Dog Psychology

Dog psychology is a fascinating subject and one we will explore today. Understanding your dog’s pysche can take some time an effort on your part, but will be well worth it when you are engaging in training him.

Understanding why a dog behaves and acts the way he does is called dog pyschology. Even though the dog is a descendant of the wolf , he has adapted quite well to our human social organization.

Dogs have learned to live with and obey humans through successful training. When you and your dog build a trusting bond, there is a cooperation that is established: the dog behaves well and he will be rewarded.

To better understand dog psychology it is important to understand how wolves live. Wolves live in the wild in packs of two or more.The dictatorship system that the males and females use is strictly defined.

The biggest male in the pack is almost always the “alpha leader.”All of the other wolves in the pack folllow the alpha leader eagerly and with the utmost respect.

Wolves were able to adapt domestically with man thousands of years ago because of the similar social organization and instinctive mental or pyschological structure. When it comes to dividing duties like feeding, some wolves track the animal, one stands guard, and one makes the attack. The alpha leader is always the first to feed and when he is satisfied, he allows the other members of the pack to finish his “leftovers.”

As part of your household your dog views the members of the family as the pack.To figure out who the alpha leader is and exactly how he fits into this new system, your dog will be watching everyone closely.

The physical size of each family member as well as the tone of voice of each person will be clues for your dog as to who is the leader.The way everyone interacts with one another is another clue your dog will watch for throughout the day.

It is essential to establish yourself (or another responsible adult in your household) as the alpha leader.The sooner this is established, the fewer behavioral problems you will see.

You need not only establish yourself or someone else as the alpha, but you must also have a clear understanding that your dog is at the bottom of your family’s hierarchal system.

Your dog instinctually will put himself in charge if he sees that there is no heirarchy in place. This is when a lot of dogs can become overly dominant and destructive. Your dog should understand that he is subordinate to everyone-including children.

It is sometimes difficult for a dog to understand that he is lower ranked than children, because of their small size and their dependency on adults. Dogs can sometimes become very aggressive towards children for this reason and might even bite on occasion.

Your dog will realize he is subordinate to every other family member through disciplined training.Good quality dog training resources can help you with this process.

Remember, training does take time and effort, but it is definately worth it!

All the best with the process of training your dog.

Darcy Austin is editor in chief of Dog Obedience University, a comprehensive resource on dog obedience training.

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