The idea that dogs need leadership is not a new one. Most dog owners have heard the term "alpha"; the idea of a pack leader that historically has meant behaving as if you are bigger, tougher, and stronger than your dog. However, new information has been brought to light in the past decade. Pack leaders, it is being discovered, are not necessarily the biggest and the meanest. They are the ones who are the calmest, who display the most self control, and who assert their authority in ways that are firm but fair. Pack leaders are not only concerned with maintaining control, but also in serving their pack. This means that while dogs do need to feel as if someone is in charge, the best way to demonstrate your authority is by being benevolent. Your dog may have all of the treats and toys she likes but she must get them from you and she must earn each good thing.

Be the Access Point for Resources: We all feed our dogs, give them potty breaks, and play with them. But, the dog who gets food from a bowl that is perpetually full, walks in and out a doggy door when he pleases, and initiates play by dropping a ball in your lap is probably going to consider himself in charge of his own world. On the other hand, a dog who eats specific meals will observe you preparing and providing them. A dog who must ask to go outside looks to her owner for outdoor access. A dog that only gets to play games when her owner initiates them is grateful instead of expectant. This second dog would consider her owner much more important than the first because that owner is the access point through which she gets everything she wants and needs.

Make Your Dog Earn His Rewards: Place your dog on the Say Please Program which can be found on page of this packet. Having your dog perform a small task (like a sit or a down) for each good thing he gets will remind him that those good things come from you and he must earn them rather than be entitled.

Keep Your Cool: The best pack leaders rarely get angry or loud. Ignoring attention-seeking behavior is much more effective than scolding or punishing it. When your dog is behaving in ways you don’t like, the calmer you are as you deal with her, the more powerful you seem.

Protect Your Dog: One of the most important jobs a leader has is making sure the others in the pack are safe. If your dog is showing fear or discomfort in a situation, it’s your responsibility to remove him from the situation by leaving or by placing him in another room or a crate. When someone comes to the door, it’s your job to greet the visitor and make sure s/he means no harm. This may mean placing your dog on tie down so he cannot barge ahead of you. The more you can control a given situation, the more your dog will trust you to keep him safe, and the less he’ll rely on his own defenses.

Expect the best: as pack leader, it is your responsibility to keep your dog safe from harm, to ensure that she has enough to eat and drink, and that she is content. It’s a hard job and is not without its perks. Pack leaders have earned the right to claim the best resting spots. They are allowed to eat before others and get the ultimate say-so on where and when the pack travels. In human home life, this means that if your dog is draped on the couch, you get to sit down next to him and move him out of the way until you’re sitting where you like. It means during meal time, your dog is not entitled to table scraps and you can ignore pleading eyes. It also means if your dog ignores your request for a sit before playing fetch, you can put the ball away, leave, and try again later.