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What you can learn from dogs in nature

Posted Sun, Mar 09, 2008, 9:57 pm PDT
We can learn a lot about our canine companions by looking at how dogs behave in the wild. 

In Nature: Newborn puppies aren't given names. The closest thing to a personality in the canine world is a dog's status within the pack. Since there can only be so many pack leaders, most dogs are born submissive. This creates a balance in the pack. 

At Home: Establish yourself as the pack leader. Dogs look to their pack leader for guidance and don't question the leader's position unless he or she shows fear, uncertainty or weakness. Set clear expectations for your dog and consistently enforce them.

In Nature: When a puppy is born, the first pack leader it experiences is its mother. From day one, canine moms teach rules, boundaries, and limitations. 

At Home: So when you bring home a puppy -- or a full-grown dog -- you should do the same-right from the start. Use the same calm-assertive energy a canine mother would use to communicate; save the affection for times when your puppy is calm and relaxed.

In Nature: After puppies are born, first the nose works, then the eyes, and finally the ears. As they grow older, dogs still experience the world in this order: nose, eyes, and then ears. 

At Home: Remember, dogs get to know you by scent. When you meet a dog, let him sniff you before attempting any other interaction: no touch, no talk, no eye contact! Ask your houseguests to let your dog sniff them before they greet her enthusiastically with voice and petting.

In Nature: Dogs experience the world by walking. They have to earn food and water by migrating in search of it. 

At Home: You can recreate this experience at home by taking your dog on a walk before providing food and water in the morning. It gives your dog three things vital to her happiness: 1) a chance to bond with you, the pack leader, 2) much-needed primal exercise, and 3) a "migration ritual" that offers a sense of purpose.

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7 Comments

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  • 1. shelaplg - 8:49AM on 03/10/08

    Thank You,for pointing this out!Something I have been doing with my Blue heelers,for years.They get all the"nose time"needed.Then family can stop by without trouble.Thank You,sheila

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  • 2. Mary - 11:11AM on 03/10/08

    If I am absent for any length of time, my dog takes an item of clothing of mine either my robe off the hook or laundry out of the hamper and takes it to his bed and sleeps on it. Is this something with the scent of the pack leader that is comforting?

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  • 3. CJ Anderson - 11:44AM on 03/10/08

    Oh Mary, lol yes, if you think of how dogs like to sleep together - you may have heard the expression puppy pile! There is such a difference now since I use the dont touch dont talk - even when I first come home. Just as importantly, it give my energy time to settle down as well. The other item is that when one stands to the side, it reduces the temptation to ook at the dog! I just got a recue back because the new owner would not do these basic things, and then didnt like the no problem dog becoming a problem dog in her house. Then when we brought some new prospective owners over to her house, trying to save this dog a 90 mile unnecessary trip to Phoenix, again, by not walking with the dog first before trying to connect, the dog was over reactive and hyper - and so is still on the adoption list! Well at least some of us are using this information to save dogs lives, transforming them back into good dogs and then finding more and more people wo will follow the simplist of Cesar's waysto keep them as good dogs! !

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  • 4. somewhereovertherainbow - 3:55PM on 03/11/08

    If you pick up a pup where there are still litter mates around wear an old T-shirt and make it a point to play and carry the litter mates getting their scent on on it. Then at home put it in the crate. This will really help in two ways it keeps your scent with the pup and the pup still feels its sleeping with it litter mates. This I think helps with the shock of the new environment.

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  • 5. weston.sara - 5:39PM on 03/11/08

    I have a Black German Sheperd she is 7 months old tomorrow i use that we have a big yard so she goes out and runs and plays then get food

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  • 6. Marcia - 2:05AM on 03/12/08

    We have had many German Shepherds over the years and I have found that they are very easy to train if you are consistent with walks, food, and expectations. All they want to do is make you happy! My old dog is now 14 years old and she still has to sleep with something that smells like me when I am at work.

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  • 7. Mona & Jeff K - 1:25PM on 03/12/08

    We are home to a mid-size pack (7) of various dogs; Dacshunds, Rottwielers, Labradors, and Mastives who have generally been very well behaved. Since becoming a regular watcher of 'The Dog Whisperer' we have been able to iron out all of the smaller kinks in our pack, such as houseguests and the excitability of the dogs in general. Cesar has never steered us wrong and i would just like to thank him for all his guidance. Wish there was a Cesar in every town!

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