Avon Lodge Veterinary Group

Each month we intend to put a number of popular questions to our vets relating to general pet health and care. Whilst in no way intended to replace a professional diagnosis, we hope that the information and advice provided on these pages are useful. There is also a number of excellent fact sheets created by the Blue Cross pet charity, to the right of this page.

Dog Questions:

My dog thinks it’s the boss – how can I reassert my role as “top dog” in the household?

Dogs have always been a pack animal. Within this pack there must be a leader at the top with animals lower down in the hierachary. Where there are 2 animals that perceive themselves as being equal in the pack they will fight to become the dominant dog. It is no different within our households, where the dog is a member of the family pack.

The epicentre of the pack is upstairs on your bed. If the dog is allowed there then it feels equal to you and able to challenge you to become leader. This is when dogs become dominantly aggressive. By changing a few simple rules and without any form of punishment you can reassert your dominance over your dog.

Never let your dog upstairs
Never let your dog on your bed
Never let your dog get on furniture
If you play with your dog, always do so on the floor and then at the end of the game you must win and take the toy away from the dog and sit up higher than your dog.
Do not let your dog run off with the toy otherwise he has won the game
Feed your dog after you and do not let your dog sit at or under the table whilst you are eating
Never let your dog go through a doorway before you
Only leave food down for 10 minutes twice a day – take away uneaten food until next mealtime. Do not leave food down all day otherwise your dog will use this as way to manipulate you
Ignore any unwanted behaviour and reward good behaviour
Use “time out” as a way of teaching your dog what is acceptable or not acceptable

Remember, dogs that have a leader have direction and look for appreciation. Those that are at the top of the pack have no where to go and as they cannot occupy themselves, become bored and then become restless and finally dominant.

More Questions:

Why should I vaccinate my dog?

How often should I have it vaccinated?

What diseases does the vaccination guard against?

What is a microchip and should I get one for my dog?

What are worms and how can I tell if my dog has them?

How can I tell if my dog has fleas?

If I find fleas, how can I treat them?

Are ticks a problem in South Wiltshire?

How can I stop my dog from barking at the postman?

My dog thinks it’s the boss – how can I reassert my role as “top dog” in the household?

Why do dogs pant so much?