PET BEHAVIOR

KEYS TO MANAGING CANINE BEHAVIOR

by Liam Crowe
CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist
Bark Busters USA

Some people purchase a dog with the intention that he or she will be a member of the family, only to discover that the dog becomes the de facto head of the household. How does this happen?

Dogs are pack animals. A dog’s instinctive behavior is to challenge the pack member above him and, in turn, to be challenged by the dog below. Within the human-dog pack, dogs behave the same way. This can lead to undesirable behaviors, such as charging the door when the doorbell rings, barking, jumping, pulling on the leash and even biting – top reasons millions of dogs each year are mistreated, abandoned or euthanized.

In fact, controlling dog behavior is a major issue in the United States. An analysis of statistics from a variety of sources and research from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine indicates that more than two million dogs are brought to shelters each year because of behavior problems their owners believe to be permanent. The vast majority of these animals are “put to sleep,” making death (euthanasia) due to behavioral problems the number one cause of dog mortality, ahead of trauma and disease.

This means a staggering number of dogs – nearly 70 percent of those given to shelters – are euthanized each and every year; sadly, the vast majority unnecessarily. And worst of all, it’s not the dog’s fault. It’s a human-canine communications issue.

“Dogs speak a unique language based on tones and body language that is designed to demonstrate leadership. Dogs will instinctively submit to the leader of the pack. And, for dog guardians, that leadership must be communicated in a way dogs can understand.”

Experts agree that dogs need clear and consistent leadership to feel safe and happy, whether within their packs or with their human families. “Allowing a dog to assume a higher position within the family pack than his temperament is able to handle creates stress, just like a person who is promoted to a position above his or her ability, says Roger Lehier, DVM, of Foothills Animal Hospital near Denver, Colorado. “However, a dog’s need for a strong leader is instinctive, and if in his mind a human companion is not up to the task, the dog will constantly challenge the human for leadership, often in subtle ways.”

With more than one of every three households owning a dog in the United States – more than 60 million dog guardians in all – thousands, even millions, of people are looking for help to solve their dogs’ behavior problems. Understanding the keys to pack behavior and following a few simple guidelines from experts can help owners establish leadership and begin controlling a dog’s behavior:

• Win all “challenges” to demonstrate your leadership. Whether the challenge is for attention or for who walks through a doorway first, the human needs to be the pack leader. Because dogs crave strong leadership, if they don’t get it from their owners, they’ll try to take charge. That leads to the bad behaviors mentioned above – each of which is an example of the dog taking charge.

• Teach your dog to respond to you – not the other way around. One way to establish leadership is – from time to time – to ignore requests from your dog, such as nudges to be petted or played with. To do so, break eye contact. Then, when your dog has “given up,” call him back to you to be petted or to play. When you dictate the situation, the dog will see you as the leader.

• Communicate consistently in a language your dog understands. When your dog misbehaves, such as chewing on a child’s toy or jumping up on a visitor, stand at your full height and correct the behavior with a forceful, low-toned growl. (At Bark Busters, we use a guttural tone that sounds like “BAH!” This has proven effective worldwide.) As soon as the dog stops, offer pleasant, high-toned praise. This is a form of communications that a dog understands. If practiced consistently, the dog will understand his or her mistakes and respect you as the pack leader.

• Always lead your dog – literally. In the wild, the leader is always positioned at the head of the pack. Establish your leadership by always leading your dog — up and down stairs, through doorways, and especially on walks.

Most dog owners simply accept the disruptive or aggressive behavior of their dogs because they think it’s normal or don’t know how to change it. Learning about pack leadership and canine communication is incredibly interesting for most dog lovers. Gaining a better understanding of the dog psyche strengthens the human-canine connection. Learning how to communicate leadership effectively with your dog in a language he or she understands – using voice control and body language – is a critical step in establishing leadership and control, which can eliminate many behavioral issues. Through effective training and communications methods that demonstrate leadership, most dogs can be saved from abandonment or euthanasia, and can become the loving companions we all want.

---

Liam Crowe is CEO of Bark Busters and a master dog behavioral therapist. Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, has trained more than 400,000 dogs worldwide using its all-natural, dog-friendly methods. Bark Busters training is the only service of its kind that offers a written lifetime guarantee. With hundreds of offices in 41 states and 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to enhance the human-canine relationship and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment, and euthanasia of companion dogs. For more details, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com to find a dog trainer in your area, complete a Dog Behavior Quiz, or learn about becoming a Bark Busters franchise owner.

© copyright 2007 Bark Busters USA, All Rights Reserved

This feature may not be reproduced or distributed electronically, in print or otherwise without the written permission of SPCA International and Bark Busters USA.