Canine Leadership...what is it?
By
Nick Jones MCFBA
| This article has
been reproduced with the kind permission of Nick Jones, for the
CFBA, the CIDBT, and their students of Dog Behaviour & Training |
I have been advising people on how to gain control of their dogs for a number of years now, and one thing that I constantly come back to and stress is the importance of showing leadership to their dog. It's also one of the hardest things to put smartly into words that can be grasped and demonstrated to the owner. I don't intend this article to be a step-by-step guide on how to do it (this can take hours over a home visit in itself!), but to raise awareness of the subject, leaving space for you to have your own thoughts after reading it. Do also bare in mind that I am only asked to help with dogs where an imbalance has been established and I am aiming at restoring that balance.
During a home visit I would also look at some simple techniques to achieve a dog that understands what to do and when to do it. You can train a dog all you like, but this will still not necessarily leave it feeling as though you are leading the way in the dogs daily affairs and decision making…these are the issues that run deep into your dog's psyche. Many people I visit can show me a reasonable level of training, but the element of leadership is often missing. Developing a strong relationship and then showing true leadership to your dog can take a couple of years, if for example you are starting out fresh with a new pup. You can't teach your dog that you are leading; it needs to be constantly demonstrated so it simply becomes a part of its subconscious make-up. Unlike training, showing leadership is a full time occupation.
For the human, leadership needs to be a state of mind first of all…a ‘mind set'. I accept it takes time to develop such an approach to living with a dog. Being mindful of your role and daily interactions is key to developing this mind set to its best effect. Remaining flexible within your role as leader is also key to getting it right. Flexibility will also be important because no two dogs are the same.
Whilst the principles of leadership should remain consistent, the implementation when dealing with different characters of dog and breeds may vary, and should be applied using common sense. Common sense is somewhat harder to develop, and I find that this essential human element can vary from person to person. This is where I find myself spending extra time with people in showing them what to look out for when interacting with the dog. Approximately two thirds of my work is with the owner, and the rest with the dog. This ratio can vary greatly depending on the combination of dog and owner, and the surrounding family and lifestyle.
Leadership is not about having dominance or controlling systems over the dog, or indeed ruling by fear. It doesn't (or at least shouldn't) involve your ego either, it is more about giving the dog someone to look to when in need of help in certain situations, another being to defer to when a decision is to be made that affects the group. Leaders make decisions don't they? Leadership is an unspoken commitment we make to our dogs on day one, and it will go on until the dog runs in the long grass in the sky.
Your dog wants you to lead, and will feel secure in the knowledge that you are making crucial decisions (big or small) in its life. A number of dogs I see are ‘forced' to lead as the owner has not taken that role fully on board. Depending on the nature of the dog, it's at this point that we may see pushy or even aggressive behaviour creep in. The dog may also fall apart at the seems and become nervous or insecure, and this behaviour can be just as distressing for the owner to watch. Sometimes the owner may be showing controlling behaviour one minute, and become a walk over the next. If for example one partner was firm with the dog and the other not offering any boundaries at all, this would be most confusing for the dog. This pendulum style of handling creates confusion and stress in the dog. It's also worth being aware that a dog may find the occasional reinforcement of certain behaviours more rewarding, and will work harder to achieve the same outcome next time.
So many owners miss small opportunities to lead when out walking the dog for example. I watch my dogs all of the time. Ok, it's my daily work, so I am aware (as you would hope!) of what is going on around my dogs, and their interactions when out and indeed their safety around other dogs and people. How often do you see an owner walking along oblivious as to what their dog is doing as they talk on their mobile phone for example? How many owners do you see following their dog as it sets the route and pace around the field?
How many owners do you know that can call their dogs away from others when saying it's time to move along? These are a small number of things that one could consider as being part of the role of leader, and of course just relating to a walk before we even begin to look at what is going on within the home.
Leadership starts at home as this is where a dog spends the vast majority of its time. A good thing to ask yourself when interacting with your dog at home is ‘Is my dog getting me to do this, or am I doing it because I want to?' The temptation to look at and react to our dog's whimperings and clawings are well-honed efforts to gain the item or reaction they desire. They do it because they know it works. They use the imploring eyes having learned over many, many practices that this is what finally presses your buttons and get you to cave in. Who said some dogs were dumb?
I am always keen to address a number of issues to establish leadership in the home. Do bare in mind that most of the dogs I work with would be classified as ‘difficult' one way or another, and so as a result I see it like having to do a hard reset on a computer before we can move forward with a fresh start. A dog isn't a computer of course, and resetting a dog may take weeks or even months depending on the situation. The vast majority of dogs are happy go lucky with no desire to run the world and seem to cope well with an owner that may not be showing leadership at all. If this is you then congratulations!
I often discuss the subject of good manners with the owner, and if you can achieve good manners from your dog, then there is a very good chance that you are demonstrating good leadership in the process. Good manners follow leadership. Ideally, you would experience a consistent loop of this, and life should be a pretty relaxed affair.
And so with all this said and done where does it leave you in terms of having a loving relationship with your dog? After all, I'm asking you to lead 100% right? Well the good news is that there is a great deal of space and time for play, and showing your dog affection when the time is right.
Provided your dog is calm and relaxed and the time suits you, this is your moment to love your dog, whisper in its ear and smell those autumn paws.
We learn so much when owning a dog, not just about the dog itself, the breed and its habits, but also about our own strengths and weaknesses within ourselves.
To live with a dog is a privilege, to lead your dog is a necessary component for a harmonious life together.
Nick Jones MCFBA
www.alphadogbehaviour.co.uk
| This article has been reproduced with the kind permission of Nick Jones, for the CFBA, the CIDBT, and their students of Dog Behaviour & Training |
