Is Your Dog Bossy? Show Your Dog Who’s In Charge

November 29, 2008 by Dog Service Network
Filed under Behaviors, Dog Training

Rules need to be set in place so that your dog doesn’t continue being bossy. By teaching your dog these new rules which will be explained shortly, you will be the one who leads the walks, say when it’s time to leave the doggy park, etc..

When showing your dog who’s boss, it’s important to not give your dog equal rights of the rest of the household. For instance, if your dog is used to sitting on the couch with the rest of the family, he/she needs to learn that they are now only allowed to sit on the floor. Or if your dog is used to sleeping in bed with you, he/she needs to learn that they are now only allowed to sleep on their doggie bed.

It’s easy to overlook the simple activities you and your dog engage in can lead to his/her bossy behavior such as the games you play. If you’re used to getting down on the floor to play with your dog by wrestling and/or rolling around, this will make your dog think you’re equals. Instead, you should look to play games such as fetch where your dog will be required to return the toy to your hand.

When it’s time to eat and your dog is begs for food at the table, basic commands such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, or ‘wait’ should be used to keep your dog under control. Obedience training would be helpful to teach your dog those basic commands. Also, your dog should not be fed at the same time as the rest of the household, he/she should be fed once the people at the dinner table are finished eating; this will show remind your dog where his/her rank is in the pack.

Finally, to teach your dog where to go and when to walk, your dog will need to understand the heel command to know when to stop walking. If your dog is pulling ahead of you while walking, you should turn around to walk in the other direction to counteract your dog’s action. When reaching a corner, tell your dog to sit. Lastly, change your walking pace and don’t wait for your dog to initiate it. This final step can take a while, so be patient and consistent.

Source: “Pushy Dogs” by Jacque Lynn Schultz, ASPCA.org; Retrieved on September 29, 2008 from http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_dethroningtheking.