Building Better Relationships by Curtiss Lanham, CPDT-KA
Welcome Home…now Follow the Leader!
So…you plan for a new puppy or dog. How fabulous…CONGRATULATIONS!!
Invest time in going to the local shelter or meeting with a rescue group or maybe even select your pup from a litter at a reputable breeder (investigate thoroughly). Some of you may have even been adopted by a local stray. By whatever way your pup comes to be part of your family, she must now learn how to be an integral member of your household and a confident follower of the household members. Your household members in turn must now learn the dog’s personality traits and how to be the benevolent leader that your new pup needs you all to be.
Love really isn’t ALL you need
Love for dogs brings us to our furry friends. Love leads us to that one kennel of many at the shelter with THE pup that pulled at our heart strings; to that picture on the web of a rescued dog who longs for her forever home with you; or to that one little soulful face in a litter of pups that cried out for you to take him home. What more do we need? Isn’t love all we need (so say the young men from Liverpool)?
Love is the foundation of our relationships with dogs. Our love for them should compel us to become the benevolent leaders that provide for all of our dog’s needs: regular, healthy food and fresh, clean water; a warm and dry place of their own to sleep; suitable and safe toys to play with; grooming needs cared for; regular medical checkups, vaccinations and dental care. Our love for our dogs should also compel us to ensure that the proper boundaries, structure/routine and limitations are set out for our dogs so that our dogs can gain confidence in their place in the family. Our love for our dogs should compel us to spend quality time with them each day in training, walking and play.
Yes, love is a requirement. It is the foundation for our relationships with our dogs. But we must be involved with our dogs daily. We must provide the leadership that they long for and the care for all their physical needs and they in turn will develop in to confident followers.
Lead them in the way that they should go
Dogs NEED a leader. If they don’t have one, then they will try to fill the role. But, just like us humans, not all dogs have the credentials to be the leader. If a dog that is not qualified for the job is forced to take on the position, difficulty is sure to follow. Anxiety builds, fears set in and uncertainty prevails in the mind of the dog. Our job is to communicate to our dogs in every way they can understand that they don’t have to worry about the leadership role…they don’t have to be anxious about the stability of the family…because we have taken care of that for them…WE are their leaders and are well qualified! All they have to do is focus on us and we will take them where they need to go in life…
Next Month: Building Better Relationships Part 2 of 3: The Honeymoon is Over
Curtiss Lanham, BS, CPDT-KA is a nationally certified professional dog trainer who specializes in life skills training and behavior modification. He and his wife Melba own dogsmart, a Fulshear-based company that provides dog training and behavior counseling in the homes of dog owner families in Katy, Ft Bend and surround areas. Please visit them at their website: www.WeAreDogsmart.com or contact them at cmlanham@WeAreDogsmart.com
