Modern society places pressure on dogs and their owners that weren’t present years ago. I’m sure you have all heard stories or maybe have experienced the days when dogs roamed the neighbourhood, socialising with many people and various animals in the process. Someone was also home most of the time to keep them company and entertain them.

Now with our ever-increasing busy life styles we are stretched to spend quality time with our furry friends. The constraints of fenced yards and longs periods spent alone take their toll on many of our animals and this can sometimes be displayed as unacceptable behaviours e.g. barking, digging, chewing and heightened aggression.

Dogs are pack animals that thrive on rules, consistency, and expectations. Setting limits about what is allowed and how you expect them to act is not only fair, it is essential to having a healthy well-adjusted dog. Being a good strong leader is about setting boundaries, not controlling by force or harsh corrections and is the first step towards ridding your dog of behaviour problems.

Please remember that you as leader of the pack control all the precious resources the dog desires. (Food, toys, and where he sleeps.) This means all toys belong to you, and you decree when and how long to play. Toys should be kept out of reach or in a box and rotated regularly.

Five to ten minutes a day of games that stimulate your dog to use its intelligence will produce a dog that is as contented as if he has just completed a five-mile hike.

This is not to say that you stop exercising your dog just that his brain needs working as importantly as his body. Your control of resources will build a strong bond with your dog convincing him you are indeed a great leader.

This in turn will give you the foundation to teach good behaviour, and learning new exercises or tricks will be much more rewarding for both of you.

Jane

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