They do not sweat and whine about their condition,

They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,

They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God

Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania

of owning things,

Not one kneels to another nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago.

A dog does not have human values, needs, or wants. Such a misconception can develop into a conflict between a dog and his owner. Sometimes a dog’s natural traits or tendencies do not fit in with the owner’s expectations, and the human relationship becomes incompatible.

Since a dog is an animal, he has a different set of rules and conduct from that of humans. Dogs belong to a hierarchical society, not a democratic one. In a dog pack, an alpha dog is the leader of subordinates in the pack. The alpha is respected and initiates all interactions — including who eats first in the ranks of subordinates.

If your dog seems out of control, not listening to your commands, or simply demanding your attention, it may not be disobedience, but a normal and natural frustration of some kind. Perhaps the dog has learned that, in your democratic household, there is not a leader in the human “pack.” Out of control behavior may mean, he is definitely running for a higher office in the home, and an assertive and determined dog can disrupt a household ad destroy any dog-owner relationship.

How does this happen?

Puppies learn their established social order at an early age in the world of dogs, just as wolf pups learn in a wolf pack. Within a pack of puppies, they are under the control of an alpha dog (mother), a lead dog, and life in a  dog pack is orderly and predictable. the puppy is secure in knowing its position in life.

When a pup is adopted into a home among humans, he looks for a leader. If he learns that he is free to know as he pleases, he campaigns for leadership for himself. He is small, cute, and loveable, so he is pampered, picked up, loved. He sits in his owner’s lap, sleeps on the sofa or in bed with the owner at night. allowing the pup to do as he pleases teaches the dog he is the leader.

Since the dog’s genetic makeup cannot change, it is the dog owner who must assume the leadership expected by the pup as the dominate figure, the boss. Dogs respond to simple commands (such as “no,” “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “come”), given in a low, firm voice, without harsh words, without confusing wordy sentences.

Firmness, patience, and consistency are the keys in gaining the respect, loyalty, and devotion of a dog who feels secure because he clearly understands the behavior expected of him.