The Importance of Being the Pack Leader
If you've been doing any research about how to train your dog, you've likely heard the term "pack leader" on virtually every site and in every dog training text. This is a popular phrase for all dog trainers, and every good one will tell you that you need to be the pack leader if you want to train your dog properly. But what is a pack leader? And why is it so important to put yourself in that role?
Dogs are social animals. In the wild, they run around in packs. They work together, play together, and sleep together. Basically, a dog pack is a huge team. Like most teams, there is a captain in the dog pack. This is the dog who is the leader, and the one who calls the shots. If the dog leader decides that it is time for the pack to migrate, the dogs migrate. If he says its time to rest, all the dogs lie down to rest.
Dogs are hardwired to follow the pack leader. This doesn't mean, however, that they do not try to take control occasionally. Occasionally, a dog will try to become the pack leader by edging out the old leader through force. Only the toughest of dog leaders will be able to remain in control of the pack.
It is important for you to become the dog leader so that your dog does not. When you do not take the role, your dog will assume that he is the one that should take the role and will start to run your entire family. You need to become the pack leader in order to get your dog to properly listen to you. Being the pack leader is not as difficult as it sounds, and will actually make your dog love and respect you even more.
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