All dogs need leadership, obedience, and socialization, and behavior modification to create a strong relationship between you and your dog.
For as long as I\’ve worked with dogs I\’ve been of the belief that dogs, especially family dogs, make terrible leaders. They\’re not suited to it and it\’s not what they want to do…they\’d rather just have fun. This imbalance in the human-dog relationship creates problems both at home and in public. In fact, most of the issues I\’ve seen over the last 20 years seem to be a result of the humans being unwilling to step up and act as a leader, set boundaries to create some structure for their dog, and sometimes just simply saying \”No.\”
I found early on that balance can be achieved, or well within reach, once the dog understands they no longer need to be in charge, they can relax, and when they do so many of their issues fade. And it\’s not only beneficial for dogs that are struggling.
For pups that are already happy-go-lucky, they have an advantage.
But it\’s not just about saying no, desired behaviors must also be learned. Clear consistent communication is the key. Likewise, having a bunch of tools in the toolbox and knowing how to use them properly is as important.