What "anger" really means to a dog..........

I recently read a quote “He who angers you, conquers you”, this is so very true when dealing with a dogs “naughty” behaviour!

Our anger decides who we are, in terms of “energy” for the dog that means “weak and negative” - not the makings of a good leader in their view! If we decide to feel instead how we want to feel - “calm, firm and confident”, this gives us respect from the dog and immediately reinstates us as Pack Leader.

It also gets results, lets look at this example of Max, the Dobey, out on a walk (mainly run in his case) along the beach:

Attempt 1: Max is charging off into the distance, I have noticed some people wandering along with children and a lively dog. I recall Max he “sort of” comes - he dawdles about, then runs towards me and straight past me! Of course he knows what “Come” means but has chosen to ignore it in favour of running along the beach! "A frequent experience I hear some of you say"! I am getting frustrated, I call again adding the words “bad Max“, he comes closer and goes into a routine of spinning, play bowing, dancing around - anything but come close and sit. Thus I’m getting more angry by the second and shout at him, this neurotic routine escalates. During this time I have no real control over him and he knows it, the feeling disturbs him hence this neurotic behaviour. I try ignoring him, no use he gets even more confused, I walk off - no use “stropping off” he doesn’t get this human emotion and continues his dancing around!

So what have I done wrong? Primarily, being angry! Max is clearly telling me he is in charge at that moment and although he doesn’t know what to do he uses a multitude of learned behaviours and becomes a neurotic dog. I am not acting like a leader and I have used his name to tell him off. This is a sure way to confuse a dog as I have learnt! Names should only be used to grab attention and particularly not in conjunction with corrections!

Attempt 2: Thankfully, dogs always prefer to return to a balanced state, instead of getting frustrated, moving towards angry, I calm myself down and picture what I want from him. I use his name to get his attention then only use commands, with positive reinforcements such as “good boy” as he’s coming towards me. A correction such as a firm “No” if he veers off. Avoiding eye contact as this can be connected with a “challenge” to him, until he is next to me in a sit then I reward him.

The first attempt took 20 minutes before I had him back under control, the latter only a minute or 2.

So that’s that then, clearly presented to me by Max, if I’m angry he wins, if I’m calm assertive I win! A Pack Leader always wins
So by communicating "in dog" that I am his leader and using consistency in commanding him I avoid creating a neurotic dog, and having a large neurotic dog is not a good feeling for me or Max!
Remember you can start “again” at any time, reclaim leadership and the dog will change their behaviour! This I call "the promise of a new dog"!