Why Your Dog Doesn't Behave - And What To Do About It

Even though dogs have been domesticated, they still have natural instincts that are just as much a part of them today as they were in the wild. Understanding those instincts and using them to your advantage is the key to training your pup and ending bad dog behavior quickly.

In the wild, dogs live in packs (groups). In every pack, there is a pack leader - a top dog. All of the other dogs in the pack naturally and instinctively respect and want to please the pack leader.

Being a pack leader doesn't require you to be cruel. In fact, it's just the opposite. Dogs are happiest when they have a pack leader to follow. To train your dog successfully, you must establish yourself as the pack leader, because if your dog perceives itself as the top dog, it will not listen to you because you're not in charge. You establish yourself as top dog in a number of ways:

1) Never eat at the same time as your dog, and never let them eat before you. You should always eat first, and your dog should never eat in the same area as you. The leader of the pack always eats first. Dogs also need their own separate eating area away from yours. Never share table food with your dog.

2) Do not let your dog sleep on your bed. Your bed should be higher than theirs.

3) Have your dog 'sit' before you give him/her food, water, treats, or anything else. This teaches them that you are the provider of their food and water, and you will feed them on your terms - not when they demand it.

4) If your dog demands affection from you (by patting you with their paw or placing their head on your lap) do not give it to them right away. This is not a sign of them loving you, this is them demanding you give them affection. You must teach your dog you will only give affection when you are ready to do so.

5) Don't allow your dog to walk through doors before you. If your dog always runs ahead of you, you'll have to stop this behavior by putting a leash on them, and using it to prevent them from going through doorways before you.

Becoming your dog's pack leader is the quickest and most effective way to solve dog problems. By following the advice in this article, you'll be able to fix your dog's bad behavior quickly.