Don't Get Walked By Your Dog

We've all seen it & giggled. Someone getting dragged along behind their dog and you can't help but make the smug comment - "Who's walking who?". It can be an uphill battle if your dog was born with leader instincts or is an Alpha dog as we like to call it. But even an alpha dog can become a follower, given the right direction and guidance.
It's easy to see who the Pack Leader is - the one walking out front. This is best observed during off-leash walking but can also be seen on a regular leash (not a retractable leash). So if your dog drags you down the street and insists on sniffing everything in sight, then he is the pack leader and you need to correct this. As mean as you may feel, your dog should not be allowed to sniff everything he wants until you allow him. He should never drag you down the street - despite what you think, your dog is not just over-excited about the walk. He is exercising his authority over you & this relationship will never work. Not only are you showing everyone in your neighbourhood and at the dog park that you have no control over your dog should he decide to snap at something, but these people may develop a fear of your dog which will come through as negative energy. Your dog will sense this right away & could react aggresively towards it. Remember, dogs sense negative energy and interpret it as a threat or a weakness. They do not nurture weakness as we humans do. Instead they will act to eliminate weaker pack members for the overall strength of the pack.