Dog Pack Behavior
Even though your fluffy Pomeranian is the sweetest thing on four legs, she is still descended from wolves and wild dogs of long ago, who roamed the wilderness in snarling packs. And even though she stands on her hind legs for treats and wears pink ribbons in her fur, she still carries within her the call of the wild.
Pack behavior was the number one survival tool for dogs in the wild. There was safety in numbers, and any pup that got separated usually didn't last very long. Although your Pom is not a wild dog, she still considers your home and family members as her surrogate pack, and will act according to her ingrained instincts whether you like it or not.
There are a couple things to know about Dog Pack Behavior:
- Every pack needs a strong leader. When your dog becomes part of your family, you should assert yourself immediately as her new pack leader. This means that you control her actions and her destiny. You make the decisions for her, and your word is law. As the pack leader, you should be consistent and fair. If you don't step up as the leader from the beginning, your dog will fill the role for you, and this doesn't make for very happy households.
- Coup attempts should be squelched immediately. Even when you assert your position as the leader of the pack, every once in a while your pooch may bid for dominance. She'll test you to see if you'll let her get away with it. But don't let her. Don't abide growling, resistance, aggression, disobedience or willful behavior in any form. Always be the boss, and let her know you know it.
Dogs Are Not Furry Humans
Dogs don't have emotions like humans. While most experts don't argue that dogs have feelings, it's hard to know exactly what they feel or think. One thing that is commonly accepted, however, is that dogs don't have the capacity to see correlations beyond immediate cause and effect. They are very literal and black-and-white in their processes. And when exposed to a group of like animals, Dog Pack Behavior can easily escalate into inappropriate or even dangerous behavior. Be careful to monitor your dog closely when playing with other dogs, and be ready to step in and reassert yourself as the pack leader.
Understanding your dog's pack behavior and motivations will go a long way in helping you forge a trusting and mutually enjoyable relationship with your canine companion.
