All Things Dog Blog

Dog Training vs. Leadership: A Fine Line?

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 09:01 PM PDT

Guest Post by Michael Baugh

I was looking at my dog, Stella, this morning and wondering to myself, does she really want me to be her leader? It was obvious by the look on her face that she was definitely interested in my poached egg. She was sitting obediently across the room, wagging fiercely and staring adoringly. Egg? Absolutely. Leader? I don't know.

A lot of trainers, even some respected reward-based trainers, are still big on the idea of establishing yourself as a pack leader and garnering your dog's respect. You have to admit, that's a pretty heavy burden for a lot of people. The evidence is in on social hierarchy in dogs. They don't form packs with alphas like wild wolves. Add to that, I'm not a dog. And anyway, where am I leading her to?

Here's the real deal. I have a well developed cerebral cortex (if I do say so myself). I have a car, and credit cards, and a groovy smart phone. I can also, on a whim, buy eggs and poach them for breakfast. I'm a human being with opposable thumbs. By definition I am the dominant species in the room. So what's up with this leadership stuff and all the hang ups about respect? I already feel pretty good about myself, and Stella's a cool dog. I'm okay with both.

I do worry some about the other dogs and their people. Folks who bully themselves into leadership roles and demand respect often get nasty (think middle management). The dogs suffer, and honestly I think the people do too. Training is never about who is in charge. It's about how you and your dog are communicating. Is your dog getting what she wants from you? Are you getting what you want from your dog?

I love it when Stella looks at me like that. She loves this little morning routine. I dip a tiny piece of crust in the egg yolk and toss it her way. It's training blasphemy to feed from the table and that makes me love it even more. She and I have been at this for 18 months now and I'm hoping for about 15 more years of it. We're learning to understand each other. I've got all her stuff, the car, the smart phone and the thumbs. She's got all the tricks, the impeccable manners, the face of an angel. We trade freely. The more I get what I want, the more she gets what she wants. That's training. I'm not much worried about who's leading whom. I doubt she is either.

Perhaps one night I will find her at my laptop with a headset and a microphone on, like those dogs in the movies trying to take over the world. I guess then I'll really have egg on my face, won't I?

Michael Baugh CPDT-KA, CDBC is a science-driven, reward-based, dog trainer in Houston, TX. He's the director of training and behavior at Rover Oaks Pet Resort.

A NOTE FROM CARRIE: Just for fun, folks, we're trying out a few new blog hops to see who's out there looking for information on how to make life with dogs a little easier. Today we'll check in with Mommying on the Fly to find out if there are moms out there that need help with their furry kids. Welcome to our new visitors, and be sure to leave a comment.