Five Pack Leadership Techniques Archives - Page 4 of 6

A woman gives her pup some love after a walk.

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. Dogs Want Stable Energy 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

July 3, 2015 No Comments

A man gives affection to his dog after a walk.

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

Happy dog sits at owners feet and smiles

Be Aware of Your Energy

5 Steps To Becoming Calm

By Cesar Millan One of the most important things I teach people to do is always exhibit calm, assertive energy around their dogs — and it’s a good way to approach life in general. But I’m frequently asked, “How do I do that?” The good news is that once you’ve figured out how to achieve that state of calm, it becomes more instinctual and easier to do. The better news is that anyone can learn how to emit calm, assertive energy. Here are five tips to help you achieve it. Relax. Your Dog is not Misbehaving on Purpose No matter

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Go The Distance! Hiking With Your Dog

John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” I couldn’t agree more with this statement, which is why hiking with the pack is one of my favorite things to do. Not only do my dogs enjoy hiking along the trails, but the level of happiness I feel on those mornings is beyond incredible! It’s one of those moments when I feel completely relaxed and have absolute silence within me. The only sounds are those of the nature around me and the hard breathing of the dogs. I believe there is so much

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Dog Care

Balance

By Cesar Millan I’ve pointed out many times that humans are the only animals that follow unbalanced leaders. Animals, including dogs, won’t do it. They respond to unbalanced energy in one of three ways: fight, flight, or avoidance. Dog packs do not have dictators. If the alpha dog in a pack tries to enforce the rules through intimidation and coercion, the other dogs in the pack will kill him or drive him out. But balanced pack leaders do not need intimidation or coercion. They inspire the pack to follow them through calm, assertive energy. This is something that dogs have

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Cesar Millan

Leadership

Humans like to think that they’re not pack animals, but we are, and for proof of that we only need to look at the nearest gas station. Prices dropped to their lowest levels in years because the king of Saudi Arabia announced that he wasn’t going to reduce production. Then, the king died and, although his successor said nothing about reducing production, prices shot back up because of uncertainty. People do not like uncertainty. It makes them anxious, maybe even fearful. In humans, uncertainty can be caused by a lack of leadership, but we’re not the only ones affected that

June 18, 2015 No Comments

A dog walker sets out with many dogs for a walk

All About Dogs

Cesar’s Advice For Walking A Pack Of Dogs

Dear Cesar, I have four dogs that I’d love to take for dog walks altogether. The problem is that the minute the dogs see the dog leashes they get so over-excited, they run around and bark. It takes me forever to catch the dogs to get the dog leashes on. My lab weighs 100 pounds or 45 kilos and once I am able to catch him he pulls me and steps on my other two dogs, a JRT’s and a rat terrier-Chihuahua mix. Please help me walk my pack of four dogs. Theresa Vinciguerra Vinopal Cesar’s Advice on How to

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

A Family Affair

In quite a lot of cases where I’m called in to help a family with their dog’s misbehavior, I quickly find out that the dog is not the problem. In fact, some people have told me that I turned out to be more of a marriage counselor than a dog behaviorist. Humans are Pack Animals, Too AsI often say, humans like to think that we’re not pack animals, but we are. And we need to remember that, when we bring dogs into the household, we are not creating two separate packs. Every member of that household, human or dog, is

June 18, 2015 No Comments

dog goes for a walk with backpack on for exercise

Dog Care

Give Your Dog A Job With A Backpack

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler The walk is the foundation of a good relationship with your dog, so when humans struggle with it, those problems aren’t just confined to time on the leash, but also carry over into all aspect of their dog’s behavior. So what’s a dog lover to do? For many, the solution is a backpack. It’s one of the simplest and most powerful tools that an owner can put into practice. Here are a few of the benefits of adding it to your dog’s walk. Perks of Adding a BackPack It Gives Your Dog a Job Your dog wants

June 18, 2015 No Comments

Be the Pack Leader

You Are The Reward

One of the things people often ask me is, “What’s the best training method for my dog?” It can be a confusing subject, because there are two approaches to training, and various techniques. Training comes down to either “do” or “don’t” — encourage a positive behavior or discourage a negative one. This can be based on rewards, like a treat, or ending a bad thing, like stopping in your tracks when the dog pulls and not moving until she relaxes. Techniques are not important. I do use positive reinforcement when I work with dogs, but not in the way that

June 18, 2015 No Comments