Primary Needs of a Dog Within the Family Structure
All dogs need a clear understanding that the humans in their household are the “leaders of the pack.” The consistency of all family members in enforcing rules, setting boundaries, and understanding the importance of these practices is essential.
- Establish Territorial and Psychological Boundaries: As the owner, you must create clear boundaries for your dog.
- Designate a Sleeping Area: Choose a designated place for your dog’s crate, den, or bed. Ensure the dog sleeps in this area consistently.
- Designate an Eating Area: Decide where your dog will eat and drink. Water should always be available, but food should not be left down after feeding.
- Kitchen Manners: Establish early on that your dog should not take food from the table, beg, or be fed from the table. The dog will not be offended by this, as it reinforces its natural and rightful place in the pack.
- Designated Play Area: Create a specific area for your dog to play with toys.
- Designated Elimination Area: Set a place for your dog to eliminate.
By providing rules and boundaries, and offering calm, assertive leadership within the “pack,” your dog can develop positive behaviors to replace instinctual behaviors like chasing and fighting.
Meeting the Dog’s Needs
Physical Needs: Ensure your dog receives proper food, fresh water, and exercise appropriate for its breed.
Health Needs: Maintain your dog’s health through vaccinations, parasite control, and regular veterinarian visits as necessary.
Psychological Needs:
Consistent Rules: Teach your dog consistent rules and boundaries so it can cope with its environment. A dog does not understand a holiday or vacation from rules, and inconsistency will be perceived as weakness by the dog in the “pack leader.”
Sense of Security: Give your dog a sense of security by assuming the role of “pack leader” at all times.
Consistency: Always be consistent in your interactions. Corrections should immediately follow negative behaviors, as dogs live in the present and don’t remember past actions. Corrections need to be well-timed. In many cases, a simple verbal correction with appropriate energy is enough.
Right Behavior: Show your dog the right behavior rather than just correcting the wrong behavior.
Calm-Submissive State: Praise your dog only when it is in a calm, submissive state of mind.
Clear Communication: Establish a system of communication with consistent commands and energy that your dog can understand.
