Pack Walk

Many times in training dogs, one of the best things you can do to help curb many behavior problems or dog issues is take your dogs on a real pack walk.  It is important to use balanced dogs to create your pack.  I am very happy to be able to use my own two dogs, Caravaggio & Nekita, in the pack walk.  They help get dogs motivated, but also help teach them manners.  Many times most dogs newly introduced into a balanced pack will automatically follow and mimic their new pack members.  Such Good Dogs recently has had several adventures at Honolua Bay, following the trails through the pineapple fields.  Caravaggio & Nekita enjoy teaching new pack members what fun it is to run through the fields, but also teach them to listen to the pack leader (myself) in common commands.  The biggest obedience cue I practice on pack walks with new dogs is "Come" when called.  Of course we always go with safety first and new dogs are placed on a long line leash so there is no chance of an accidental escape.  Using a long line is a great way to introduce your dog to a bit more freedom, but be able to still always be in control.  Using the long line is a precursor to being allowed off leash.

Below are some pictures from our many recent pack walk trips to Honolua Bay.

Toby with Caravaggio.

Chloe, Caravaggio, & Dora

Dora & Chloe became fast friends.

They are about the same size and only 6 months apart in age.

This is an excellent example of what a good pack walk looks like.

Chloe having fun with the ears up.

Caravaggio, Dora, & Chloe

Both Chloe & Dora loved following SGDs into the tall grass.

This is Lena with Caravaggio on her first pack walk.

Lena was a little nervous the first half of the walk.

You can see her nervous energy in the way she is holding herself here.

As the walk progressed Lena became more and more calm.

Dora decided Nekita was her buddy for this pack walk.

Lena's dad got to practice some basic obedience with Dora also.

Lena calmed down even more and made friends.

Dora & Lena playing.

Look at Lena's body language now...

much more relaxed.

There is even a smile on her face.

Lena & Dora taking time out to enjoy the view :)

Near the end of the walk, Lena became much more comfortable and joined the pack.

Success!!  Pack walk!

Lena finally enjoying the fields, relaxed and happy, running with the pack.

Leadership

When adding any new dog to your family, leadership is very important.

To be a good leader to your dog, you must be strong, consistent, non-confrontational, and dependable.  Dogs become extremely stressed without a leader.  A dog will only fill the family leader position if there is no strong leader for him to look to.  Dogs can become very stressed when forced into the leadership role, however some dominant temperament-type dogs can manipulate their way into this role.  The dog that does this will use aggression to maintain his leadership status.  Obviously, this is not something we want.

Duties of the Leader:
1)  Establish the rules
2)  Enforce the rules
3)  Maintain social order

For many past centuries, dogs have had a job within the family unit.  Some of these jobs include:  hunting, protection, herding, pulling carts, eliminating vermin, and locating lost people.  Over the years the dog has become a non-working member of the family.  Humans unknowingly treat dogs as leaders every day.  These things include:  letting a dog eat as much as he wants whenever he wants, receiving constant free attention, and being able to demand sleep time, affection, and alone times.

It is vitally important for the human to establish and enforce house rules from day one!

Relationship Exercises can help maintain your strong leadership role while building a strong bond of trust between you and your dog.  When you control your dog's access to everything, you can more easily train your dog while also keeping him (and your belonging) safe.

Feeding.  Leaders always eat first.  I encourage people to have their dinner and then feed the dog(s) afterwards.  By doing so, your dog is not only learning to wait nicely (no begging), but learning to work for something he likes.  He is earning his food, not just getting it for free.  Dogs that get things for free tend to develop many different kinds of unwanted behaviors.
So when feeding your dog, make him sit and wait while you put the bowl down.  I also always require my dogs to "watch me" (look in my eyes), before being rewarded with food.  Also, do not free feed your dog.  A dog should be fed twice every day.  If the dog does not eat the food within 30 minutes, remove the food.  The dog will not get fed again until the regularly scheduled next mealtime.

Sleeping.  I strongly try to discourage people from allowing their dogs in their beds.  Start your training by only allowing the dog on the floor and his dog bed.  If you initially teach a dog he is not allowed on the places humans usually rest, you are reinforcing your leadership role.
Also, I encourage people with young puppies to sometimes remove them from wherever they are sleeping.  Dogs can become possessive over their favorite sleeping spots and this can sometimes lead to an aggressive response.  Every so often, move your dog from their current sleeping spot.  Positively reward any calm behavior the dog offers when doing so.

Free Time.  Access to freedom throughout your house is definitely something that should be earned by your dog.  When first bringing a new dog into your house, always start with an on-leash tour.  Go through the house, only entering a new room when the dog is calm, waiting, and paying attention to the leader on the other end of the leash.  The person should always enter the new space first.  New dogs and puppies must be consistently supervised and should only be allowed limited access when not being watched.  A new dog or puppy that is left along should either be crated or left in a small area where they can't get into any trouble.  Remember part of training is preparation and maintenance.  If you leave your dog in his crate with his toys, he can't really do wrong.  If you just leave him locked a bathroom with regular bathroom items around, you will have a big mess to clean when you return (any possibly a very sick little puppy).  Remember to protect your dog (and your things) by planning ahead.  Get down on the floor on your stomach and look around.  Those are all little things down there that you don't normally think of that's staring your dog right in the face.  Electric cords, poisonous items, and choking hazards are probably lurking just under your nose.

These are just a few items and examples of how to take proper leadership over your dog.