Dogs are pack animals, they need to have an established Pack Leader. By being an assertive leader role to your puppy from day one you will ensure a healthy relationship with your dog. There are many dogs out there with behavior problems that affect the relationship that many have with their dogs. Many people will too often get tired or angered by their dogs behavior and "opt out" of the relationship. The responsibility of bringing a dog into your family should never be taken lightly. Anyone who is thinking about bringing a dog into their home should always think very responsibly about the leader they are/can be and apply that to a dog that will suit that aspect of your personality. Too often people will bring a dog home purely on how the dog looks or experiences they have had with other people's dogs. With every breed brings a different level of intensity and leadership needed to maintain a well balanced dog.
You hear many horror stories in the news of "good dogs" gone "bad". You may even know a few dogs that are misbehaved, over excited and out of control. To achieve a well balanced and respectful dog you must be the leader in the relationship. If you do not portray that, it will be easy for your dog to quickly become "out of control." Right from day one you need to let your puppy know who is the boss. You must be consistent and always remember, even though they are cute as a button they are a dog. You must remember to treat them as such. This does not go to say that they are not a part of the family, because they are. However, dogs do the best when they are given boundaries and limitations. My Great Dane does very well at home with me. But when I take him to my Mom's house (She has His Mom, Asia and raised Hugo until he was 3 months) He quickly turns into a slightly different dog. My Mom does not give any boundaries, He is aloud on the furniture (not at home here though), treats when ever He pleases, and just in general acts like an idiotic child. At 140 pounds, (to me) its unacceptable. He will listen to what ever I tell Him, but ignores any corrections from my Mom. She watches Him on a semi-regular basis and He always acts up when I go to pick Him up, but remembers quick who is boss when I get there. And becomes my well behaved Hugo once more.
Many people will get a breed they know little about. Some will choose that breed because they saw it on TV, thinks its a really cute dog, or has known someone with that dog and has had great experiences with that dog. Most people do not realize the work that goes into maintaining a well behaved well rounded dog. Too many people will not research the breed itself before making the decision. For some, being a leader comes easily. For others, they are more of the "nurturing, nondisciplinary" type of leader. There is a breed for each type. But when someone who is very "soft," getting a "stronger willed" dog can prove disastrous. In those cases, many animals are put down or re-homed. Re-homing (in my opinion) is one of the worst types of stress you can put on an animal. Getting the breed that suits your personality is the first step to success in finding a truly enjoyable and meaningful relationship with your dog.
Some dogs will develop behavior problems when they feel that their owner is not the pack leader. Aggression problems and nervous tendencies and can prove very dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced/submissive owner. Most dogs who feel that their owner are not the "protector/leader" will take it upon themselves to fill that role. They will become very protective of you and aggressive to other people or animals. Once your dog has established that leader role, it can be very difficult to revert that role back to the owner. Letting your dog know that you are in charge and will protect THEM will allow them to submit to you fully as their leader. They look to their pack leader in every situation they encounter. They pick up on your anxiety levels and will react on them. If you truly do not feel in control, your dog will pick up on that and in a moment take charge themselves. Most times people will get a small dog and catch themselves in a false feeling that they are fragile little creatures that should not be disciplined. Those are the "yippy" little dogs we all know at least one. Even those dogs need structure and an assertive leader.
Consider the characteristics of the breed you want. Some breeds being more intense and strong-willed then others will need an experienced assertive leader to achieve balance. In any case, every dog big or small needs a respectable leader figure to become a well rounded well behaved member of the family.
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