Things You'll Need
- Collar
- Leash
- Food
Instructions
If a young puppy has just become part of the family, use leadership exercises. If the puppy is small, pick it up so it is looking at you. Stare at it in the eyes, growl if it struggles and release it when it relaxes. If the puppy is too large to hold, straddle it so that it is facing away from you. Pick up the dog's front legs or push down on its belly and hold the position until it relaxes.
Use a lot of physical contact. When the dog does something right, praise it with a brief yet firm pat on the head or a hug. The physical contact and head touch are ways to communicate that you are taking the alpha role. When a dog does something wrong, correct it by tugging lightly on the leash, shaking its collar, or giving it a gentle "bite" with your hand. Do not harm the dog, or it will learn to fear you instead of respect you.
Teach the dog to ask for permission before it does anything. Use corrective leash action and teach it the command "stay" so it will learn to look to you before going outside, leaving your side or jumping out of a car. Release the dog with a command such as "OK" or "alright" when it is right to do so. This will teach the dog to follow your commands rather than its own.
Give the dog obedience lessons when you first acquire it, and continue to give it reminder training sessions throughout its life. If a dog is wayward, go back to the simplest of instructions and begin again. Use only commands you can enforce, such as "sit" and "down" until the dog is obedient enough to obey commands you have less control over, such as "come" and "quiet." Teach the dog that growling is forbidden, or the behavior may escalate into nipping.
Maintain eye contact with the dog when giving it obedience lessons and touching it. This will remind the dog that you are the alpha and it is in the submissive role. If the dog stares back, continue to stare without blinking until it submits and looks away.