural issues and you are advised to use a training method that controls the dog such as a shock collar to stop it attacking, a spray collar to stop it barking or a haulti to stop a dog pulling you are merely silencing the dog and it’s concerns.
Each of these tactics may appear to ‘work in the form of the dogs problem behaviour subsiding. But the techniques again do not address the core issue – why does the dog feel it is necessary to protect the house in the first place? Why was it so stressed?
Now of course I am not saying do not exercise, socialise or train your dogs rather I am saying consider their actual needs with every activity in each moment.
2. We don’t understand how the dog interprets our language
If the dog’s needs are not recognised or we are not using the correct language to communicate that we will provide for them, they will become stressed and their state will heighten. In these moments it is vital we learn actions to calm our dogs in each moment. Be that if the dogs state rises when she sees another dog – in which we could walk in the other way to demonstrate that we are aware of the perceived danger and are choosing to. If she jumps up excitedly at visitors – where we could put her in another room to calm down and show her a consequence of her bad manners. Or if our dog gets over excited each time we pick up the lead to go for a walk – to put it down again and only move forward once they are calm and responsive.
To summarise, our dogs need us to be emotionally aware of their needs and the individual actions needed to fulfil them. They need us to recognise their concerns and communicate clearly that we understand them. And they need this message backed up in a calm, consistent and convincing fashion to reinforce we are capable of the job. Once you’re able to do this then your dog will truly have the leader it so deserves.
There is an abundance of information available through the Internet, T.V and books on how to become a good leader to your dog. I believe however the majority of it is just that, information, rather than knowledge. There are many dedicated owners who invest a lot of time, effort and money caring for their dog only to find themselves experiencing a range of problem behaviour including aggression, pulling on the lead, separation anxiety, not coming back when called and much more. Even the most experienced owners have admitted defeat when up against a particularly challenging dog.
If you’ve struggled to address your dogs behavioural issues there are generally two reasons why:
- People do not talk in detail about the most fundamental aspect of the dogs well being; it’s needs and how to fulfil them.
- Exercising
- Socialisation
- Training
Exercising
I regularly hear owners claim, ‘my dog does not like going out when it is raining’, to which I would reply, ‘then do not take your dog out for a walk when it is raining’. People often look puzzled by this response, due to the deep-set belief that you must strictly abide by the list and take your dog out a certain number of times a day, rain or shine, or you are a bad dog owner, despite the dog communicating a need to stay at home where it is warm and dry.
Owners may comment that their dog will misbehave in the home if they do not walk them for a certain amount of time per day. The dog not having enough exercise is often used as an excuse for undesirable behaviour. But here is where it becomes less obvious – undesirable behaviour frequently originates from a different unmet need altogether. For example, the dog could be pacing up and down in the home and garden in an attempt to deal with perceived security needs. Or it may be constantly pestering the owner because it believes it is in charge of the household and so makes the decisions. The undesirable behaviour that occurred in the home is often reduced after a walk, as the dog has burnt off its nervous energy. However, walking the dog for these reasons fails to identify or address why the problematic behaviour occurred in the first place. Exercising the dog in this scenario will result in simply treating the symptoms rather than the disease. The dog will wake up the next day with the same problem behaviours and the guardian will likely repeat the same exercising and distraction technique. All that is really achieved by doing this is producing a fitter dog. Likewise, if you had debts and decided to go for a run, you will likely feel better afterwards. However, the next day, you would wake up with the same problems.
Socialising: this should be an important part of a dogs daily life, designed to boost their confidence needs by getting them used to other dogs. However if you stand back and allow your dog to get bullied or scared the experience will be unpleasant and her needs won’t be being fulfilled. In turn she may choose aggressive behaviour to warn dogs off in the future. In moments your dog feels uncertain in, it is necessary as her leader, you intervene so she understands that you will protect her.
Training: If your dog does develop behavioural issues and you are advised to use a training method that controls the dog such as a shock collar to stop it attacking, a spray collar to stop it barking or a haulti to stop a dog pulling you are merely silencing the dog and it’s concerns.
Each of these tactics may appear to ‘work in the form of the dogs problem behaviour subsiding. But the techniques again do not address the core issue – why does the dog feel it is necessary to protect the house in the first place? Why was it so stressed?
Now of course I am not saying do not exercise, socialise or train your dogs rather I am saying consider their actual needs with every activity in each moment.
2. We don’t understand how the dog interprets our language
Many of us struggle to communicate effectively with our dogs because we are unaware of how our language appears to them when they have a genuine concern regarding their needs. For example when someone comes to the home and posts a leaflet through the letterbox, the dog, not knowing the delivery person’s intentions, commonly alerts the pack to the perceived danger by barking. However, we know the delivery person’s intentions, and so can be guilty of trying to quieten the dog in frustration. The dog then may assesses our body language and tonality at such times and sees a lack of positive action because, as far as it is concerned, we are failing to check out the danger. It therefore can perceive our attempt to silence it as us looking to it to protect us. In its mind, we are putting it in the role as leader. The harsh tone from us to quieten our dog only reinforces its assumption that it is its responsibility to protect the pack. If the dog doesn’t see us taking care of what it perceives as danger in a convincing, physical manner, it will try to fill the vacuum.
If the dog’s needs are not recognised or we are not using the correct language to communicate that we will provide for them, they will become stressed and their state will heighten. In these moments it is vital we learn actions to calm our dogs in each moment. Be that if the dogs state rises when she sees another dog – in which we could walk in the other way to demonstrate that we are aware of the perceived danger and are choosing to. If she jumps up excitedly at visitors – where we could put her in another room to calm down and show her a consequence of her bad manners. Or if our dog gets over excited each time we pick up the lead to go for a walk – to put it down again and only move forward once they are calm and responsive.
To summarise, our dogs need us to be emotionally aware of their needs and the individual actions needed to fulfil them. They need us to recognise their concerns and communicate clearly that we understand them. And they need this message backed up in a calm, consistent and convincing fashion to reinforce we are capable of the job. Once you’re able to do this then your dog will truly have the leader it so deserves.
Rant Possibly a controversial opinion, but I wish fireworks night didn’t exist, and frankly, I think we should ban it. Or at the very least, get rid of the loud ones. It’s not that I’m a killjoy, nor am I unfamiliar with big, exciting productions. I was in Sydney for the millennium—one of the biggest fireworks displays ever—and still, I didn’t feel the urge to say, "wow wee." In fact, after about 10 minutes, I was honestly a bit bored. Add to my lack of enthusiasm the fact that we know hundreds of thousands of dogs and other animals will be scared out of their fur, and I’m even less thrilled about it rolling around again. Now, I can already hear the counterarguments: "But it’s tradition!" "It’s fun for the kids!" And sure, I’m not saying we all sit in the dark knitting while the 5th of November passes by. But is the fleeting thrill of a multiple bangs really worth the mass hysteria it causes in pets? Let’s be honest, if we can switch to paper straws nearly overnight to save the turtles, surely we can rethink the whole fireworks situation? But we are where we are, so this blog is all about how to prepare for the upcoming chaos.
In this blog, complemented by an engaging video, we embark on the journey of Oreo, a dog who faced extreme reactivity challenges. The narrative unfolds through my engagement with Natalie, a single mum of three, exploring the depths of dog-on-dog aggression and its effects not only on the family but also on Oreo himself. Understanding Canine Aggression Understanding why dogs like Oreo exhibit aggressive behaviours towards other dogs and certain individuals is paramount. Factors such as fear, territorial instincts, misunderstanding of authority, and inadequate socialisation often lie at the core. Identifying these triggers is the first step in our approach to tackle the issue at its root.
Stress on both dogs and humans Addressing in-house dog aggression is an extremely stressful situation for the guardian and the dogs' fighting. The dogs often don't feel safe in each other's company and will react in many ways to demonstrate their discomfort, sometimes ending up into a full blown fight, as they have nowhere to disperse and calm down. This article offers practical advice for managing and addressing the aggression within your home, featuring a case study on two Labradors. For a more in-depth exploration and tailored guidance, our online dog training courses provide extensive resources and expert instruction. Key Strategies for Mitigating In-Home Dog Conflicts Strengthening Leadership and Structure : Learn the crucial role of establishing yourself as a consistent leader. Many problems arise when dogs fight for their owner's attention. If both dogs see you as leader they will understand you will give out attention when you decide and therefore not believe they are telling you what to do. Keep them apart: Once they have fought, their stress levels will be heightened and anticipating the next fight leading to agitated behaviour where they cannot properly rest. If you keep them apart for long enough, the memory of them fighting will fade. Reintroduction in stages: There will always be a place where they are comfortable with one another be that in another room where they can hear the other dog, or out on walks 5 meters apart. This will be your starting point. Then you can gradually get them closer over time, if they are comfortable. Case Study I was called by a client called Tony re his two Labradors, Max and Charlie. Max, the older of the two, had always been the more dominant dog, but as Charlie matured, he began to challenge this hierarchy, leading to tension and fights that disrupted the household's tranquility. Initial Assessment and Observations Upon my first visit, the signs of stress and anxiety were evident not just in Max and Charlie, but throughout their home. Both dogs exhibited signs of distress such as pacing, growling, and avoidance behaviours. Their owners, deeply committed to their pets' welfare, were understandably distressed by this sudden shift in dynamics. Implementing a Structured Leadership Approach The first step was to re-establish a sense of order and leadership within the household. This involved training sessions focused on reinforcing the owners' status as the decision makers and protectors. Simple commands and exercises were introduced to build respect and a bond between the dogs and their owners. Zone-Based Management for Stress Reduction To address the competition and human guarding that were fuelling the aggression, separate zones for feeding, playing, and resting were established but all was now done on the owner's terms. Max and Charlie were given their own spaces, equipped with their own beds, and feeding areas. This separation was crucial for reducing immediate tension and preventing further conflicts. Gradual Reintroduction With the household structure and individual needs addressed, the next phase involved the careful reintroduction of Max and Charlie under controlled and supervised conditions. Initial interactions were short and always positive on walks staying far apart but getting closer as they looked calm. They were in the front room separated by a divider with a blanket on it so they would be calm together but couldn't see each other. Over weeks, the blankets on the boundaries were removed, so they could see each other. On walks they were happy to interact so the last stage was to remove the boundary. At this point there were no issues. Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Strategies Throughout the reintroduction process, close monitoring was essential. If they hard stared one another they were put in timeout and the boundaries were brought back for another week. A Harmonious Conclusion After several months of consistent application of these strategies, Max and Charlie's relationship transformed. The aggression that once marked their interactions gave way to a calm coexistence, with moments of playfulness and mutual respect becoming the new norm. Their owners reported a significant improvement in the overall atmosphere of their home, reflecting the success of the tailored approach to managing in-house dog aggression. This detailed journey of Max and Charlie from conflict to harmony underscores the effectiveness of structured leadership, time apart to calm, and careful reintroduction strategies in resolving in-house dog aggression. For those seeking more in-depth guidance, our online dog training courses offer extensive resources to navigate these challenges and more, providing dog owners with the tools needed to foster peace and stability in their homes. Please find a video below for a before and after transformation.
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