And here’s how to let your Australian Labradoodle know it.
Whe you come home, does your dog jump all over you? Deoes he- not you- lead the way when you go for a walk together? Does he bark to make you feed him? Does he nudge you out of a deep sleep to take him out for his first walk of the day?
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, I have one more for you: Who do you think is in charge in your house?
There was a time when we thought that dogs- indeed, all animals- existed only to do our bidding. We were wrong, of course, but now the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. Many of us feel uncomfortable asserting any authority whatsoever over our dogs. And if we let that feeling guide us, we’re opening the door to trouble- in the form of an unfulfilled, annoying, and, perhaps, even aggressive, dog.
Australian Labradoodles, like all social animals, need structure in their lives. Democracy isn’t their thing at all; what they require in order to feel a sense of direction and stability is a figure I’ve always described as a pack leader. That doesn’t mean one who’s “putting the dog in his place,” or oppressing him in some way. When I talk about a pack leader, I’m simply talking about an authority figure that the dog understand has established the basic rules he, the dog, needs to live by.
In an Australian Labradoodle’s world, you can either be a leader or a follower. There is no third choice. And your Australian Labradoodle won’t take it as a horrible insult if you assert yourself as a leader. In fact, he’ll probably be quite relieved that you are in charge. After all, he’s trying to find his way around in the world- of highways, buildings, elevators, sidewalks, cars- that is nothing like the natural world he is hard-wired to survive in. It is your world, in other words, and you know your way around. He will feel safe in the knowledge that his leader is taking responsibility for him.
So how do you get that point across?
Take Charge
It all starts with energy. Energy is the way animals communicate, since they can not use words. The energy another dog projects, for instance, allows your Australian Labradoodle to determine whether a potential confrontation is afoot, and if so, whether he should fight, run away, or submit.
So obviously it is even more important that the energy you communicate be the right kind. You should never come across as aggressive, agitated or angry- just quietly in control. The goal here is simply to emanate a calm-assertive energy, which in turn sends your dog the clear signal that you are the leader.
It is helpful to remember that unlike people, dogs do not dwell on the past or obsess about the future, Instead, they live solely in the moment at hand and respond directly to their immediate environment. If you project panic, nervousness, or tension, your dog will pick right up on it and follow your example.
Of course, mastering that “calm-assertive” frame of mind is the real trick, and it is not easy. It does not have to do with the dog- it has to do with you and how you come across. I often recommend that people use the techniques that actors use to prepare for a role. Imagine yourself as someone or some movie character who you see as epitomizing leadership. And think how it would feel to be that person, to project that same level of cool-headed, unruffled authority. Read a book on Method acting techniques, or write down positive affirmations or quotes about leadership and post them near where you keep the leash. What else? Prayer, yoga, meditation, tai-chi, and martial arts training will also help you access that centered, in-the-moment part of yourself- the part that your dog will recognize and respond to.
If you are still not sure what I mean by calm assertive energy, take a look at Coach Dungy (former Colts coach) in action. He never loses his temper, but always stands his ground. And as easy as it is to recognize calm-assertive energy in people, it is no harder to recognize the calm-submissive energy it will generate in your dog: His ears will be held back, his posture will be relaxed, and he will display an almost instinctual willingness to go along with his pack leader’s wishes.
Walk The Walk
Because walking is the primal canine activity, taking your Australian Labradoodle or Labradoodles on regular walks is the single best way to put your pack leading skills to work. Your Australian Labradoodle’s wolf ancestors migrated with a pack- and that is what he wants to do, too. Do not just take him out for a quick pee; give him a good, long walk that will tire him out. A dog backpack- comprising 10 to 20 percent of the dog’s weight- will help achieve that goal. Once his physical energy is depleted, he will be more ready to do what you want him to. Allowing him to wander aimlessly in a big backyard is no substitute for brisk walk with you. On your walk together, he can explore his world- and learn quickly that you are his pack leader.
You are the leader, your Australian Labradoodle is the follower. Walk briskly with your dog either behind you or at your side. If he is ahead of you- and especially if he is pulling on the leash- then it is likely you are not the leader of this pack.
Danger can rear its head on a walk when your dog runs into another dog, and they decide to mix it up. In my experience that almost always happens when both dogs are out in front of their owners. The equation is simple: Two dominant dogs= one nasty street fight. If your dog is in the proper calm-submissive state, he will not look to challenge every other dog he runs into. And if both dogs are properly calm-submissive, you can actually stop and chat with the other dog’s owner, if you are so inclined which is a lot more fun than trying to break up a sidewalk dogfight.
It all comes down to discipline, really- and your feeling about it. People say, “Oh, my baby is only two months old! How can I make rules for him?
Well, his mother started making rules the moment he was born. And she was not being cruel; it is just that she was the first pack leader in your Australian Labradoodle’s life. When he was old enough, she took him on walks, and she set boundaries for him. And- and this is an example you should follow. as a pack leader- she made him wait for his food rather than feeding him on his schedule. In nature, that is what all animals have to do. Food does not show up at regularly scheduled times; it must be hunted for. Dogs no longer have to hunt for dinner, but it is important that they work for it. That is why it is a good idea to take your Australian Labradoodle on that nice long walk before he eats. That way, when it is time to dine, he has earned it.
Remember, in nature, dogs correct each other all the time- especially pack leaders. But they do not do it out of anger or frustration, and neither should you.
Hug It Out
If you have read books or watched dog trainers on TV you will notice it is only after exercise and discipline that they begin to discuss affection. It is the thing you give after you have exercised your dog and done your daily part to establish boundaries and rules. In nature, animals are seldom rewarded, if at all. Pack leaders do not turn around and say, “Thanks for following me, guys!” And, the dogs that work with the blind or other handicapped people do not get rewarded every 10 minutes, either; they are rewarded after- and only after- they finish a task.
Exercise and discipline are both for the good of your Australian Labradoodle; they fulfill him in his role as a member of the pack, This is the stuff he is hard wired for, and it is the stuff that makes him happiest. Affection, however, is something we do for ourselves- it however, is something we do for ourselves- it fulfills us. Dogs express affection to each other as well but ironically, if we put our own fulfillment first, and allow affection to take precedence over discipline, we run the risk of being seen by our dogs as followers, rather than leaders.
Remember, your Australian Labradoodle is an animal, not a human. And he is a pack animal, so he needs a leader to be fulfilled and happy. If you do not provide that leadership, you are back answering yes to all those questions we asked at the beginning.