Reinforcing the pecking order.

Reinforcing the pecking order:

Even from a young age your dog will try and establish dominance over their surroundings and the people in it, even little things like letting the dog up on the sofa will become a problem over time as dogs use height to their advantage. If your dog try's to climb higher than you on the sofa this is another sign he is trying to assert his or her dominance.  Little things can be done from an early age to address this problem and prevent it from getting any worse.  One trick is to keep your dog waiting for his dinner, leaving it on the side of the counter and letting them wait for 5 minutes, reinforces the fact that your in charge, you set the rules.  This might seem mean to some but its just another tool to help you achieve a more balanced relationship with your dog.  The younger you do this kind of training the better, if you are part of a family make sure that everybody knows what to do, and that they are all on the same page, mostly because mixed messages can be very confusing for a young dog.  Even little things like making your dog wait for you to enter your home first lets them know who's boss.

I will be doing another page on pecking orders soon, so if their are any questions you want to ask then feel free to email me at eraym2010@gmail.com

Socialising your dog.

Socialisation:

No1 thing that should be done when you get a dog, apart from the usual toilet training but try and stroke your dog as much as possible, this gets him used to human touch from a young age and can make a dog more tolerant in later life.  When your puppy has finally been cleared to go out,  be mindful of who you let your dog socialise with but the more socialisation a dog gets in the first six months of its life is one of the most important aspects of training your dog. Try not to pass on your fears re: the dog. Dogs have there own language and generally sort things out with a snarl or a bark.  Dogs have a certain hierarchy based on age and if this is not respected by your dog then trouble will more than likely occur, a growl or a gnash of the teeth.  Most puppies are quite submissive at an early age but more and more socialisation will help hem develop his/her confidence around other dogs.  This will make it easier for you in the long wrong, as dogs socialised at an early age are generally more tolerant of other dogs. and make better pets.


Eray.

eray_m@hotmail.co.uk