How to be the pack leader(and have a happy & fulfilled dog!)

Most dogs will easily follow a calm and assertive leader. Always maintain this mind set when interacting with your dog(s).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERACTION WITH YOUR DOG(S
Speak and act calmly
Give command once and then assist and reward.
Your dog should sit and be relatively calm before being fed,let out or given affection.
Give affection only when calm and obedient.
Have your dog come to you for affection,walks,etc.
Stand up straight and proud with shoulders back and think positive!

Formula for a stable dog: Exercise,Discipline,Affection in that order (affection is also food in a dogs world)
Most behavior problems stem from a lack of exercise and fulfillment of natural or breed specific drives.
Regular walking is one of the most important activities for any dog, fulfilling a natural drive to travel as a pack. Pack leader is always in front,with followers even with or behind.
Some important considerations if dog pulls and/or is out in front on walks:
The type of lead/leash used is very important. Flexi or extenda leashes encourages this behavior. In my opinion they have no redeeming uses under normal circumstances.
it is very important that lead sits at the base of the dogs skull like you see in dog shows. If you have trouble keeping lead in this position the illusion collar is a very helpful tool.
A Halti or gentle leader which attaches around the dogs muzzle will usually keep a dog from pulling. Unfortunately until your dog sees you as the pack leader it is only a temporary fix.
The pack leader decides when it is o.k. to sniff and relieve themselves, until that time your dog should be focused on following you and be corrected with a slight sideways tug of the lead when they get distracted.

Once your dog sees you as the pack leader it will be a natural thing for them to be beside or slightly behind you. You will also notice they will watch you closely to see where the pack is headed next.

Some ways to establish ALL the humans in the family as pack leaders:
Your dog works for EVERYTHING. The pack leader always eats first, even if this means your dog watches you eat a cracker before they are fed. They should come to you and sit or lay calmly until you signal that they may eat. If your dog trys to get at the food or out the door instead of waiting, use your body to block them and claim the space. Never give your dog food when you are eating, they should wait calmly until you are done.
Pack leader ALWAYS leads; Out the door, up or down the stairs etc. Only when your dog is calm should you invite them to follow you.
Until your dog accepts you as pack leader they should not be allowed on the bed or furniture as this puts them at the same level as you. When you've established your dominance they should still wait for your invite to get up.
Jumping up on people is not a greeting in a dogs view, it is dominance, a way of saying I'm top dog around here. The best way to discourage this behavior is to step sideways towards the dog to throw them off balance. This way you're claiming the space that the dog was in and establishing your dominance.
Playing tug of war encourages dominance, especially if your dog wins.
Most dogs don't get enough exercise. A miles long run(if you're a runner, on a bike if you're not),is a very fulfilling way to drain this excess energy. You will notice a huge difference in your dogs behavior. Check with your vet beforehand on your dogs ability.

 

My dog does exactly what my dad and my brothers tell him, when I tell him to do something, he just does what he likes unless I have a treat for him, but thats my fault because I spoil him.

 

Moondoggy, you pretty much just ripped off Cesar Millan, and didn't give credit to him. It's called plagiarism. Not cool, dude.

 

Most of the info in my post come from my studies of works by Cesar Milan, Stanley Coren , Nicholas Dodman and others, along with years of working with dogs. My main goal is to enlighten dog owners of their needs and the way their dog thinks, as I find a lot of dog owners don't understand and apply human characteristics to dogs. I'm not selling anything, just trying to improve canines lives. I help people regularly with their dog behavior issues for nothing more than the hope that I've improved a dogs life. I've seen more than enough pictures on these forums of a dog owner proudly showing their dog who was tied to a stake with a 10 foot circle worn in the grass. That breaks my heart. I agree that a lot of the terminology I used is the same that other dog behaviorists have used. I feel it gets the point across the best. Pack leader and alpha dog could be changed to something else but wouldn't be as accurate. I could of used walking, guidance and attention instead of exercise, discipline and affection but to me I would be saying the same thing, just not as well. If I inspire one dog owner to unchain his dog and walk it daily then to me the end justifies the means.eace:

 

Um...

Dogs aren't wolves.

Read Coppinger, read Mowat, read Pryor, Dunbar, and heck, just about anyone other than the machismo CRAP that Milan spouts.

 

Um, nowhere in my post did I say they are. But to deny they are descended from wolves and are pack animals that are ingrained with many of the same behaviors and drives is ignorant. Now go lay down and be quiet or no walkies for you!

 

There can be a balance found with both styles of working with dogs. Not every dog needs Cesar Millan's method, and not every dog will do well with positive reinforcement only methods. One is not better than the other, it really just depends on each dog and person. The wisest thing to do is to study all methods that don't involve violence or physical harm to the dog and use critical thinking and apply what is best based on that.