The Dog Whisperer: 5 Ways Never to Behave Around Your Dog

Yahoo Pets ^ | Jan 23, 2008 | Cesar Millan

[yankeedame]

Cesar Millian
The Dog Whisperer

5 Ways Never to Behave Around Your Dog

Dogs need a leader. In the wild, they look to a pack leader for guidance. In your home, your dog needs that leader to be you.... What make a pack leader? Here are five steps to becoming one:

1. Never be aggressive.

...always compassionate, but quietly in control.

2. Never project weak energy.

...A dominant dog will have its head up, chest forward... you should follow suit: Stand...straight... hold your head high!

3. Never let yourself get too worked up.

... Pack members must trust their leaders, and that requires balanced energy.

4. Never pick and choose when you discipline.

...Be consistent. Inconsistent reinforcement of the rules leads to inconsistently obedient...

5. Never forget who's the pack leader.

...Being a pack leader is a big responsibility. The pack leader is in charge of the survival of all... sets all the rules, deciding when the pack eats, hunts, sleeps, migrates, and plays. Your dog expects the same from you...

[hershey]

I, too love Cesar Milan. As he said, only in America could a poor Mexican come (legally), and achieve what he has. I’m the leader of my dachshund pack, except for Hershey, the four-legged leader. At the moment Noodles, a long-haired male is arranging a stack of sweatshirts to his liking. Then he’ll stare out the window and challenge impudent squirrels, or turn around and check out what’s going on with me and the rest of the gang of four. Sophie likes to type on the computer, and Reilly, the only short haired one, is just silly. Well, they’re all silly.

The backyard pen is a hodge-podge of fencing, bricks, chickenwire, deconstructed stone wall, and heavy logs. (Anything to keep them in because they dig industriously, single-mindedly, and once out, return when they feel like it.) The last time they escaped, (last week), the two boys ran off, but the girls stayed behind to show how good they are as opposed to dumb boys. They also follow along behind me when I’m planting bulbs or plants, to dig them all up again.

[Kimmers]

Ohhhhhhh love those setters.....there is nothing prettier than an Irish Setter running with the background of the fall colors....

side bar/ My USMC son just finished primary and got helo’s.....we are all so excited

[gussiefinknottle]

your dogs are just beautiful. and so intelligent looking. they
look like they can talk.

[republicangel]

That is so true if you have an Akita. Our old girl when she was still with us, always tried to be the pack leader. From day one- we always had to show her that we were the pack leader. She was a tough cookie. Lol, but she loved us and protected us fiercely.

[vietvet67]

[Kim Priestap]

Awww. We had an Irish Setter named Kelsey. She died last year at the age of 11 1/2, the day after we brought our third child home from the hospital. It was a rough week, needless to say. I still miss her.

[codercpc]

Last Sunday we put my 13 year old baby, Ed to sleep. This has been the loneliest week of my life.

Regardless if you see yourself as the "pack leader", or just the owner of your best friend, please remember to give him or her an extra pat, or an extra hug, and realize that their lives are short. They are put on this earth to love and comfort us, so enjoy every single minute of it.

Ed's Mom (I miss you baby)!

[stylin_geek]

bookmarked

[RightWingMama]

LOL. I have four mini dachshunds, too. I pretend to be the leader and they laugh at me. I used to watch Cesar’s show, but I felt guilty because I don’t follow his rules. My human kids are grown so these guys are my babies.

[DCPatriot]

Aren’t Red Setters the dumbest dogs in the world...right before Afghans? {{{just kidding}}}

[LeGrande]

Obviously good old dog whisperer has never trained hunting dogs.

What do you mean?

[LADY J]

"LOL. I have four mini dachshunds, too. I pretend to be the leader and they laugh at me. I used to watch Cesar’s show, but I felt guilty because I don’t follow his rules. My human kids are grown so these guys are my babies."

I have two smooth mini dachshunds. One black/tan & a red. They are my sunshine.

Lovable little guys that are spoiled - but trained by NILIF - Nothing In Life Is Free!!

They obey their commands with no problems.

[mad_as_he$$]

Good huntign dogs need to think thye are in charge of something. You have to give them the ability to be free to do what they do. If you are constantly projectiong the leader of the pack they will hesitate to follow their senses. We let them be in charge when off the leash and in the field. That is not to say they ignore commands or just take off. But you have to make it ok for them to follow their instinct at times or you will be pissed at the dog and have a bad day hunting. My oldest dog is an excellent tracker. To do that she has to break the “rules” of how how most other humans think she should be doing it. I let her go free form. When on the leash or at home though I am in charge and she knows it and is ok with that. In fact it is funny becasue sometime she thinks she has higher standing than Mrs. Mad which tweaks Mrs. Mad to no end.

[aimhigh]

[mad_as_he$$]

Yikes look at the paws on that dog!!! Are you ready for it to double in size?

[VOA]

Don't trust any type of junkyard dog.

Or Dobermans. (I'm not really down on them or any other dog, but...)
In my personal experience.
A neighbor family I'd often visit had Dobermans.
The dogs (and the family!) were generally well-behaved.
One Doberman was fairly approachable and friendly.
So, one day I'm watching TV with the family, petting the Doberman
while sitting on the couch.

Suddenly, there's a small toothed vise around my "petting hand".

Didn't break the skin. It let go when a family member shouted for
the dog to release.

I don't know if the dog was just signalling me to "Stop petting me!"
or "Feed me a bacon snack!".

But it did teach me something about dogs. They, like humans
can be very unpredictable in issues of kindness, aggression,
or communication.

[Red_Devil 232]

Cashmere and Aladdin are our family. I hope they live as long as your Kelsey. It is hard to lose a family pet.

[LeGrande]

Thanks for the reply. You are right, but I never really noticed it before : )

[mad_as_he$$]

I forgot to add. Handsome dog.

[LeGrande]

I forgot to add. Handsome dog.

LOL