The miracle of dog/human communication comes from a brief understanding of dog behavior and simple obedience training. Dogs understand very little of our language. But they do respond to the tone of our voice, our gestures and the feelings behind our words.
Dog training and dog psychology are based on the known facts of dog and wolf behavior.
The Pack
Dogs historically lived in social units known as packs. The dog or wolf pack works as a team in hunting for food and defending its territory. Pack behavior establishes the need to be with other creatures. When living as pets, dogs transfer this need to humans. The family is then viewed as a substitute pack by the dog even if there is only one person. This explains why dogs are constant and loyal companions.
Leadership
To function well, the dog or wolf pack must exist with a minimum of conflict within its ranks. Battles within the pack are kept to a minimum by the natural tendencies toward being a leader or follower programmed into every wolf or dog. a "leader of the pack" always emerges, along with other dominant and subordinate pack members who manage to sort themselves out in some order of rank.
If you carefully observe the behavior of the most timid or the most aggressive house dog, you will see this pattern in action, It helps all of the dogs or wolves living in the wild to survive. Dogs continue to function on this level even if they do not live with a pack.
The place your dog
rests, his den, is an
element in his life
that provides comfort
and security.
The need for leadership is primary if the group is to survive. Every dog requires that someone assume a leadership position. Your family pet will accept the position of command if no one else will. Dogs are insecure without a leader and have been known to take charge of complex households. Conversely, they accept leadership from those with dominant personalities or who behave with some degree of authority. Once you assume the position of leader, your dog will accept it for the rest of his life.
Territory and Den
Dogs, like other meat eaters, instinctively require an area for hunting and within that area, a place for sleeping. These activity zones are referred to as territory. The hunting area is the dog or wolf pack's range, which is shared with other animals. The sleeping area is the den, which is also used as a nest for whelping newborns and as a lair for the pups' safety. A den may be a cave, a tunnel or even a hollow log.
The den, or resting place, is guarded with vigor. In our homes the dog may consider the entire house or apartment as the den, or the den may be simply his small section of it. Certainly a dog house or a dog crate - or anything resembling it - is considered a den. The place your dog rests, his den, is an element in his life that provides comfort and security. Dogs feel best when enjoying the peace and comfort of the den.
Any questions that we can help you with, please feel free to contact us anytime.
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