How do you greet your dog after a long day at work?Do you immediately pet them or lavish
affection on them because you missed them so much or feel guilty for being
away?
In the wolf pack the alpha and more dominant wolves will
often leave the pack to go on a hunt.The younger dogs, pups and babysitters wait behind.When the hunters return there is a
whole lot of excitement and attempts to lick the muzzle of the dominant
dogs.The alpha wolves will
deal with the commotion by completely ignoring the excited pack members.He will lift his head away and refuse
eye contact.
What is taking place is an important ritual that occurs
during many everyday occurrences including hunting, eating and when a potential
threat is perceived.What is
taking place is each wolf is re-establishing themselves within the hierarchy of
the pack.Since dogs and wolves
live completely in the moment each activity raises the question, who is in
charge now?
If we relate our pet dog’s behavior to their relatives the
wolves we see the same sort of behavior when we return home from an
absence.The way you greet your
dog when you return home makes a statement about who is in charge of your pack
right now.Each time you go in and
immediately acknowledge your dog by talking to him or even just making eye
contact you have communicated to them your status as pack follower.
Professional dog trainer, Megan Brooks believes that it is
best to completely ignore your dog each time you come home for a period no
shorter than five minutes.After 5
minutes, if your dog is calm and not actively trying to seek your attention you
may call them to you and reward them with affection.What this communicates is your high status as leader, which
she believes is necessary in having a well-behaved and well-balanced dog.
