What Does it Mean to be a Strong Pack Leader

So what does it mean to be a strong pack leader anyway? Before I owned a dog I would hear that term but had no idea what it meant. Now several dogs later I get it.
 To be a strong "pack leader" DOES NOT mean that you are forceful or angry with your animal. It means that you show that you are smarter and dominate over then dog, how do you do this you may ask? Well you start by training them and rewarding them. Let them know to come to you for food and for treats. Do not just place their food on the floor when it is time to eat, bring them over, let them see you have it "own it" run your hand throught the food (dry only :). Make them understand it is your food then give it to them. Sit or lay on the floor with your puppy and when they are relaxed and have settled from playing hold their front paw. All you have to do is just lay your hand on their front paws and if they move follow and replace your hand. Dogs do this in the wild to say....hey I own you.

 Tug of war: RESIST THE TEMPTATION! We all know how much fun it is to play tug of war with a puppy but don't do it until they are at least 6 to 7 months old. Tug of war is a game that they are using to try to dominate you! If they win they, in there mind they beat you thus they are smarter and more dominate, that is a very bad thing for puppies to learn. If you do get in the accidental tug of war and it happens make sure you stop the game right away and tell your puppy to drop it. Don't let it become a game. Most importantly....don't lose :) After 7 months when you start paying this fun and exciting game for both of you make sure YOU initiate the game and don't lose :)

 Akita training, more to come in the next blog on Akita training but I want to leave you with this today. Akita's DO NOT respond well to negative reinforcement. Do not yell at your Akita, as I said before Akita's are very smart and have one fantastic personality, but they respond like a human, if you start screaming at them ,they will shut down and stop listening...like you would if someone was screaming at you :) Oh and they will probably find a way to get even with you!