Since dogs were historically part of a pack, and this instinct still exists in even the most domesticated pooch today, here are a few ways to manage that dog pack mentality to elicit the pet behavior you want.
Dog Pack Mentality: What is It?
When you bring a new dog into your home, you and anyone else living in the home immediately will become the dog's new pack. Dog pack mentality is an instinct that all dogs have which tells them that someone must be the leader, and all others submissive. If you don't assert yourself as the leader immediately in your home, your beloved pooch will happily take the job for herself.
Dog pack mentality also means that every member of the pack has a job to do and should be praised when that job is complete. While your dog's "job" in the family might be nothing more than to obey you and behave in the ways you've trained her, it's still considered a job and she should be praised and rewarded for doing it well.
Dogs appreciate a strong leader, and one who is fair and consistent at all times. They don't understand gray-area thinking, and can't recognize subtle differences. Everything is black and white to a dog, and because she thinks that way, you should treat her accordingly.
When Dog Pack Mentality Goes Wrong
Have you ever taken your dog out in public and then lost control of her? This often happens when your pooch gets around other dogs. Even though you are the leader of her pack, these other dogs also have elements of leadership and she will respond to that.
When dogs form a pack, even in the park on a Sunday afternoon, they can quickly begin to act differently than they do when they're alone with you. Behaviors like aggression toward other people and other dogs can spring up and cause a lot of problems.
So what's the best way to keep your dog from running of with another pack? Simply to be a strong leader yourself. Your dog must know, without question, that you are in control and make decisions for her. If she trusts your leadership, she will hear your voice rather than revert to a dog pack mentality the next time the situation presents itself.
