Re: [PyrNet-L] RE: Dominance & Training

["Janice Swenson" <janices@jump.net>]

On 8 Nov 99, at 8:37, Jack Mowery wrote:
> Would you accept that they want someone to be in charge?  And if you
> don't/can't fill the position, they will.

Dogs do need a leader but a leader is not a dictator, not a 
controller.  The leader is a teacher who teaches and enforces the 
rules.  Can't expect a dog to understand if it's not taught.  

I'll post the location of another set of articles by Ian Dunbar which 
were recently posted to another list.    

Social Hierarchies: 
http://www.clickersolutions.com/clickersolutions/articles/
hierarchies.htm 

The Macho Myth: 
http://www.clickersolutions.com/clickersolutions/articles/
macho.htm 

Why Can't a Dog be More Like a Dog?: 
http://www.clickersolutions.com/clickersolutions/articles/
whycant.htm 

I'm not into domination......been there, done that.  The studies are 
saying dogs aren't exactly like wolves.  We know alpha boot camp 
stuff works on some dogs and not on other dogs......also works 
better on big dogs.  They have a social hierarchy of sorts and this 
may also vary from breed-to-breed depending on where they are on 
the evolutionary scale.  We also know that there are very few of 
what can be considered dominant dogs.  Dog are individuals.  I can 
watch my own group of dogs and in some situations this one will 
be more in charge and in another situation even a low totem poler 
will be more in charge.  

I think people get in trouble when they give their dogs mixed 
signals.  I think a dog needs to be secure in knowing what is 
expected of them and what their place is.  To me giving them the 
security means teaching them what's right and what's wrong and 
being consistent.  It means using some common sense and using 
my brain to look at things from their point of view.  


Janice, janices@jump.net
Linsey (newf), Bianca & Sonny (pyrs)  
http://www.jump.net/~janices/
Leander, TX