(This article follows on from the previous one, Dominant Dogs).

Zack, a two-year-old German Shepherd was described by his owner Mary as “very naughty”. He was destructive in the home, he pulled on the lead, he never obeyed instructions, he begged at the table and barked at everyone who visited the house. Many other owners suffer this sort of behaviour from their dogs; at best it is embarrassing, at worst it can lead to aggression and become dangerous.

The key to unlocking these behaviour problems, and solving them, is to look at the way a dog’s mind works. Dogs, like their close cousins wolves, are pack animals. In the natural state they live in social groups, and a strict heirarchy is imposed between the various members of the pack. Each animal knows his or her status and defers to those that out-rank it.

The domestication of the dog has not altered this pack behaviour and the need for a heirarchy. In the home, the human family becomes a substitute for the wolf-pack, and the home itself is the den. It is the responsibility of the Alpha, or pack leader, to protct and defend the other pack members and in return they defer to the leader.

The majority of behaviour problems in domestic dogs arise because the dog believes that he is the leader of the pack, and the humans in his family are supposed to defer to him. When they refuse to do so, this confuses the dog and leads to what is seen as behaviour problems.

There are a few simple steps which any dog-owner can take to establish the owner, and not the dog, as pack leader.

1. Pack Leader gets the best sleeping place in the den. Therefore do not let your dog sleep in the bedroom and most certainly never allow him onto the bed.

2. Pack Leader eats first. Therefore your dog should be fed after the rest of the family has finished their own meal.

3. Pack Leader gets the best food. Therefore, do not feed your dog scraps from the table, except those which you put in his own bowl and give to him after the rest of the family has eaten. Apart from the health risks of giving food that is not suitable for your dog’s diet, it also reinforces the dog’s status.

4. Pack Leader enters the den first. When you return from a walk with your dog you should be first through the front door, and make the dog walk in behind you. Likewise when going from room to room, you should go through a door first and make your dog wait.

5. Pack Leader gets the highest position. Sitting on the furniture raises status, so your dog should sit on the floor. Most certainly do not let your dog sit on the couch while you sit on the floor.

6. Pack Leader makes others move for him. If your dog is in your way do not step over him or go round him. Instead, make him move out of your way. Make a special “corner”, where the dog can go to keep out of everyone’s way.

7. Pack Leader gives attention when he chooses, not when demanded. If your dog barks to get your attention, ignore him. Even saying “No!” counts as attention. Only speak to him when he is quiet. When you return to the house after leaving the dog alone, do not give attention if he jumps up at you. Instead, turn your back on him and wait until he stops.

8. Pack Leader chooses the route when you’re out walking. Don’t let your dog pull you right to the park. You choose the route, and vary it as much as possible from day to day.

9. Pack Leader is the strongest. If your dog is small enough, then use physical restraint, particularly holding him in the “down” position, or on his back with his belly exposed. These positions are submissive and this reinforces your status. Don’t try it if your dog is physically stronger than you are. You will fail to restrain him and the dog will see this as reinforcing his own status.

10. Pack Leader wins fights. Rough-and-tumble games, or tug-of-war games, will reinforce the dog’s physical superiority if he wins them. Don’t play these games with your dog unless you are capable of winning them every time. Unlike people, dogs don’t get upset if they lose; they use these games as a way of establishing pack heirarchy. If your dog is stronger than you are, you should restrict games to fetcing and seeking.

It is important that everyone in the family, even older children, all follow the same steps and treat the dog in the same way. This will ensure that you are the Pack Leader, and the dog is lowest in status. It might seem unfair, even cruel, but dogs do not think like people do and they do not regard it as a bad thing to be bottom of the heap. A dog who knows his status in the pack, whatever that status may be, is a happy dog. One which is confused, getting conflicting signals from his owners, will be unsure of his status and this makes the dog stressed and unhappy.

Mary followed these ten steps with Zack. After three weeks his behaviour was much improved but she continues with these steps to ensure it stays that way. By applying some canine psychology, and being more assertive, Mary managed to re-establish her own position as Pack Leader, and Zack happily settled into his new role as under-dog.