Dog Pack Mentality
The key to enjoying a satisfying and rewarding relationship with your dog is learning to think like a dog.
Dogs are pack animals, having descended from wolves, and in each pack there must be a leader. We have domesticated dogs; yet the dog-pack mentality is intrinsic to their very being. Whether wild or domesticated, a dog knows that there must be a pecking order from top to bottom in order for them to feel safe in the world, the top dog being the leader, and so on, down the line. Dogs are dependent on us for their survival, and this survival instinct incorporates pack or leadership mentality. This innate social structure is fundamental to a dog’s well-being in the world.
Domesticated pet dogs don’t have to hunt for food, so their survival instinct is not as strong as it is in wolves, yet it exists and is at the center of their dog-pack mentality. A human family pack is different from a dog pack, yet we two-legged beings must use the tour-legged model of pack hierarchy to assume and establish ourselves as top dog. A dog must feel safe in his environment; in other words, he must know his place in his new family pack. If this hierarchy or pecking order is not clearly established, confusion sets in. In this confusion—an absence of leadership—the dog must rise to take the leadership role, it is instinctive! When we understand how the delicate balance of dominance, submission, and aggression is rooted in our dog’s natural pack-behavior instincts, we can enjoy much greater success in our relationships with them.
Call: 707-601-3332
Email: jill@shewhisperer.com
Dog Park Etiquette
Community dog parks are a great place to bring your dogs for exercise and socialization. Following these simple guidelines will ensure a safe and joyful experience for all, canine and human alike.
Appropriate Dog Behavior
1. Dog parks are for well- socialized dogs that are friendly, outgoing and confident. Fearful, aggressive or reactive dogs are not appropriate for dog park use. They are not happy or comfortable and may bring this anxiety to other dogs.
2. Bullies are not appropriate for dog park use. A bully dog is a dog that is overly dominant and harassing in nature, making another dog uncomfortable enough to stop playing.
3. Barking should be kept to a reasonable level, for both the human park users and our park neighbors. Play barking is acceptable. Non-stop harassing barking, making another dog anxious is not acceptable, nor is barking with aggressive intent.
4. Do not bring aggressive dogs to the park. This includes bringing them in on leash, as this aggravates other dogs off leash. Remember, this is a park shared by dogs that want to romp and play, not fight.
5. Take off choke chains, prong collars, any extraneous collars where another dog could grab it in play and choke the dog wearing the collar.
6. Some dogs are fantastic wrestlers, in that they play exuberantly at each others neck. This is normal dog play, however, if you notice that they are grabbing collars in play, even their regular collar, then remove these collars, as they can grab and twist in play and strangle each other and/or loose a tooth in the process.
7. Unneutered or intact male dogs over 1 year of age should not come to the dog park. They are just coming of age in their maturity and may become a threat to other male dogs and fights may occur. As soon as you begin to notice this more dominant aggressive behavior in your dog, either neuter him or discontinue use of the park, or get some training from a behaviorist trainer.
8. Do not bring females in season, (in heat) to the dog park. This causes anxiety in male dogs and fights could ensue. It is also very uncomfortable for the female, as she is unable to play, because she is too busy having to fend off male dogs.
9. Mounting or humping is normal dog dominance behavior. Males and females alike display this behavior. It is not sexual; it is how they establish play hierarchy or pecking order. It is instinctive and normal. Improperly socialized dogs can mount excessively, causing the dog being mounted great anxiety. If this occurs, please respectfully remove your dog, and get some help from a behaviorist trainer.
Appropriate Human Behavior
As an informed dog owner you:
10. Obey park rules and guidelines, even if you do not agree with them.
11. Are polite, especially when someone else’s dog is behaving inappropriately and the owner is not controlling his dog and is unwilling to take the dog out of the park. Remove your dog if you feel unsafe.
12. Do not bring small children inside the dog park. Dogs oftentimes see small children as playmates and may accidentally knock them over.
13. Are aware and realistic of your own dogs limitations and weaknesses.
14. Can recognize undesirable behavior and be willing to leave the dog park in order to protect the safety of your own dog and that of other dogs.
15. Will not leave your dog unattended at the dog park.
16. Will take note of and report anyone who does not follow these guidelines, thereby causing potential danger to dogs or dog owners.
17. Do not bring treats to the dog park, causing potential dog-to-dog conflict.
18. Know that the dog park is not the place to fix inappropriate behavioral problems without a trainer’s assistance.
19. Will supervise your dog’s play and be prepared to interrupt inappropriate play whether your dog is the perpetrator or the victim.
20. Are willing to listen to someone else’s complaint about your dogs behavior and are willing to leave the park if your dog is being too rough. If you really disagree with the person’s assessment of your dog’s behavior, do not argue, but get advice from a trainer.
21. Remember to keep our park clean and healthy for everyone,
22. Always clean up after your dog and are willing to clean up after others who did not notice, do not know or do not follow the rules. This is everyone’s park; we must take care of it for all our sakes.
Call: 707-601-3332
Email: jill@shewhisperer.com
Aggression in Dogs
Aggression in dogs is a very serious behavioral problem and it is a learned behavior. All puppies are born equal, not aggressive, so if a puppy grows up to be aggressive, something happened along the way to make the pup fearful, and a fearful pup becomes an aggressive dog.
Aggression can be prevented if the owner understands natural canine growth cycles and the factors that influence the development of aggressive behavior.
There are different kinds of aggression: dog aggression; aggression towards children, men or women; protection aggression; food aggression and possession aggression. In this article I will focus on aggression in general.
There are critical periods in a puppy’s life, that when understood will help you raise a healthy well-adjusted puppy into adulthood. A wonderful book that I always recommend is, The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior by Clarence Pfaffenberger. It is a wealth of information.
Puppies are born with their ears and eyes shut to the world, yet they feel everything that is happening to them. They feel their mother licking them clean and picking them up and they feel their litter mates all around them. You have seen a litter sleeping in a heap, yes? Well, they are keeping each other warm and safe, just like, in the womb. Yet, when their other senses become engaged, when their ears and eyes open, a whole new world has opened up to them. This is the first critical period in a puppy’s life.
In the first critical period of a pup’s life, they are learning about socialization in their pack. This is where and when pecking order begins. From 3 weeks of age until 8 weeks of age, puppies are behaving in a very instinctive manner, establishing dominance through play. The mother is the leader of the pack, yet in the puppy pack, another leader is developing. If a puppy is removed from its litter before 8 weeks of age, it is being robbed of very important social interactive skills with its litter mates, which could cause a pup to grow up to be aggressive with dogs. Therefore, in order for the puppy to develop into a well-adjusted adult, a puppy should not be taken away from their litter mates before 8 weeks of age.
The next critical period in a puppy’s life is between 8 and 10 weeks of age. This is when they start to realize that there is life outside themselves. They begin to become curious about people, other animals, things, etc. and it is a very fearful period. There should be great care taken to make sure that everything they are exposed to is done with a gentle hand, and an abundance of patience. This is also the time when bonding with a new human friend can begin.
After 10 weeks of age, bonding has begun and more socialization to the world is a necessity to ensure the success of a well-adjusted dog. If a puppy doesn’t bond and get properly socialized during their first 16 weeks of life, it may very likely develop aggressive behaviors. The key to having a well-adjusted adult dog is proper socialization during puppyhood.
Having said this, a dog doesn’t reach his age of maturity until he is between the age of 18 months and 3 years. There are many factors that influence this age of maturity, including, breed, temperament, socialization, training, etc. Therefore, it is imperative that for the first two years of a puppy’s life, it is crucial to establish leadership, to train, to properly socialize your puppy with dogs and children in all walks of life, and to expose your puppy to all different environments and situations. Doing so will ensure a happy, healthy well-adjusted adult dog. These are key elements to the prevention of aggression
Call: 707-601-3332
Email: jill@shewhisperer.com
