What is Leadership in Dog Training? How to Be the Leader Your Dog Needs
What does leadership mean to you? The term has recently been misunderstood by some, particularly the “purely positive” crowd, as something that involves harsh discipline and dominance. However, if you look up the definition of leadership, you’ll find something quite different:
| synonyms: | guidance, direction, control, management, supervision |
Nowhere in that definition does it mention dominance or harsh discipline. These terms can certainly be part of leadership, but they don’t need to carry negative connotations. Leadership is about guiding and supporting, not controlling through force.
Leadership and Your Dog: What It Really Means
How does being a leader translate into your relationship with your dog? The answer is simple: be someone your dog can look up to and follow. Let’s break it down:
1. Give Your Dog Guidance
Your dog is an animal—a predatory animal, in fact—and he’s not born knowing how to behave in our human world. As a leader, your role is to show your dog how to navigate this world as a pet. Teach him what’s acceptable and what isn’t.
2. Provide Clear Direction
Teaching your dog right from wrong is a key part of leadership. Communication is essential here. Tell your dog when he’s doing something right, and when he’s doing something wrong. This doesn’t necessarily mean physical corrections; simply disagreeing with unwanted behaviour can be enough to redirect your dog.
3. Control and Manage Your Dog
Put your dog on a leash until he can be trusted off-leash, and crate train him until he no longer needs it. You don’t need to control every aspect of your dog’s life, but control and management are necessary to prevent unwanted behaviours from being rehearsed.
4. Supervise Your Dog
Supervision means being present to guide, direct, control, and manage your dog. If you can’t supervise your dog, crate him. When your dog is unsupervised, he’s left to make his own decisions, and with young dogs, this often leads to choices we don’t want.
What Makes a Good Leader?
Being calm, clear, and confident are essential qualities of a good leader. If you’re struggling with your dog’s behaviour, take a step back and honestly evaluate whether you’re providing your dog with the guidance, direction, control, and supervision they need.
If you need help becoming the leader your dog needs, we can help! Contact us today.