Don't Be The Boss...Be The Pack Leader!!

When we switched philosophies to being the Pack Leader, not the "Boss", the changes in my pack are truly inspiring - they are with me...they will follow me and they are not all obedience trained! Here are some of my "key differences" between boss and leader:

To be a boss is "human hierarchy" - Bosses make demands, issue orders and expect staff to do exactly as they are instructed - between humans we can have this structure as we understand the rules, but for a dog "a boss" is not a leader, rather they are someone who gives commands and believes that a dog should obey the boss's demands always BUT

• Sometimes dogs refuse to obey the boss..."oh how I remember this one!!"
  
• Dogs have various ranks, while they may not be the boss as you the human are, a high ranked dog can still be the leader of the pack and that can over-rule a boss..."Eddie was the leader of the pack here!"
  
• Middle ranked dogs can feel insecure in such a structure as bosses have various ranks below them, like middle management, with middle ranked dogs = fighting between dogs over status/rank. While lower ranked dogs can feel insecure - Dogs can feel over-powered by a boss and behave fearfully or overly-submissive even using learned helplessness. "3 male Terriers would competitively fight...and fight!"
• Dogs cannot be bribed or negotiated with - a tactic used by some bosses. "Often Max would refuse a piece of food if there was something else he was focused on!"
• A dog does not follow a boss, they may do as they are told but this is not the same as following naturally out of respect, more likely through training obedience or for a "pay rise" which means a dog will only do something for a treat!! Or they do as told out of fear of consequences such as "being ignored" or "time-out" - human psychology dogs do not understand. "I put Alfie outside once as a consequence for not recalling - he just curled up on the bench and went to sleep quite content!"

Being a Pack Leader is dog, not human, psychology = successful communication between species. A Pack Leader is a rank and status a dog respects, the consistent structure and pack dynamics are those a dog understands - so we have follower dogs who respect us and want to please their leader - they want to work for their leader and place in the pack! Dogs do not follow unstable leaders - they only follow calm assertive leaders, to rant at a dog, use angry/frustrated energy or use physical force then these are actions of a boss or a weak leader which dogs do not respect and will not follow unless made to = back to being more of a boss again!

• Pack Leaders claim the alpha, highest rank/status, we have equal ranked follower dogs - we do not acknowledge any dog ranks in our packs = no fights!!
  
• Pack Leaders use calm assertive energy not physical dominance or aggression, "dominant type" dogs become follower dogs no longer acting-out dominance over the pack.
  
• We don't need commands, energy alone can have our dogs following our lead. Our dogs behave with calm submission with "no touch no talk no eye contact".
  
• We can give out verbal "commands" or physical signals (body language) - once we have taught them we can use them to direct and redirect our dogs, not to boss them around!
  
• Our dogs follow us out of respect - we do not bribe them or ask them to do things, the power of positive projection "energy" is a language our dogs understand.
  
• We communicate with clear and consistent rules, boundaries and limits - Discipline.
  
• We understand the need for "exercise first", we don't shower our dogs with affection first, our dogs earn their affection = natural dog pack psychology and behaviour.


• Human Leader with Follower Dog creates a bond of trust, fulfills our dogs need for the natural structure they understand and need.

I believe we should all be our dogs pack leaders, benevolent leaders not the boss!

Peace returns to our lives, chaos gone - balance achieved between people and dogs Cesar's Way! As I said at the start - "inspirational" this is also a great word to describe Cesar Millan - the original, genuine Pack Leader! Make being the "boss" old school, "Be The Pack Leader" - use energy not so many human words ...get in tune with your instincts, avoid humanising dogs and too much human analysis to solve dog behaviour problems over-complicates - So keep it simple, work with nature not against it and live in the now - dogs do!

Stay Calm Assertive - Stay balanced

Pack Leading = Contented Canine Companions!