Nurturing a Better Dog, Trick No. 3: Leaders First!

This next dog-leadership trick is very simple to explain, but you will need to keep coming back to read it again and again to absorb the details, especially about how to back your dog up away from the door.

Enter New Environments First

When you take your dog for a walk, who goes through the door first: you or your dog? If you have a dog who is a nightmare to walk because he or she pulls like mad, or keeps trying to go for other dogs, or even shows fear at certain things, then you probably allow your dog to go through the door first. So many people tell me the same thing: "Fido is great in the house, but once we get outside, he just becomes difficult to control." If that sounds like your dog—or the opposite: your dog is fine on a walk but out of control in the house—then you're about to learn why.

Whenever you enter a new environment, whether that be going outside or inside, into a vet clinic, into a dog park, through a narrow lane, down the stairs, or even just into your yard or garden, you should lead the way. It's not that canine pack leaders go through doors first (dogs lead other dogs much better than us, and can do so from the middle or the rear just as well as from out front); it's slightly more complicated than that, but much more interesting:

A Leader for all Situations

According to research on abandoned or escaped dogs in Italy, packs tend to have one or two leaders, and it is most often a matriarch who takes on the lead role; however, very often, packs will have a different leader for different circumstances. Whereas the lead female may be in charge around the den, another dog may take the lead when it's time to go and reinforce boundaries, or to see off intruding dogs, or to go looking for food. This is a very efficient way of ensuring the pack is as strong as possible in any situation, since not every leader type is suitable for all situations. The rest of the pack accepts the leader of each situation readily, and harmony reigns because of it.

If you want to demonstrate to your dog that you are the leader in any situation the two (or more) of you proceed into, then the best way is to make sure you go first and with no attempts from your dog to challenge that. If your dog is allowed to go charging out the door, pulling you behind him, every time you go for a walk, then no matter how good he or she is at home, your canine companion will believe that he or she can easily assume the leadership role outside—and not being the best one to make decisions on what you should chase, attack, be scared of, or even bite, your dog will most usually invoke mayhem when seemingly put into that role.

Take Ownership of the Doorway

So, if you want to send a clear signal to your dog that it's your leadership that will dictate how the walk will be (and your aim should be for calm and controlled—more on that in the next lesson), then the solution is simple: take control of your dog before you head out the door, demonstrate leadership by remaining calm and assertive (and aloof), and make sure that you go through the door first while your dog waits for a signal to follow. You then make sure to do the same as you close the door behind you and set off on the walk (though your dog will almost always be 'ahead' of you at this point, he or she will be waiting patiently and without making demands until you are ready to lead the walk.

So how do we get the dog to go along with all this? Do we need to give orders—maybe have the dog sit and stay while we open and walk through the door? No. Giving dogs instructions is not the most powerful way to demonstrate leadership; what's most effective is when your dog works out for him- or herself the best way to show you in his or her own language that he or she accepts you control the door and therefore the walk ahead. If you follow the following guidelines exactly, then this is exactly how your dog will behave. Prepare to be amazed.

How to Lead Through Doors

(Remember: if you read carefully and make sure you follow correctly, this will work; if you need to see it in practice, sit tight for the upcoming videos to accompany this blog series.)

Leading your dog through the door will be much easier if you make him or her come to the leash instead of you chasing your dog to put it on. Just stay calm and stand confidently and quietly near the door until your dog comes to accept the leash (I know this will be impossible at first for many dogs, in which case, approach and leash your dog with the minimum of fuss). You may give the command for him to come to you if you want to, but only once—never incessantly. When your dog lets you leash him or her in this way, it's as good a signal as any that he or she is willing to submit to your leadership.

Lead your dog to the door. If he or she tries to dart ahead of you and put his or her nose near the door waiting for it to open or starts to try and scratch at the door, you need to step in and take 'ownership' of the door. Step in between the dog and the door, using the leash if you have to, giving tugs to make the dog back away to give you space to step in. Once there is enough space, loosen the leash and step into your dog, as though you want to walk into his floor space, in a calm, assertive manner, with a confident body posture and perhaps an 'Ah!' or 'Eh!' grunt as you do so. Do not do anything else that you think will demonstrate dominance, such as shouting, giving commands, being angry, raising the tone of your voice, etc., as it will likely be something that will actually tell the dog you are not really in control. If you like, raise a finger in front of you in a 'Don't even try it' kind of manner. This helps you feel dominant while also putting something above your dog's head, which will make him feel he has a superior above him or her. You can also tap (briefly push) his chest with your fingers in a kind of 'bite' action—gentle but firm, as though to guide.

Accepting the New Dynamic

Your dog will back away from the door, probably look confused at this new behaviour from you, and sit down. At the very least, he or she will stand and wait for your next move. You will open the door next, but first you must be prepared for your dog to try and dart through as you open it; know what you will do to counter this (exactly the same as you did to back the dog up in the first place, but with a very serious look on your face, and more stern body language, as if to say 'You are pushing your luck.' This will not make the dog scared of you, but will make him or her respect you more. Back him or her up again, and, while being prepared to step in again if you have to, know that, this time, your dog will stay in place, politely waiting to see what you want him or her to do. Dogs generally accept new leadership instantly and without question, and that is how we can achieve rapid change in a dog so quickly.

You should now be standing between your dog and the door, sideways on, so you can see both the door and the dog and are not blocking the doorway—this is very important, as you want the dog to stay in place because of respect for your new leadership and not because of a physical block. Open the door. Step in and back the dog up again in the same manner as last time if you have to, though by this stage you should find, to your amazement, that he will look at the open doorway and then you and back again, in turn, as he awaits your instruction. Walk through the door, prepared to back your dog up if necessary, but you should be able to just give a gentle tug and a command to come as you walk through the doorway ahead of him or her. If possible, wait until your dog looks away before inviting him or her through, as this ensures your canine companion isn't 'commanding' you or pleading to be able to go through, which would give him perceived status if that's then what happened.

Entering a New Situation

Get ready to control your dog once through the doorway, as he or she may think that it's OK to run ahead at this point. Simply give gentle tugs while ignoring the dog and remaining aloof as you wait for him or her to calm down once more. Close the door, and, once your dog is relaxed and not trying to make you do anything, head off on the walk, giving your dog a gentle tug as a signal to follow alongside. Remember, we always tug and immediately relax, as this prevents tension in the leash (and therefore the relationship) and gives the dog nothing lasting to resist. Give lots of praise (or a treat) as you set off, letting your dog know that he or she pleased you by accepting your leadership.

After a few times practicing this properly, you will have it down to pat, and your dog will understand the new procedure too. Never lose your temper or plead with your dog, and do not add anything else that you think may help. You want to keep everything simple while demonstrating control—of yourself first, then the situation and your dog. Follow this procedure when entering any new territory, environment, or situation, and you will be letting your dog know in no uncertain terms that your will shall dominate still and not your dog and his fears, excitement, or other issues that need to be kept under control. This simple technique, practiced at every possible opportunity, helps your dog to understand the new hierarchy. Don't feel sorry for him; it's hell trying to lead when you have know idea how to, and your dog will be happy to relinquish all that stress to you.

Summary

To recap the important points:

• You must go through doors first
• Dogs have different leaders for different situations
• If the dog is allowed to lunge through first, he or she will think that he or she can lead in the new environment
• A dog can be controlled by his or her issues, so if you don't lead, your dog and his or her problems will
  
• Dogs accept new leadership readily
• Stay calm, assertive, and aloof when demonstrating leadership
• Have the dog come to the leash, not you go to the dog
  
• Try to back your dog up with posture and a dominant attitude rather than physical force
• Tug, not pull; tap, not push
  
• Be prepared to respond to challenges
• Invite your dog through only when he or she is calm and not demanding
• Reward your dog for doing well
• Enjoy your new role as leader!
  

The next lesson will be on how to have your dog walking beautifully on leash, beside or behind you, never pulling, further enhancing the relationship between the two of you, and making walks a complete pleasure. So stay tuned! And be sure to post comments or questions, and please share this series with your friends.

Enjoy going first!



Seán