Are You the One Person Your Dog Won't Behave For?

"I never thought I would see the day that my Italian Greyhound would sit on command or do anything on command, for that matter. He's just too... free spirited and a little high strung, too. When I remarried and my husband started working with him, I actually laughed out loud and wished him luck. A short time later, my Iggy is sitting for treats as if he's been doing it all his life. I'm shocked. I just didn't think he had it in him." The dog didn't change; what happened was simply a matter of the new hubby knowing how to train a puppy.

Does the above scenario sound familiar? No matter how hard you try, you just don't seem to know how to train your puppy to do what you want him to do, when you want him to do it. You're nice to him, you give him treats, you plead with him, to no avail. Then someone else comes along and suddenly your dog is responsive to that person and unrecognizable to you. He sits, he shakes, he obeys! What gives? Well, it's not the old bag-of-bacon-in-the-pocket trick that Jack Nicholson used in the movie "As Good As It Gets." That only works in movies, though it makes a great punchline... but it's not an effective training technique. And speaking of dogs in movies, if your life is feeling more like Marley and Me than Lassie, there is a simple solution, whether there are two problems or more like 25 problems. Knowing how to train a puppy is simply knowing how to be a pack leader. Repeat that a few times, if need be, because it's all the solution you will ever need.

There are many dynamics that shape a dog's behavior and personality, but knowing how to train a puppy or adult dog by appealing to his pack mentality is really the key to success. Granted, all dogs have different personalities, breed tendencies, issues, even neuroses, but the foundation for success is always the same: effective pack leadership. When you understand pack leadership, you will instinctively know how to train a puppy.

The essence of pack leadership is this: You assume the role of top dog, so to speak, and your dog finds security as a result of your leadership, and from there, everything else falls into place. Though you may have to do a bit of strategic tweaking in areas of your puppy's training from time to time, understanding pack leadership will mean that you know what needs to be done and how to go about it. When you consult with a dog behaviorist to teach you how to train a puppy as a pack leader, you learn ways to communicate with your dog that he understands and desires to obey. It's in his nature to be part of a pack; generally, though, it's not in your nature unless you've received some training.

Although you can read plenty of articles and books on the matter of pack leadership, it's important to spend time with a puppy trainer who can point out ways in which your body language or vocal inflection may be giving your dogs mixed signals, even though you fully understand the concept of pack leadership in your mind. When you learn the finer points of how to train a puppy through effective pack leadership, you'll find that a blissful and harmonious existence awaits both you and your pack.

Bark Busters trainers, who have trained more than 500,000 dogs worldwide, are renowned authorities in correcting dog behavior and teaching you how to train a puppy with all-natural, dog-friendly methods. Bark Busters training is the only service of its kind that offers guaranteed lifetime support. With hundreds of offices in 40 states and 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to enhance the human-canine relationship and reduce the possibility of maltreatment and abandonment. Bark Busters dog behavioral training services are known as the "Best of the Best" in their category. No other training company or dog trainer has received such a distinction. For more details, call 1-877-500-BARK or visithttp://www.BarkBusters.com.