[yorkietalkjilly]

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There are no quick fixes to becoming a great pack leader, rather a process. The best way to teach your puppy you are a true pack leader - and not that of some famous TV dog trainer's idea of pack leader based on an old study of wolves living in captivity and not the wild - is by using positive reinforcement obedience training once she's a couple - three weeks older and can retain more training, teaching her how to learn to control her impulses and focus, how to work learning how to do a new command and keep it fun, fulfilling and always interesting for her.

Keep the sessions short - a couple of minutes for such a very young dog when she's been there another few weeks and has really settled in and gradually increase to 5 mins. 2-3 times a day when she's a few months old. Very short and upbeat sessions that gently praise her and give her a treat for getting it right, ignoring or saying a gentle "uh oh" if she doesn't do the command properly, will soon teach her to listen to you and further, teach her how great it is when she listens to you and does what you request. She'll learn that to get all that positive reinforcement and praise and her treat and your happy smile and pride all she has to do is do what you say and then she wins!

But the key here is what most dogowners fail at - daily repetition and gentle guidance and not giving out stern-sounding commands as if the dog is in the military. Say the command in a happy, upbeat tone of voice that invites the dog to WANT to do it, shows her it's a good thing you are asking. Most dogowners train for a month or two at best and quit and wonder why their dog is a terror and anxious and barks all day.

Exercise her once she's had her vax's and can safely go outside on walks and give her puzzles and games to figure out and play that will force her to focus and think in order to get the treat or win the game or find the hidden treat or toy and then really celebrate her win with clapping, smiling, lots of verbal praise and petting, rubbing, happy-dancing. She's grow to love challenges and pleasing you by figuring them out.

An obedience trained dog using any of the good home programs plus teaching her you will stop her misbehavior by getting up and standing over her and backing her off if she's misbehaving a bit will make you a gentle loving pack member just like that of the alpha male and female in a wolf pack or dog pack in the wild - a firm but gentle, loving teacher and not a bully.

Those true pack leaders of pack animals in the wild are teachers, using stern looks, body language, growls, showing teeth, advancing into the pack members space and backing them off and the rare, rare, rare nip or holding the neck in the teeth to discipline their pack members. A true pack leader in the wild will NEVER alpha roles another pack member - rather an underling will voluntarily roll over and show their underbelly submissively when they sense they are being disciplined and acknowledge they received the message.

A gentle, patient, loving pack leader who works daily with their dog teaching it how to obey commands and makes the process lots of fun, exercises it and gives it life-enriching games and puzzles to play will always have a happy, confident, well-behaved pet that only needs a stern look or a point of the finger to stop any rare misbehavior. A well-trained dog with a good pack leader is a lovely pet to have around. They potty train faster and surer, are calm during the bath and grooming and never trash your belongings or house.