Five Pack Leadership Techniques Archives | Page 3 of 5

Dog Psychology

Passing Fancy: Controlling Your Dog On The Walk [VIDEO]

You’ve probably seen or experienced it many times. Two dog-walkers approach each other and, when they try to pass, their dogs go out of control, showing either too much excitement or too much aggression. If doesn’t have to happen like this, though, and only takes a few simple steps to avoid. In the first of our “Chance Encounters with Cesar Millan” video series, below, Cesar visits an Orange County park and teaches some unsuspecting humans how to get their dogs to pass each other calmly. Does your dog pull you on the walk? The Pack Leader Collar is designed to

November 17, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

Mastery

Mastery is very important when it comes to having balanced packs, particularly mastering the walk and mastering leadership. But what does “mastery” mean? Basically, it means command or grasp of a subject, or the state of being in control. Note, though, that mastery does not mean “being the best.” There are many people with a mastery of chess who could not beat the world champions no matter how hard they tried, although they still know enough about what they’re doing that they could beat a dozen amateurs at the same time. Mastering the walk and leadership just mean that you

August 7, 2015 No Comments

Dog Care

The Look Of Love: How Humans And Dogs Bond

There’s a reason that human mothers bond with their newborn children so quickly. This is because the process of pregnancy and birth releases various hormones, particularly oxytocin. When oxytocin works on various parts of the body, it is responsible for causing contractions during labor, as well as allowing the mother to lactate and feed her child. But when it goes to work in the brain, something else happens — it fosters bonding between humans and, in the case of a mother, facilitates maternal instincts. Oxytocin is common in many mammals and plays the same roles. However, scientists have so far

July 4, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 1: Project Calm, Assertive Energy

‘To dogs,’ says Cesar, ‘energy is everything.’ Because dogs communicate with energy, our personal energy plays a central role in our relationship with them. Dogs are our mirrors, reflecting back in their behavior the energy we express. If we are hyperactive and over-excited, our dogs will be the same; if we are tense and angry, our dogs will be anxious. Unlike humans, dogs will not follow unstable energy. They instinctually seek and follow pack leaders who exhibit calm and assertive energy. When dogs live with a human who does not fill this role, they will attempt to correct the pack

July 3, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 2: Provide Exercise, Discipline, Affection

A balanced dog is one that is fulfilled in all three aspects of its being: body, mind, and heart. In nature, dogs instinctively find that balance. When dogs live in the human world, however, it’s up to us to ensure that they get that balance. Humans and dogs both have instinctual, intellectual and emotional dimensions. We humans live in a world where intellect and emotions are primary, while our instinctual side is less important. For dogs, it’s the other way around. They live in an instinctual world where their intellect and emotions are secondary. When we relate to our dogs

July 3, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 3: Establish Rules, Boundaries And Limitations.

Because of their nature as social pack animals, dogs want us to tell them what they’re supposed to do. Their goal is to help the pack survive, and they do it by following the pack leader. It’s the job of the pack leaders to provide protection and direction. Establishing and enforcing rules, boundaries, and limitations is how they provide direction to the pack. ‘ Rules refer to what a dog is and isn’t allowed to do: Stay off of my bed but sleep on yours; don’t jump on people; don’t pull on the walk. ‘ Boundaries control where a dog

July 3, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 4: Master The Walk

Pack Leadership Technique 2 reminds us to provide exercise, discipline, and affection in that order. And the absolute best way to provide exercise and discipline for your dog is through the walk. To make the walk productive and bonding, you have to be the leader. This means that you’re in front, not your dog. It helps to use a short leash with the collar up at the top of the dog’s neck, where you have the most control. Keep your leash arm down and relaxed, with the leash loose. Don’t grip tightly because that sends tense energy down the leash

July 3, 2015 No Comments

Dog Training

Training The Human For The Walk

I believe that the walk is the most important daily feature of our relationship with our dogs. It is not just about the physical exercise. It is also the best way to affirm your place as Pack Leader. Done right, it’s the perfect time to let go and really connect with your dog. It might seem like the most natural thing in the world to go walk with your dog — but it is surprising how many humans mess it up. And the reason is a very simple human problem: We think too much! Be in the moment When you

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Dog Psychology

How To Be Calm And Assertive

Dogs use constant energy to communicate. Energy is what I call beingness; it is who and what you are in every moment. Dogs don’t know each other by name, but by the energy they project and the activities they share. They know humans in the same way. As humans, we too are communicating with energy – whether we realize it or not. And, though we may attempt to persuade, explain, and rationalize all day long, these energy signals are the only messages getting across to our dogs. The first energy that a puppy experiences after birth is mom’s calm, assertive

June 18, 2015 No Comments