New Dog - An existing pack member rehabilitated!

I have been reading a little more of Cesar's new book, A Member of the Family by Cesar Millan. So I will be talking about some of the ways I adopt what he says into life with my pack as I go through this book - join me?! BUT I am not going to give too much away, it's all in the book!!

In the beginning Cesar talks about getting a new dog and introducing this dog to the family - other humans, dogs, cats and so on - the pack! But I am not getting a new dog, well not just yet anyway, so how does this apply to me? Let me tell you as indeed it still does!

When I rehabilitate problem behaviour in any one of my dogs, I start over again and the best place to do that is from the beginning - as if this were indeed a new dog, afterall once rehabilitated it is just like having a new dog who has learned new discipline - rules, boundaries and limits!

So you see Cesar's early chapters do apply here, we go back to basics, teach my dogs the new rules of behaviour, we have zero tolerance for in-pack aggression or dominance posturing, we begin again to teach the walk, the rules of the home, socialisation, that all dogs here are my equal follower and the list goes on. So I "begin again" and it works!

Even the chapters about how to select the right dog for you can still help us with our current dogs - at least we can learn how we may not be fulfilling the breed we have and how to change this while keeping our dog of course! Or that, for example, a high-energy dog is not a perfect fit with a more "laid-back" lifestyle - BUT - when anyone owns such a dog in such an environment, one can accept to do things different another time, look in the mirror to see what one can indeed do now and improve life for all - make changes in the now to accommodate and fulfill the dog you do have already - this is your responsibility - not to give up on a dog...any dog! Here is a brief look at how this applied to me and the pack:

As I read these points Cesar makes I thought of my pack - "oops" some of my dogs would not be a "best fit" in terms of their energy needs matching my natural energy drive! - So I did have to change and become more of a walker, more of a cyclist, and ...well OK not more of a jogger ...running is just not my thing!! Though I am sure my pack would love an early morning run on the beach...this is not for me! So I take some instead, the higher energy dogs, to play ball on the beach first before the walks begin for the day - that way they run .. I throw the ball!! Though I add if any of you have read the quote "You threw it go fetch it yourself"? I think Peter looks at me like this sometimes!! (Just a little humanizing between us humans here for fun!!)

So if you are experiencing problem behaviour then I would get this book and let it guide you to counter-condition your dogs current behaviour into the dog behaviour you do want - a "new" your dog!

Peterpan is such an example here, we have spent months re-conditioning Peter on how to behave within the pack, home and outside. Of course it is much harder work to teach him change than to teach new, but with consistency, time and above all Cesar's Way he is beginning to act like a completely different dog, but still he is Peterpan, my beloved dog!

Stay Calm Assertive, Be The Pack Leader and fulfill your dogs - my pack are contentedly resting now all tired out from the day...me I am exhausted, high energy dogs I have but I think I need some energy food...drinks...tablets myself! Though I add that when off-lead as a pack they do exercise eachother...and "chasing sea birds" is one great way to "high energy exercise" my Doberman Max, he still just doesn't "get it" - they fly away you cannot fly to catch them Max!