Dogs in Nature | Cesar Millan

Understanding how dogs behave in nature can help us to better fulfill their needs when we bring them into our homes.

When a puppy enters the world, his first pack leader is his mother. Canine moms teach rules, boundaries, and limitations from day one!

Newborn puppies don't get a name like we do. The closest thing to a personality is a dog's status within the pack. In the animal world, there are two positions: the leader and the follower.

As newborns, first the puppy's nose starts to work, then the eyes, and finally the ears. As they grow older, dogs still experience the world in this order: nose, eyes, and then ears. This is entirely opposite of how we do: ears, eyes, and then nose. Keep this in mind when meeting a dog for the first time. Let the dog explore your scent fully before attempting any other interaction. This is how she gets to know you.

In their natural habitat, dogs earn food and water and experience the world around them by walking. This activity is ingrained deep within a dog's DNA. Walking exercises your dog's body and stimulates her mind.

There can only be so many pack leaders, so most dogs are born submissive. This creates a balance in the pack that fosters healthy and happy dogs.

As adults, dogs look to their pack leader to create that stability. They don’t question the pack leader’s position, and the pack leader doesn’t look to the dogs to affirm his position. This is the natural balance of the pack.

Your goal should be to provide your dogs with the same calm-assertive leadership that they would experience in a pack.

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Thu, 12/31/2009 - 3:39am — Diesel9a1

"so most dogs are born submissive"

What about the rest? Surely that is where the hard work comes in for humans - trying to fight mother nature and turn the dog into submissive?

Wed, 02/10/2010 - 9:27am — suzydog

Submissive vs. Dominant

Well, that's where the theory that most dog behavior problems arise from dominance issues just doesn't hold up. It's true you need to take charge of your dog, and the best way to do this when you've got a new pup is to reinforce the behaviors you would like to see increased as he grows up and to ignore or simply not tolerate those that you would like to see go away as he grows up. Letting the dog in through the door before you isn't going to make him dominant or teach him to disrespect you. But if he's pulling you through the door when you would like him to walk nicely through it with you, then you do need to train him to wait and/or walk nicely. And training him is not really a dominance issue; it's a reinforcement issue which ultimately should make use of the dog's profit motive. There's a lot more information on dominance and profit motive at http://www.dogdaysusa.com/howpositiveprevails.html
Suzydog

Sat, 02/20/2010 - 3:56pm — xocniloc

Your Points re lead jerking a young dog first time in street

SuzyDog: In your Web site how positive prevails, you support your point, by the following example ....

" Let’s say you’re taking your 6 month old Lab out for his first “heel” session, and he’s never really been out of your fenced yard other than for veterinarian visits. It’s likely that he will be pulling madly in all directions and possibly even tangling you up in his leash. Alternately he could be so scared of the “outdoors” that he moves too slowly or not at all when you try to get him to walk nicely by your side. What do you do?"

I would support this too!!! however you have missed the point big time. Why would you be putting this Lab through this, at 6 months of age?!. It is not only possible it is crazy not to train the Lab in the home or yard first, lead work can and should be completed in the home and yard early in a dog's life. Once this has been done in familar environment, with a leader they trust, this trust earned by competent owner, the dog will typically not be afraid,( Leader trust) and will not pull madly in all directions!! I hope I have explained this well enough. Little and often, not too often.

Colin Cox Dog training for 35 years plus in UK. PS There is room for both, leadership and positive reward.

Sat, 02/20/2010 - 1:38pm — xocniloc

Your Points re lead jerking a young dog first time in street

In your Web site how positive prevails, you support your point, by the following example ....

Colin Cox Dog training for 35 years plus in UK. PS There is room for both, leadership and positive reward.

Sat, 02/20/2010 - 10:37am — xocniloc

Your Points re lead jerking a young dog first time in street

In your Web site how positive prevails, you support your point, by the following example ....

Colin Cox Dog training for 35 years plus in UK. PS There is room for both, leadership and positive reward.