Nov 29, 2009, 06:33 PM
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From Ceasar Milan's new magazine, I've been looking for it but havn't found it yet. Oh well. Anyways, they had the main article on his website today and I thought it was interesting and useful
Quote:
TAKE CHARGE
It all starts with energy. Energy is the way animals communicate, since they can’t use words. The energy another canine projects, for instance, allows your dog to determine whether a potential confrontation is afoot, and if so, whether he should fight, run away, or submit. So obviously it’s even more important that the energy you communicate be the right kind. You should never come across as aggressive, agitated or angry—just quietly in control. The goal here is simply to emanate a calm-assertive energy, which in turn sends your dog the clear signal that you’re his pack leader. It’s helpful to remember that unlike people, dogs do not dwell on the past or obsess about the future. Instead, they live solely in the moment at hand and respond directly to their immediate environment. If you project panic, nervousness, or tension, your dog will pick right up on it and follow your example.
Of course, mastering that “calm-assertive” frame of mind is the real trick, and it isn’t easy. It doesn’t have to do with the dog—it has to do with you and how you come across. I often recommend that people use the techniques that actors use to prepare for a role. Imagine yourself as someone (or some movie character) who you see as epitomizing leadership. And think how it would feel to be that person, to project that same level of cool-headed, unruffled authority. Read a book on Method acting techniques, or write down positive affirmations or quotes about leadership and post them near where you keep the leash. What else? Prayer, yoga, meditation, tai-chi, and martial arts training will also help you access that centered, in-the-moment part of yourself—the part that your dog will recognize and respond to.
If you’re still not sure what I mean by calmassertive energy, take a look at Oprah Winfrey in action. She never loses her temper, but always stands her ground. And as easy as it is to recognize calm-assertive energy in people, it’s no harder to recognize the calm-submissive energy it will generate in your dog: His ears will be held back, his posture will be relaxed, and he will display an almost instinctual willingness to go along with his pack leader’s wishes.
WALK THE WALK
Because walking is the primal canine activity, taking your dog or dogs on regular walks is the single best way to put your pack leading skills to work. Your dog’s wolf ancestors migrated with a pack—and that’s what he wants to do, too. Don’t just take him out for a quick pee; give him a good, long walk that will tire him out. A dog backpack—comprising 10 to 20 percent of the dog’s weight—will help achieve that goal. Once his physical energy is depleted, he’ll be more ready to do what you want him to. Allowing him to wander aimlessly in a big backyard is no substitute for a brisk walk with you. On your walk together, he can explore his world—and learn quickly that you’re his pack leader.
You’re the leader, your dog is the follower. Walk briskly with your dog either behind you or at your side. If the dog is ahead of you—and especially if he’s pulling on the leash—then it’s likely you are not the leader of this little pack. Danger can rear its head on a walk when your dog runs into another dog, and they decide to mix it up. In my experience that almost always happens when both dogs are out in front of their owners. The equation is simple: Two dominant dogs = one nasty street fight. If your dog is in the proper calm-submissive state, he won’t look to challenge every other dog he runs into. And if both dogs are properly calm-submissive, you can actually stop and chat with the other dog’s owner, if you’re so inclined, which is a lot more fun than trying to break up a sidewalk dogfight.
It all comes down to discipline, really—and your feelings about it. People say, “Oh, my baby is only two months old! How can I make rules for him?” Well, his mother started making rules the moment he was born. And she wasn’t being cruel; it’s just that she was the first pack leader in your dog’s life. When he was old enough, she took him on walks, and she set boundaries for him. And—and this is an example you should follow as a pack leader—she made him wait for his food (rather than feeding him on his schedule). In nature, that’s what all animals have to do. Food doesn’t show up at regularly scheduled times; it must be hunted for. Dogs no longer have to hunt for dinner, but it’s important that they work for it. That’s why it’s a good idea to take your dog on that nice long walk before he eats. That way, when it’s time to dine, he’s earned it.
Remember, in nature, dogs correct each other all the time—especially pack leaders. But they don’t do it out of anger or frustration, and neither should you.
HUG IT OUT
If you’ve read my books or watched the Dog Whisperer, you’ll note it’s only after exercise and discipline that we begin to discuss affection. It’s the thing you give after you’ve exercised you dog and done your daily part to establish boundaries and rules. In nature, animals are seldom rewarded, if at all. Pack leaders don’t turn around and say, “Thanks for following me, guys!” And, the dogs that work with the blind or other handicapped people don’t get rewarded every 10 minutes, either; they’re rewarded after—and only after—they finish a task.
Exercise and discipline are both for the good of the dog; they fulfill him in his role as a member of the pack. This is the stuff he’s hard-wired for, and it’s the stuff that makes him happiest. Affection, however, is something we do for ourselves—it fulfills us. Dogs express affection to each other as well but ironically, if we put our own fulfillment first, and allow affection to take precedence over discipline, we run the risk of being seen by our dogs as followers, rather than leaders.
Remember, your dog is an animal, not a human. And he’s a pack animal, so he needs a leader to be fulfilled and happy. If you don’t provide that leadership, you’re back answering yes to all those questions we asked at the beginning.
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