Bonding with puppy??

[Jeff M]

Hey everyone!! I was wondering what you guys think is the best way to establish your self as pack leader and bond with your puppy or dog? So he or she "Knows"you are the pack leader but also knows you are it's best freind

[SABELLESMOM]

I don't consider myself a pack leader, actually. I am not a dog. Instead, I make training interesting and fun. Games are frequently incorporated, thru out our daily routine. I like to sitmulate my dog 's thinking. Give something to figure out and watch the light go on, and the pride when they figure it out. We sign up for real classes with other dogs, because socalisation is as important as training. We develop a bond thru the training and play. Teach your dog desired bahaviors rather than correcting them for negative ones, and you will have a friend for life.

For instance, my dogs have a designated area to lay down while we eat our meals. I do this rather than yell at them for begging, or worse stealing table food. That would be teaching something I want instead.

We keep active. Once the dog is older they do what the family does. We hike up at the lake. We boat and swim. We train in agility and we do conformation too. Our dogs enrich our lives and we love each of them.

May you find the same rewards!

[BostonRott]

No different than raising your kids: your job is to be the leader, not always the best friend. Set rules, teach them fairly, enforce them consistantly.

Socialize, socialize, socialize!!!!!! Everything you do with your dog builds the relationship, in one way or another.

[dogsbestfriend]

Originally Posted by Warmachine

Hey everyone!! I was wondering what you guys think is the best way to establish your self as pack leader and bond with your puppy or dog? So he or she "Knows"you are the pack leader but also knows you are it's best freind

I don't think its one thing you do to establish yourself as the leader.. Just simple discipline, training, and reward will establish you as the leader.. and the ability to act like you are insane and out of your mind when he/she does something very wrong**without hitting the dog**

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by dogsbestfriend

I don't think its one thing you do to establish yourself as the leader.. Just simple discipline, training, and reward will establish you as the leader.. and the ability to act like you are insane and out of your mind when he/she does something very wrong**without hitting the dog**

This is not sage advice, in fact, it's quite antiquated, and not well thought out, and certainly not a way to instill trust in the owner. i.e. not a way to become 'dogsbestfriend'. Sigh.

I've never acted like I was insane and out of my mind with a puppy or an adult dog. What would that prove, except I'm prone to fly off the handle, and not trustworthy, or consistant with my behavior?
What could a puppy ever do that is VERY wrong? A puppy doesn't know the difference between 'right and wrong' until we teach it what's expected of it in OUR human world. A puppy is simply being a puppy. Teaching a puppy how to get along with us in our world ought to be a very rewarding journey for both the owner and the puppy, not full of surprises and fear instilling behavior. Goodness Gracious!

Leading the puppy to correct behaviors, redirecting it from behaviors you don't want, in a calm and confident manner makes much more sense, and is much more humane.

A puppy is a clean slate. It's up to us to communicate with a puppy in an honest, fair and consistant manner. I want to build trust. I reward behaviors I want, through treats, play and attaboys. I simply don't allow behaviors I want extinguished. It's really fairly simple.

Lots of socialization, taking the pup out and about builds confidence and prepares your pup for living in our world. Being a fair teacher and being honest with your pup makes you a clear leader.

What is honesty? Say what you mean, and mean what you say - every time.

[damp]

Originally Posted by dogsbestfriend

I don't think its one thing you do to establish yourself as the leader.. Just simple discipline, training, and reward will establish you as the leader.. and the ability to act like you are insane and out of your mind when he/she does something very wrong**without hitting the dog**

People having the ability/tendency to act insane and out of mind are scaring and can’t be trusted… not even by a dog.
They should stay away from owning dogs (and never have kids!)