Pack Leadership

How do you assert your pack leadership status? Do you always walk through doors, stairs etc first before your dog? When on walks do you make your dog heel to your side and not do anything but walk?

I was reading this article - http://dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm (please remove if you feel this should not be linked)
I am know not sure what i should be doing as i am not all that fussed about walking through door ways first or eating first, should i be?
It also says not to lay or sit on the floor with your dog as you are lowering you pack status etc Is this what you guys stick to?

Also how can i train Patch to be calmer around people, where he will wait until i say he can say hello. At the minute when people come in or if we are on a walk he will make such a fuss of them, and will jump up. I want to be able to stop him from jumping up at guests (dont mind a good hug myself) and to wait until i say just incase the person does not want to see him or is scared etc.

Matt

I personally do not make my dogs wait for food until I have eaten, I also allow them on furniture and yes they sometimes walk through doors before me, and sometimes they don't. I lie on the floor and they all crowd around me and lick me to death. But when I say enough or stop they do. My interpretation of "pack leader" is you either are or your not lol a firm consistent approach, with rules that apply to all, and a lot of love pays back in spades same with kids IMO!

Patch will eat before us, so he can be consistently fed each day. I'll make him wait sometimes to go through doors or the stairs, i will also sit most of the day on the floor with him as he is not allowed on the furniture.

He hasnt learnt to stop when i say stop or enough yet, although he is getting there slowly. He still pushes his luck lol

There are times when I let the dogs eat as I am filling their bowls, there are times when I make them wait. There are times when I make them walk to my heel, there are times when I let them go on a loooong lead There are times whne they run amok in my house (about 7pm - ish), I will usuall let them go.

The MOST important time is when I say "OI!", they pretty much snap out of what they are doing and at the very least settle down - at times they crawl on their bellies to me. I have no doubt my dogs know that I am the boss.

I am not a yeller as such - I love the "CH" noise - I even find myself saying "CH!" to family members out of habit Gets their attention every time!

How do you assert your pack leadership status? By handling discipline and making sure any command I give is done. If I say sit - they sit no leaving it because it's to hard or I'm to tired.

Do you always walk through doors, stairs etc first before your dog? Hardly ever

When on walks do you make your dog heel to your side and not do anything but walk? No I walk them for their fun and enjoyment. I do fixed training sessions ontop of their walk.

I was reading this article - http://dogbreedinfo.com/topdogrules.htm Don't read to much it confuses the issue - lol

I am know not sure what i should be doing as i am not all that fussed about walking through door ways first or eating first, should i be? IMAO - not unless you have a problem dog

It also says not to lay or sit on the floor with your dog as you are lowering you pack status etc Is this what you guys stick to? No I spend a lot of time on the floor with my dogs. They love it!

Also how can i train Patch to be calmer around people, where he will wait until i say he can say hello. At the minute when people come in or if we are on a walk he will make such a fuss of them, and will jump up. I want to be able to stop him from jumping up at guests (dont mind a good hug myself) and to wait until i say just incase the person does not want to see him or is scared etc. I answered this in another post - I'll try and find you the link

Thanks everyone!

I think ill stop reading all the **** on the internet and just work out whats best for us and Patch.

Great idea Matt!

and if there's a problem you can get much more practical advice here

We are the all knowing oracles of staffy care

With regards feeding the dog after you, bear in mind that you have to feed the dog immediately after you otherwise the dog will have no recollection of who was fed when. I prefer to control the food, ie I put the bowl down and he immediately looks to me to tell him when it's okay to eat it.

There's a lot of things you can do to elevate your status in the eyes of the dog but, as has been quite rightly stated, you don't specifically need any of these until you have problem. At this point use as many as possible. The most important thing about leadership is to lead. If you lead, clearly and consistently, then 9 times in 10 the dog will be more than happy to follow.

also ... "18. No tug-of-war, as this is a game of power and you may lose
the game giving the dog a reinforcement (in the dog's mind) of top dog."

... STFU! Tug of war is great exercise for a staff. Mine loves it more than anything else. He never wins tho

It is definitely to do with what works for your and your dog. Beth has separation anxiety and we were a bit slack the other week and let her have hugs in the bed in the morning, and on the sofa in the evening. The next day, she was much worse when left alone.

Although she really loved it, it obviously wasn't good for her, as the more attention she gets, the worse it seems when we aren't there.

We always eat after Beth, as it is easier that way. However, we follow the Ceasar routine of work before food and affection, so she has a walk before breakfast and another walk before tea. It seems to work ok. She aims to please and likes little routines like sitting next to her bed after a walk so I can take her harness off.

I do prefer to go through doors etc first as it slows her down a little and gets her to listen more. She has a stubborn streak (as do I, I am told!) and answers back if she doesn't want to do things (which I correct, but it is so hard not to laugh!). Little things like this that are an easy way to reinforce who is the pack leader.

altho i'm saying wot every1 else already has, i'm gna say it any way

Toby always eats b4 us, as my OH works funny hours and mite not be in till after 7pm and i dnt like to feed him too late. i dnt think this is a problem and wen we eat he knows he cnt sit begging by us...altho he does try it most times!

we also play tug with Toby, he loves it....and is crying at me today because i wont play.

i also think you can read too much, evry1 has different opinions (sp?) altho we'v always has staffies as family pets Toby is the first that is soley my responsibility (well OH too but you know wot men r like ) and it was a rite shock to my system, i started reading books and all sorts. advise is gud and i'v had loads of great advise off this forum but i think some decisions lie with you. your gut instinct, patch is you pet not a programmable robot from a toy store.

just go with it...sorry to ramble

Hi Matt

Sorry just read your post - I think pack leadership is all a matter of personal prefernce - ie how far do you want to take it?

Personally - both my boys respect me (well I think they do lol) and although I do practice basics with them - I also let them on furniture - sit on floor and cuddle etc etc however when I ask then to go to their own beds or ask them to get off the furniture they do so willingly -

So long as your dog understands you and respects your boundaries - it is really up to you how you progess. Should you want to be THE Pack Leader then go for it - No one will think any less of you either way.

Patch is becomnig a handsome pup xx

I do feed mine after me usually but sometimes not. They are allowed on the couch & bed but only when I say "up". They do have to "back up & wait" when I answer the front door but also go through doors before me often. I think it all comes down to when you say NO, WAIT, STAY, whatever, they know to do what they're told. Rules, manners & loads of hugs & love. They do know what is acceptable to you as long as you keep it consistant.

Oxide wrote:
Also how can i train Patch to be calmer around people, where he will wait until i say he can say hello. At the minute when people come in or if we are on a walk he will make such a fuss of them, and will jump up. I want to be able to stop him from jumping up at guests (dont mind a good hug myself) and to wait until i say just incase the person does not want to see him or is scared etc. I answered this in another post - I'll try and find you the link

Do you have this link Oxide?


Thanks everyone!
Matt