Why Not to Treat Your Dog like People

Many dog owners unknowingly create a behavioral problem by treating their dogs like people. This one mistake can lead to numerous behavior problems by your dog. Why does this happen? Don't dogs appreciate kindness?

This happens because people forget dogs are animals. In nature animals travel in groups to survive. This survival or group instinct is deeply impressed in the dog's psyche.

Within every group every member has a place. This keeps order and safety within the group. There is a leader and there are followers. The members of the group (followers) depend on the leader to show them the way. This group or pack mindset keeps the members of the pack comfortable and secure.

Within the pack there are rules to follow and the leader enforces the rules and limits each member is expected to follow. When a dog is introduced into a family, the family becomes the members of the dogs pack. For the dog to be comfortable and behave, the people must assume the role of pack leader.

Though most dogs are intelligent animals, dogs do not think the same way as people. Dogs do not have the same ability to plan and think ahead like people. Dogs are very much creatures who live in the present. There is a very important concept to understand. This is why correcting a dog's behavior hours after the behavior is useless. The dog simply doesn't remember why he or she is being corrected.

As people we like to be comforted when we are upset, scared or unsure. Dogs don't share that same need. In fact, when we comfort or pet our dogs when they are upset we confuse the dog. This doesn't mean a pet owner can't show their dog affection. It just means we have to choose the time to display the affection.

Dogs with their pack instinct are kept secure with consistent rules and limits. In the pack a dog would be expected to work through their fear. This way the feeling is not reinforced. When a pet owner pets the dog during a fearful episode, the dog perceives the owner as being weak. This causes intense confusion and distrust on the part of the dog.

The dog expects its owner to be the leader of the pack. The leader of the pack is supposed to be strong and set rules. When a dog owner is seen as being a weak leader this can lead to many behavior problems in the dog. This is why it is critical to teach a dog to behave and follow instructions.

In the world of the dog there are very strict rules on what a follower or pack member can do and not do. As the head of the pack you must set up rules for your dog to follow. This leads to a happy, secure dog knows what to do. This means you have a dog respecting you as the lead or alpha dog.

Too often as dog owners we want our pets to love us. Love is a human emotion not a dog emotion. When a dog respects us as the alpha or lead dog, he or she will be happy and well behaved. Our dog will enjoy our petting, and follow instructions which can keep our dog safe and well adjusted.