Although dogs have the sense of sight and are able to see the world around them, their primary way of observing the world is with their nose. Smell is a dog’s strongest sense. While it has been said of man, "I'll believe it when I see it", for a dog it could be said, "I'll believe it when I smell it". There are many similarities between humans and canines, however some distinctions need to be made or it will lead to misunderstandings with your dog.
At some point in our lives we have all come across a dog that appears to be almost human-like seemingly knowing even our thoughts. We may think of these dogs as human-like, but dogs are happy and content just being dogs. There are several reasons why dogs seem to be so in touch with our human world. That is in part to an instinct which known as the "pack mentality."
When a puppy leaves its litter mates and bonds with you and your family, you become the dog's new pack. You may have a pack of two or twenty. The way your dog communicates with you is the same way he would communicate with his litter mates. In a pack dogs first observe their surroundings with their nose, then their eyes (observing body language), then their ears (listening for the inflection and tone of your voice). Your movement or body language, and your vocal communication translates into energy. Once a dog processes the energy around them, they then make decisions that affect their behavior. Actually, your dog can read your energy without any movement or vocal communication. You cannot fool your dog about the way you are feeling.
In a pack there is always a pecking order or linear hierarchy. The leader of the pack is known as the alpha and from there it is like the rungs on a ladder. There are never two dogs sharing a position in the pack. One is either dominant or submissive. If you are not demonstrating leadership over your dog, your dog will try to dominate you or boss you which generally results in observing some form of unstable behavior. Dogs either lead or follow. They are either stable or unstable.
Unstable behavior has been referred to by many as "dog issues." The list is nearly endless including hyperactivity, obsessive barking, jumping up on people, fear, aggression, running away or not coming when called, impulsiveness, explosive behavior and the list goes on and on. We have all seen this type of unstable dog and wondered what is wrong with this dog? Rescue and shelter groups see dogs like this being surrendered on a daily basis. If you are experiencing any of these unwanted behaviors (or issues) you may be having a pack leader problem that is contributing to your dog's behavior. Before you consider surrendering your dog to a shelter or rescue group, I would recommend calling in an expert to help you learn the concept of being a "pack leader."
The fact of the matter is that dogs naturally want to be connected to their environment living in harmony with nature. Harmony is not something that just happens; it needs to be created and cultivated by the leader. It is easy to see how a disruptive home can contribute to a dog’s unstable behavior. Dogs reflect the energy around them. Creating a calm atmosphere for a young puppy will communicate volumes helping to develop a grounded, well balanced dog living in harmony with it's environment.
Contact Information
Tom Beitz is the owner of the Academy for Puppies and Dogs and is an authorized dealer for Pet STOP Hidden Dog Fences. Tom can be reached at (716) 628-0651 to answer your questions or he can be found on the web at www.smartdogtrainer.com . E-Mail: Tom@Smartdogtrainer.com
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