Comments on: Do You Want to Be a Strong Pack Leader? Dance With Your Dog.

By: Kimberly, The Fur Mom

Kimberly, The Fur Mom — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 23:29:33 +0000

Well said/written! As I was reading this, I was thinking of a man that I used to see at the dog park who rolled his dog to “teach him who’s boss” and I stood there disgusted with him as his dog cried. He told me that he has to teach his dog who’s boss; I told him that I wanted my dogs to follow my lead, because we’re family, not because they’re terrified of me.

I never spoke to that man again. I’m getting angry by the memory and it was over a year ago.

By: Pam

Pam — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 15:33:25 +0000

You always have such a unique perspective on our relationships with our dogs, and I love your insights.
Great leadership comes in many forms, and comparing one of those forms to being a dance partner is brilliant.
The stronger your bond with your pets, the easier it is to encourage the behavior that you want (or don’t want) from them. To me, a well-trained dog is one that’s happy to be doing whatever s/he is doing… not just following orders.

By: That Dog Dancing Guy

That Dog Dancing Guy — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:32:47 +0000

I love dancing with my dog 😉

By: Pamela

Pamela — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:19:22 +0000

In reply to Ariella.

Everyone’s a critic. Apparently, even Bailey. 🙂

Leadership shouldn’t mean brute force. Dancing is the analogy I enjoy but we also have examples from ship captains, scout leaders, teachers. Leadership shouldn’t have anything to do with snarling teeth and violence.

Maybe I’ll write a post about our walkie games. But if you’re looking for ideas, I strongly recommend Victoria Schade’s Bonding With Your Dog. I just realized I need to add this book to my favorite books page. Anyway, it’s terrific.

By: Ariella

Ariella — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:00:16 +0000

I try to dance with Bailey. She isn’t impressed with my hot moves.

This is a wonderful analogy and makes so much sense. I have trouble thinking of myself using the term “leader.” Maybe because I’m not much of a leader by nature. This is a much more comfortable way to think about it.

I would love to hear about some of the games you play while walking.

By: Greyhounds CAN Sit

Greyhounds CAN Sit — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 10:53:29 +0000

This might be who the man in the hotel lobby was referring to Pamela? This video always makes me laugh and makes me cry at the same time 🙂 http://fragg.me/video/dancing-dog

Dancing partners is a wonderful analogy. I doubt Frankie, Beryl and I will ever be completely in synch, lol. I like to think of us as a team though with me being the team leader … or senior partner. Beryl is 2IC of course 😉

By: Human Rescues Dog

Human Rescues Dog — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 08:50:13 +0000

GREAt post and I really like the idea of ‘dancing’ with your dog rather than ‘dominating’. 🙂

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 04:02:51 +0000

Dancing is a neat analogy!

I don’t know how I would analogize Elka and my relationship. I’m not her “pack leader”, and we don’t really “dance” either necessarily (okay, we do sometimes. And I sing to her sometimes too, which she reacts to in varying ways. Not sure of her favorite songs yet)

By: Rhythm

Rhythm — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 03:44:36 +0000

I really like that idea! Excellent!

By: houndstooth

houndstooth — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 00:50:48 +0000

I’m not certain what analogy I’d use for my relationships with my dogs, and honestly, each of them is different. With Bunny, I feel there’s a partnership and a sharing of who takes the lead in certain situations. With Morgan, I feel a struggle. She often views me as something to be protected, but not always respected. With Kuster, he has a very strong partnership with my husband and I have a role in that, because I help with his training a lot, but he really needs to see my husband as his leader to do his job. I’m sort of the chick he hangs out on the couch with on his day off!