Train a Puppy – Understanding Pack Mentality
The first step to train a puppy is to understand the "pack" mentality of dogs, and in particular your young pup. Once you’re familiar with how dogs think, when you train a puppy your life will be a lot easier.
To bring up and look after a puppy well, it is necessary to know as much as possible about its needs, motives, and body language as this will help you a lot when training your puppy. This knowledge can be applied to the mutual benefit of both you and your dog – especially when you start to train a puppy.
The dog’s behavior can easily be compared to that of the wolf. Wolves live in packs. Because of their numbers and perfect teamwork, they can get the better of prey which is much larger and stronger than themselves, and can confront their most dangerous opponents. Here I’m going to talk about how you can use this knowledge to your advantage when you start to train a puppy (or any age dog for that matter).
This way of life requires great social bonding in the pack. It also depends on just one wolf leading the group. At the head of every pack of wolves is the alpha-wolf. This is usually a male. The second in rank is the beta-wolf. The lowest in rank is the omega-wolf.
Rank and class
The alpha-wolf is the leader of the pack. This is the most intelligent, the strongest, and also the most dominant wolf. The alpha has privileges which no other wolf has. For example, the alpha is the first to eat and is allowed to lie, sit, and walk just as it sees fit. The others stand aside for it. It may also correct (bite) a subordinate that takes liberties.
Body language
Because wolves really need each other, they prefer not to fight among themselves. Only if the leader is an incompetent pack leader, or a disturbed wolf whose deviant behavior causes problems, does it come to a scrap. This only happens, however, when the continued existence of the pack is in danger. In all other cases, wolves usually display body language to make things clear to each other. Thus a more senior wolf will show its rank during a confrontation with a pack member who is lower in rank by carrying its tail high, ears pricked, and head as high as possible. It literally shows its higher rank.
So, by recognizing the body language and reactions a puppy gives off, it helps you understand he is thinking – you can then use this information to tailor your training and your own body language when you train a puppy.
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