THINGS TO DO TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND WITH YOUR DOG
Eat your meal before you feed your dog (feed no more than twice daily).
Provide a sleeping place for your dog—not your bed.
Make your dog move out of the way when anyone wants to walk where the dog is.
People go first through the door or gate—then the dog.
Make your dog obey a command before you pet.
Practice a "settle" (puppy) or "long down" (adult) at least 3-5 times a week.
Give a command only once and then enforce it.
Give only commands that you know you can enforce.
Play with your dog only those games that you know you can win.
FOR DOGS WITH SERIOUS CONTROL PROBLEMS
Remove all toys; the dog gets to play with one only when you play, and you keep it.
Ignore the dog for 15 minutes first thing in the morning and when you come home.
Dog sleeps only in a crate, which is far from your bedroom.
Dog may never enter any bedroom.
Practice a 30-minute "settle" or "long down" every day.
Ignore any attempts by the dog to get attention, play, food, etc.;
You should initiate any activity with the dog.
These rules may seem to you to be hard on your dog. They are not. They are based on the normal rules of dog-dom. If you, not your dog, are to be in charge of your home, deciding, for example, when to bite a stranger, then you need to follow these rules. If you do, your dog will understand, instinctively, that you are the pack leader, and will look to you for guidance.
Copyright 1998 by Barbara McClatchey; may be copied and distributed, provided copyright line is retained.
