Five Pack Leadership Techniques

A woman gives her pup some love after a walk.
Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 1: Project Calm, Assertive Energy

‘To dogs,’ says Cesar, ‘energy is everything.’ Because dogs communicate with energy, our personal energy plays a central role in our relationship with them. Dogs are our mirrors, reflecting back in their behavior the energy we express. If we are hyperactive and over-excited, our dogs will be the same; if we are tense and angry, our dogs will be anxious. Dogs Want Stable Energy Unlike humans, dogs will not follow unstable energy. They instinctually seek and follow pack leaders who exhibit calm and assertive energy. When dogs live with a human who does not fill this role, they will attempt

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A man gives affection to his dog after a walk.
Dog Psychology

Pack Leadership Technique 2: Provide Exercise, Discipline, Affection

A balanced dog is one that is fulfilled in all three aspects of its being: body, mind, and heart. In nature, dogs instinctively find that balance. When dogs live in the human world, however, it’s up to us to ensure that they get that balance. Humans and dogs both have instinctual, intellectual and emotional dimensions. We humans live in a world where intellect and emotions are primary, while our instinctual side is less important. For dogs, it’s the other way around. They live in an instinctual world where their intellect and emotions are secondary. When we relate to our dogs

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Cesar Millan with a german shepherd
Cesar Millan

Leadership

Humans like to think that they’re not pack animals, but we are, and for proof of that we only need to look at the nearest gas station. Prices dropped to their lowest levels in years because the king of Saudi Arabia announced that he wasn’t going to reduce production. Then, the king died and, although his successor said nothing about reducing production, prices shot back up because of uncertainty. People do not like uncertainty. It makes them anxious, maybe even fearful. In humans, uncertainty can be caused by a lack of leadership, but we’re not the only ones affected that

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A dog walker sets out with many dogs for a walk
All About Dogs

Cesar’s Advice For Walking A Pack Of Dogs

Dear Cesar, I have four dogs that I’d love to take for dog walks altogether. The problem is that the minute the dogs see the dog leashes they get so over-excited, they run around and bark. It takes me forever to catch the dogs to get the dog leashes on. My lab weighs 100 pounds or 45 kilos and once I am able to catch him he pulls me and steps on my other two dogs, a JRT’s and a rat terrier-Chihuahua mix. Please help me walk my pack of four dogs. Theresa Vinciguerra Vinopal Cesar’s Advice on How to

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family photo Cesar's Way
Be the Pack Leader

A Family Affair

In quite a lot of cases where I’m called in to help a family with their dog’s misbehavior, I quickly find out that the dog is not the problem. In fact, some people have told me that I turned out to be more of a marriage counselor than a dog behaviorist. Humans are Pack Animals, Too AsI often say, humans like to think that we’re not pack animals, but we are. And we need to remember that, when we bring dogs into the household, we are not creating two separate packs. Every member of that household, human or dog, is

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dog goes for a walk with backpack on for exercise
Dog Care

Give Your Dog A Job With A Backpack

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler The walk is the foundation of a good relationship with your dog, so when humans struggle with it, those problems aren’t just confined to time on the leash, but also carry over into all aspect of their dog’s behavior. So what’s a dog lover to do? For many, the solution is a backpack. It’s one of the simplest and most powerful tools that an owner can put into practice. Here are a few of the benefits of adding it to your dog’s walk. Perks of Adding a BackPack It Gives Your Dog a Job Your dog wants

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dog in calm submissive state
Be the Pack Leader

You Are The Reward

One of the things people often ask me is, “What’s the best training method for my dog?” It can be a confusing subject, because there are two approaches to training, and various techniques. Training comes down to either “do” or “don’t” — encourage a positive behavior or discourage a negative one. This can be based on rewards, like a treat, or ending a bad thing, like stopping in your tracks when the dog pulls and not moving until she relaxes. Techniques are not important. I do use positive reinforcement when I work with dogs, but not in the way that

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corgi-on.-a-walk-with-loving-owner
Dog Training

Training The Human For The Walk

I believe that the walk is the most important daily feature of our relationship with our dogs. It is not just about the physical exercise. It is also the best way to affirm your place as Pack Leader. Done right, it’s the perfect time to let go and really connect with your dog. It might seem like the most natural thing in the world to go walk with your dog — but it is surprising how many humans mess it up. And the reason is a very simple human problem: We think too much! Be In The moment When you

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All About Dogs

How To Fit The Dog Walk Into Your Daily Schedule

Walking your dogs is important for a variety of reasons: It provides them with much-needed exercise that keeps them healthy and relieves excess energy so they don’t cause problems around the house. It stimulates their brain because there are so many new smells, sights, and sounds to experience. It gives you a fantastic opportunity to train your dog and make sure that they recognize you as the Pack Leader. And, of course, it allows them to go to the bathroom. Despite all of these benefits, many people only walk their dogs intermittently — or not at all — because they

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brown pitbull with blue collar Cesar's Way
All About Dogs

The Secret To A Perfect Walk

Regular daily walks are a crucial part of keeping your dog calm and balanced, so what do you do when you can’t keep your dog under control on the walk? Try Cesar’s new Pack Leader Collar! When used correctly, it can be an effective tool for restoring peace for both of you. The Problem With Other Collars If you watch a sled dog pulling a load, you’ll notice that their harness fits around the base of the neck and shoulder girdle. Why? Because those are the strongest muscles in the dog’s neck; it’s where all her pulling strength is concentrated.

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