The best way to provide leadership for your dog, is through the NILIF or Nothing in Life is Free Program. Many people mistake leadership to mean physical dominance, but the most effective way to achieve leadership is through the control of resources (NILIF). The NILIF or Nothing in Life is Free program simply means that you do not give your dog any resources, including food, freedom, and affection, until he does something for you first. This could be as simple as asking for a "down" before feeding, or asking for a "sit" before letting your dog out in the backyard. By controlling resources, you teach your dog that the best way to get what he wants is to do what you want first.
It is important to provide rules and boundaries for our dogs. This will give them a sense of security, reduce their stress level, and provide a safe environment, where they can be happy. Contrary to what we see in the movies, dogs do not come with an understanding of our rules, nor are they born with an understanding of English, or any other human language. Dogs communicate in their own way through scent, sound, and visual cues. Before we can expect dogs to follow our rules, we must teach them what those rules are, in a language that they can understand. When your dog does something appropriate, mark that behavior (Yes) and reward him for it, for example, with food, affection, toys, or freedom. When your dog does something inappropriate, non-mark that behavior (No), and redirect him to something appropriate. It is important that you are consistent, and accurate with your communication, and with your rules, so that your dog does not get confused as to what is desired and what is not.
Recognize that your dog's world does not always revolve around you. Dogs have their own needs, and their own favorite activities. They like to jump, chew, bite, run around, and hunt for insects. We must teach them that certain activities, such as biting people, are unacceptable, but at the same time we must provide them with alternative activities that they will also enjoy. Channel your dog's energy into positive activities rather than just suppressing unwanted behaviors with punishment.
Aversive or punishment techniques attempt to stop undesirable dog behaviors through suppression. When a dog does something unwanted, he gets a collar correction. Or if a dog refuses to stop barking, he gets pinned on the floor and growled at. Through physical domination, you can force a dog into suppressing particular behaviors. The NILIF or Nothing in Life is Free program, on the other hand, lets your dog make the choice between his current activity and his most desired resources. For example, to earn freedom in the backyard, he has to agree not to dig in the backyard. If he decides to dig, then his backyard freedoms get revoked. Getting something, means giving something in return. Before you give your dog any food, make him do obedience commands. If he does not want to do the commands, then he does not get the food. By making your dog work for his resources, he learns that you are the leader because you control all that he desires. He learns that the fastest way to get what he wants is to follow your lead. The other side effect of using the NILIF program, is that you are putting your dog to work. Rather than just lying around idle, and constantly suppressing his urges, he now has activities to do that will earn him rewards. There is no fear, violence, or physical domination involved. In this environment, it is much easier to establish a relationship with your dog that is based on trust and respect.
This 30 year study on dog packs, conducted in Yale and U.C. Berkeley shows that the majority of alpha dogs lead without any physical domination. Instead, true alpha dogs achieve leadership through the control of resources. Only lower ranking dogs, who are less secure in their positions, use physical dominance. When we use physical dominance, or punishment techniques, including alpha rolls and collar corrections, we are, in effect, lowering our own rank in our dogs' eyes.
Note that in the NILIF program you only give your dog resources when he is showing good and appropriate behaviors. It is important not to inadvertently give your dog rewards, such as your attention and affection, when he is misbehaving. A common mistake is to comfort (i.e. give affection to) your dog when he is afraid or showing fear aggression. The owner's intention is to help the dog, but from the dog's point of view, he is being rewarded for his fearful behavior, so he will keep repeating that fearful behavior to continue getting your attention and affection.
By being careful and consistent about when you reward your dog, you teach him which behaviors get him good results (food, attention, freedom) and which behaviors get him bad results (no food, no attention, no freedom). Through this process, your dog will naturally repeat behaviors that gets him what he wants, and stop behaviors that causes him to lose what he desires most. By following the NILIF program, you establish a relationship that is based on trust and respect, rather than one that is based on punishment and fear.
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