7steps to effective - michael r....

Become A Pack Leader

EFFECTIVE STEPS TO7

MICHAEL R. BURKE

2©2016 MICHAEL R. BURKE

7 Effective Steps to Become A Pack Leader

1 Introduction 3

1 Calm & Assertive Energy 5

2 Rules, Boundaries, & Limitations 7

3 Exercise, Discipline & Affection 9

4 Focus on a Desired Outcome 12

5 Claim Your Space 14

6 Timing is Everything 16

7 Master the Walk 18

1 Conclusion 22


Introduction

Our relationship with our animals will greatly improve when we embody the role of the pack leader.

When you look at any type of species, you will see there is an order of rank, and there is always a leader of the pack that the others look to for guidance and direction.

This applies to our households as well, even when you have cats and dogs together, there is still a pack energy, and someone assumes the leadership role.

Behavior challenges may arise if the owner does not assume the leadership position with their dog or dogs.

Dogs instinctually seek out a leader and protection, and if they don’t feel there is a leader for them to follow, they will take on the role.

The dog may start to act out, such as pulling on the leash, lunging and reacting to people, destructive behavior within the home, and what might be labeled as aggressive behavior.

When you become the pack leader, the dog will follow and will respect your position within the pack.

But if you are not confidently assuming your position, the dog(s) will do what they feel they need to do in order to take control.

This can be extremely difficult for a dog that is instinctually a back of the pack animal, one who is most comfortable being lead, often more nervous and timid.


If this dog doesn’t have leadership, he will step forward with reluctance and confusion, and that’s when undesirable behavior develops.

The following steps will show you how to become the pack leader and bring balance and harmony to your home.

The information presented is what I have learned from training with Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, and working at his Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita California.

Cesar encourages us to share this information with the world in order to improve the lives of dogs and the behavior of the dog owners as the create relationships with their canine companions.


1 Calm & Assertive Energy

Dogs communicate through energy. If the human’s energy is excited, nervous, stressed or angry, the dog feels that energy and will mirror it.

When you come home from work after being stuck in traffic and you are carrying the tension of the day with you, the dog will pick up on that and may become tense.

If you are excited and high energy, your dog will become excited and high energy. Its very challenging to get a dog to listen and behave when their energy is high.

This is why it is important to be aware of your energy around your dogs and to remain calm at all times.

Even when you are facing a stressful situation, such as another intense dog coming toward you or anything else that might be startling, remain calm and collected.

Make sure your movements are slow, and avoid any jumpiness or loud outbursts. Even when your dog is not listening to you or if they are hyper, don’t get frustrated. Remain calm and wait for them to settle down to the energy level you are at, instead of you rising up to their intensity level.

Assertiveness and confidence are always extremely important. Dogs read body language, so if you are shrunken inward and your energy is meek and insecure, the dog will pick up on that.

Own your confidence, hold your shoulders back and stand tall. Feel assured and be decisive. Your posture is very important.


When you are confident and decisive with your movement and how you are interacting with the dog, the dog will listen and respect you.

Remember, they are looking for that confident energy to direct them. If they are not feeling it from you, they may try to assume a position that is not comfortable for them. They get confused and act out in ways that are deemed unpleasant.

Successful pack leadership leads to a well-behaved dog, and success begins with you and your calm, assertive energy.


2 Rules, Boundaries, & Limitations

People often run into behavior challenges when they do not instill rules, boundaries and limitations with their dogs. When you create rules for the dog to live by, the dog will respect you more.

Dogs respond to consistency and repetition and they instinctually will follow rules when you set them and stick with them.

Examples of effective rules include staying off the furniture, no jumping, calmly entering and exiting the house, letting the owner walk through doorways first, no eating human food or giving the dog food from the table (so there is no begging), and no pulling on the leash.

It is important to establish boundaries so the dog respects space, whether it is your own personal space, or the space within the home.

I am a big supporter of crate training a new dog or puppy. The crate becomes their own personal space that they respect. Eventually you can extend their space to a room or a few rooms, but starting out with the crate as their designated space is very effective. The dog will eventually respect the whole house as their space and they won’t destroy or soil it.

Setting personal boundaries is very important as well. When dogs are jumping all over you, deter that behavior, don’t allow it and don’t give the dog affection when they behave this way.

If you give a dog attention when they are all over you, they will understand that as a reward for acceptable behavior.

Create space for yourself and teach your dog to respect space. You


decide when the dog can come into your personal space, that’s the dog’s reward.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t love your dog and give affection, I’m talking about the excessive attention that can be annoying and will annoy other people.

Nip that behavior in the bud by creating personal space. We will discuss personal space in more detail in Step 5.

Limitations are key when it comes to play time and making sure the intensity level does not elevate too high. You want keep the energy at a reasonable level.

If your dog gets too keyed up playing with the ball, you may be dealing with an over excited dog whose energy is a challenge to bring back down.

Establish playtime in designated areas and specific times. Limit the dog’s time off leash, create limits with food and treats. These are just a few examples of how limitations will promote good behavior in our dog. You are doing your dog a favor by establishing rules, boundaries and limitations.

Be consistent and always follow through with your intention.

If you aren’t consistent, your dog will become confused and won’t respect the rules since you are all over the place with them.

Dogs love routine and they will quickly learn and respect the guidelines you create. Develop your routines for your dog and stick to them!


3 Exercise, Discipline & Affection

Exercise is one of the most, or possibly the most important experiences you can offer your dog. Dogs need exercise to express themselves, to release energy, to maintain optimal health and to achieve balance.

If a dog is not getting proper exercise, they may get bored, frustrated, anxious, nervous, and then act out in unruly ways that lead to frustration for the owner.

Exercise is also an opportunity for the owner to bond with their dog. Proper walking time together strengthens your relationship and it stimulates the dog’s respect for you.

At least 1 hour of walking time or another form of exercise is really required for a dog, possibly even longer depending on the breed.

If you do not have time to walk your dog, consider hiring a dog walker or take your dog to daycare so he/she can run around, interact, and receive their required exercise.

Whenever I speak to someone who is experiencing behavior challenges with their dog, the first question I ask is how much exercise does the dog get each day.

I have encountered many dogs who don’t get proper exercise become destructive in the home or lung, nip and chase other animals or even people. They may experience intense separation anxiety too, which is why it’s best to take your dog for a long walk before leaving the home.

Discipline must also be instilled with dogs so they respect the human and understand there are limits and rules.


Many people will not correct their dog if it steals food from the counter, tries to nip at someone, or when the dog is the one who walks the human.

Simply correcting the dog when they exhibit unwanted behavior and being consistent with it will go a long way to shift the dog’s behavior for the better.

Teaching a dog how to sit, stay, lay down, go to a designated spot when someone enters the home, and correcting the dog when the dog acts out in front of you…these are all methods that instill discipline and strengthen the dog’s respect of others, while also stimulating and supporting the dogs mind and intellect.

Affection is extremely important in serving the dogs emotional needs. It may seem obvious but dogs love to be loved and shown love. But some people get so caught up in their lives they forget to provide attention and affection to their dog.

Affection is the ultimate reward for a dog because they always want to make their owner happy. Affection, such as petting or even kissing, is even a better reward than a treat.

I encourage people to begin training with treats, but eventually move away from the treats and give affection for a job well done.

Some people go overboard with the affection and treat their dog like a human baby and they think this is helping the dog. Dogs are animals, not humans, and they respond differently to excessive affection and cuddling. When a dog is treated like a human, it can lead to insecurity because the affection is given out of feeling sorry for the dog and coddling them, the “poor baby” syndrome.


Affection should only be given at specific times to reward the dog for good behavior and for displaying calm and submissive energy.

In order for a dog to be truly fulfilled, their physical needs must be met through exercise, their mental needs must be met through discipline, and their emotional needs through affection at the appropriate time.

The order here is very important – exercise first, discipline second, and affection third. If you give affection first, the dog becomes overly emotional, possibly insecure, dependent or even hyper.

Wear the dog out first through exercise, and then teach discipline because the dog will be more willing to listen and respect you once they have exerted their energy through their exercise.

As I mentioned, the affection can be a reward for successfully demonstrating the disciplined behavior they learned.


4 Focus on a Desired Outcome

A mistake people often make when they are working with dogs is that they are focused on the behavior they are trying to correct and what they don’t want. They will be teaching a dog how to lay down but in their mind the are picturing the dog standing up, not listening to them and continuing to defy them.

Dogs communicate through energy and will pick up on how you are feeling, which, in this case, is the dog is not listening. The dog gets confused and responds to your energy and what you are picturing in your mind, the image of what you don’t want.

Always be conscious of what you are thinking and how you are feeling. Dogs will see right through you and if you are not clear about what energy you are projecting, you may not get the desired outcome you set out to achieve with the dog.

Using the example of teaching a dog to lay down, imagine the dog laying down.

Connect with the feeling of how good it feels to see the dog listening to you and laying down.

Feel the possibilities and the potential of the dog understanding you and succeeding.

As you step into your role as a true pack leader who your dogs listen to and respect, check in with yourself and make sure your energy is not stuck in insecurity and the idea that the dogs might not listen or respect you.


Instead, really picture yourself as the pack leader and feel it. Connect with the feeling of how strong and confident you feel and how happy the dogs will be knowing that you will lead the way for them and create harmony in their lives.

Remember to be patient, sometimes it takes time for dogs to learn something. But when you remain patient and your energy is calm, the dog will respond a lot quicker.

I have learned from experience handling dogs where I thought my energy was congruent with what I was asking from the dog. But then the dog was acting out and not listening to me.

I would question myself, like why is this not working? But then I took a deep breath and stepped out of myself to look at the situation objectively.

I realized my energy was caught up in the fact that this was not working, rather then the energy of it working and the perception of the dog listening to me.

As soon as I shifted my vision toward the outcome I desired, and really connected to the feeling of what I wanted to experience with the dog, that’s when I created what I wanted to happen.

Energy and mindset are everything, and its really simple to create what you desire with your dog when you visualize it and connect with the feeling. Try it out!


5 Claim Your Space

I touched upon this point a bit when discussing rules, boundaries and limitations but claiming space deserves more discussion.

As a pack leader, you have the power and ability to decide where to draw the energetic line for the dog when it comes to personal space and really in any situation where you feel you need to draw a line in the sand, so to speak.

For example, when you are entering your house and your dog comes running up to you, you can claim your space by stopping them from jumping on you.

An effective way to stop them is by standing tall, shoulders back, and imagine your aura or your personal energy extending out from you…almost pushing them away with an energy of “back off.”

I away include a snap of the fingers and a “tschhhh!” sound, which is what I use to correct my dogs.

You can even take your hand and draw an imaginary line in front of you, as if you are saying do not cross! Dogs read the energy and if draw a line like this, the dog will feel it and respect it.

I sometimes will extend my arms wide, almost like a soccer goalie while my chest is sticking out and my shoulders back, like I am claiming my space and energetically pushing the dog away.

You decide when the dog can cross that line. When the dog has calmed down, that’s when you give them attention. If you give them attention when they are crossing that line and are all over you, they won’t learn to


respect the boundaries.

This exercise works well when a dog is getting out of a car and you don’t want the dog to quickly jump out.

Stand tall, snap your fingers, make the “tschhhh!” sound if needed, and hold your palm up at them with the energy of “wait.” I don’t even have to say “wait” because my energy is expressing it.

You can even draw that imaginary line with your hand that you don’t want them to cross at the door of the car. When the dog is calm, you reward them by allowing them to step out of the car.

You can perform this exercise at any doorway or threshold you don’t want them to cross until you give them the command to do so.

Practice this within your home going from room to room or in and out of the house. The more you practice this, the more the dog will respect boundaries and space.

One last example is on the couch. If you allow your dog on the couch, try sitting down on the couch and when you dog comes over to jump up with you, stop them with the commands I shared.

Have the dog sit and wait. Again, you can draw an imaginary line in front of you and radiate energy that this is your space and they must respect it.

Once the dog is calm and you feel ready to release them, then invite them up with you.

Claiming your space builds respect, and respect creates a balanced, well-behaved dog.


6 Timing is Everything

The timing of when you give a correction or a reward is very critical. If you come home and your dog destroyed something or went to the bathroom in the house, its too late to correct them.

You have to correct them at the exact moment they are acting out. Otherwise the dog will be confused since the live in the moment and are not attached to what they did even a few minutes ago.

It is also very important to pay attention to your dog’s body language and energy.

If you are walking down the street and you notice that your dog is switching into prey mode based on their ears, tail and the direction they are looking, that’s when its time to correct them and snap them out of it. I would snap my fingers and make the “tschhh!” sound, maybe a slight leash correction as well.

You want to stay ahead of the adverse behavior and pay close attention. If you catch the dog in the moment of acting out, that’s when to correct.

But again, if its already happened, there is no point in getting angry, screaming and yelling. The dog will just feel your anger and will associate it with whatever is happening in that current moment. They may misinterpret your anger and think you are mad at them for playing with their toy or some other behavior that is acceptable….and then they are really confused.

With rewarding, timing is also important. You want to make sure you are giving a reward, whether it’s a treat or affection, right after they have pleased you or succeeded at something.


If you pet a dog when the dog is barking or is nervous, you are reinforcing that behavior and telling the dog you support that behavior. This will lead to more nervousness or barking because you rewarded then with comfort when they felt that way.

If your dog is barking at the door, correct them and send them to a designated spot where they must stay calm. Their reward is when you release them from the spot, or you walking away from them, but only when they are calm.

Walking away as a form of release works really well. If you were to say, “good boy!” or even give a treat, the dog may continue to bark at the door because he will assume that will lead to you correcting him and then a praise and a treat.

If you were to correct the dog for barking at the door a few minutes after it happened, its pointless, the dog won’t get it.

The more you are in tune with your dog and ready to reward or correct at the exact moment something happens, the more balanced and respectful your dog will be.

Your dog will learn fast when you are consistent with your actions and commands, and when you understand the fact that timing is everything.


7 Master the Walk

The time spent with your dog while on a walk is one of the most fulfilling rewards a dog will experience. A dog wants nothing more than time spent with their owner.

Dogs love the exercise, to smell and experience their surroundings, and to go on an adventure with their human companion, even if it’s just around the neighborhood.

Walking your dog also gives you the opportunity to instill rules, boundaries and limitations. This activity also teaches your dog to respect you and love you at a deeper level because you are showing them the way and giving direction.

In order to master the walk, you must be confident and take the lead. The dog does not lead you or tell you where to go, you are the one giving directions.

Make sure your dog is walking next to you, not in front of you. This is something so simple that people often forget.

When a dog is in front of you, they assume the role of leader, and can often feel large and in charge.

They will start hunting or surveying the surroundings to make sure you are both safe, ready to jump or lunge because they assume its their role as leader to take control.

When the dog is next to you while walking, they understand that you are the leader and you will let them know if anything is of concern, not the other way around.


If a dog feels its their job to locate problems, you may have a very misbehaved or aggressive dog on your hands.

As you hold the leash, make sure you are holding it gently. If you are gripping it hard or have it wrapped around your arm tightly, the dog feels that as tense energy. The leash is an energetic mainline right to their nervous system. The dog will feel your energy through the leash.

I once was handed an insecure dog on a leash and I thought, oh this will be fine, I am so mellow and sensitive, this dog will be fine in my hands.

As soon as I took the leash the dog started to pull away from me, all freaked out, nervous, and scared. I immediately started to pull on the leash and was like, what’s going on! I’m calm! I’m calm!

Well….dogs don’t lie and they read our energy, I was not calm and the dog’s reaction proved it. I stopped, took a deep breath and checked in with myself. I realized I was not calm and assertive, I was quiet and tense. I had a lot on my mind and was very preoccupied. I was not present with this dog in the moment and I was not meeting the dog’s energy level. My energy was way too strong for this dog and he immediately tried to take off.

Once I relaxed and softened my approach by gently holding the leash rather than gripping it, the dog calmed down and walked with me.

As you can see, leash handling is everything. Hold the leash gently and don’t give too much slack. Slip leads are very efficient. You can position the collar part of it just under the jaw line and the top of the leash is at the top of the neck, similar to what you see in dog shows.

Make sure your arm is relaxed as well as your whole body. Shake off any tense energy before the walk and take some deep breaths.


What is most important is remaining calm and assertive. If anything is startling, stay calm. If you get excited the dog will get excited. Be decisive about where you are walking and lead the way.

Your dog may want to stop and sniff or mark every few feet. Allow the dog to do its business but discourage all of the stops. Keep it moving forward, you are the one who decides when to stop. This reminds the dog you give the direction and you are the leader.

Be mindful of your surroundings and be present in the moment. If your mind is wandering off thinking about other things, you may not notice someone walking their dog across the street whose dog is out of control and reactive.

If you see someone coming with a dog that seems out of control, maintain calm and continue to lead your dog so your dog doesn’t mirror the other dog. If you are calm, your dog will mirror you.

If your dog starts to respond to another dog while out walking or anything else triggering your dog, again that’s where timing is everything and why its important to be aware of your surrounds and present in the moment. You can give your dog a quick correction before their reaction escalates.

If something is stirring your dog up while on a walk, such as a dog barking at a fence, don’t flee the scene. People will often run because they don’t want to deal with their dog acting out, but this does not correct the behavior.

Instead, stop your dog in front of the fence with the barking dog. Have your dog sit and stay calm.

You can redirect your dog’s attention to you, sometimes treats help but only give the dog a treat when he is calm. If you give the treat while his energy level is high and tense, you are rewarding that behavior.


Hold the dog in place, sitting and calm, until the other dog calms down or until your dog’s energy has decreased to an acceptable level. Then continue the walk.

This exercise works. It may take a few times, but the best thing you can do to help a dog get over reacting to something on a walk is by exposing the dog to whatever it is over and over.

The dog will learn that there is no reason to get excited and that you are the leader who shows them that its okay to be calm and they don’t need to react on your behalf.

When you master the walks with your dog with good leash etiquette, calm and assertive energy, and being present in the moment, you will strengthen your bond and teach your dog how to be a well-balanced and behaved canine rock star!


Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed these 7 effective steps to become a pack leader. When you follow these steps, you will shift your energy and, in turn, create balance and harmony for your dog.

Remember that every dog is different and patience and practice are required when you are working with dogs. When you hold a vision of what you desire and focus on what you do want to happen rather than what you don’t want, you will succeed.

When you embody your role as the pack leader with your dogs, you are showing them that you have their back, they are safe, and it builds their confidence, respect and happiness.

Keep it simple, be consistent, confident and decisive, be aware of your energy, and live in the moment. You are a pack leader! Stand tall and show your dogs the way toward balance and harmony!

If you would like some guidance and direction on how to become the best pack leader, I will show you how to live and lead with you best instincts.

I am available via phone or Skype, or in person in the Los Angeles area. Let’s connect and I will show you how to get from where you currently are to where you want to be!

Warm Regards,

Michael R. Burke

http://michaelrburke.com/behavior-consulting/

7steps to effective - michael r....

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