Pack leader?

Elbe · #1 21-07-11, 08:41 PM

Sorry to ask what is probably a silly question to all the experienced dog owners out there but......in relation to our puppy GSD......
Is there ONE pack leader? ie: myself or my partner?
OR....are both us and our children pack leaders (eventually! hee hee) to Elbe?

Will 'Elbe' choose the pack leader by who she thinks is the strongest? (as both myself and my partner act in the same manner to her)

Can that not be all of us? If not, how will she treat the rest of the family if only ONE is the pack leader?

Am writing this with some lovely new fluffy slippers laid across my feet!!!! :-)

jesterjenn · #2 21-07-11, 08:50 PM

I've found with GSDs they generally attach themselves to one person.

Both of my two are "my" dogs, but I believe this is because I train and walk them and are with them more than my husband, but I still expect them to listen to my hubby and if they don't, I reinforce his command. I will expect them to obey our son when he's older too (he's only 9.5 months)

Caryll · #3 21-07-11, 08:53 PM

I don't subscribe to the whole 'pack leader' thing.

Although my dog knows that his human family are 'boss' (all of them!), he also knows (I think) that we are not dogs & so can't be pack leaders.

He obeys me most, then my oh, then my daughter & last my son. That's in direct relation to who lets him get away with things!

Stuart · #4 21-07-11, 08:55 PM

There is no such thing as a pack leader, not even in the wild,..and I think that great pains should be given to make sure that it doesnt come about in your own home.

Sure they may well be a member of your family that Elba will lean towards, it may be the person who feeds her, or the person who walks her,..or the one with the most authoritive voice,... thats ok, it would be hard if not impossible to avoid that.

.... but if you do your best to share what you have, take turns feeding, walking together may be, and learning to teach/check Elba with the same strength, then I think it far better to have a dog that is more on equal terms with us than not

I like to think that I am not so much a `leader` but more of a guide,..I do consider my dogs as my friends and as [ almost] equal members of the family

zetstaff · #5 21-07-11, 08:59 PM

Mine obey me + sometimes hubby

Always me

Sometimes hubby

Never anyone else

(well maybe occasionally

)

Elbe · #6 21-07-11, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caryll

I don't subscribe to the whole 'pack leader' thing.

Although my dog knows that his human family are 'boss' (all of them!), he also knows (I think) that we are not dogs & so can't be pack leaders.

He obeys me most, then my oh, then my daughter & last my son. That's in direct relation to who lets him get away with things!

So he doesn't always do as the other members of your family tell him? I cannot afford for that to happen. She HAS to obey all of us as we have a 10 and 6 year old. Does that make sense? In a year she will be able to take out my youngest son if she wanted to (maybe in 6 months even!) and that just cannot happen. xx

zetstaff · #7 21-07-11, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elbe

So he doesn't always do as the other members of your family tell him? I cannot afford for that to happen. She HAS to obey all of us as we have a 10 and 6 year old. Does that make sense? In a year she will be able to take out my youngest son if she wanted to (maybe in 6 months even!) and that just cannot happen. xx

So you have to make her obey all of you not just one of you, no good having one pack leader if that leader isn't there all the time

She has to learn that all of you rank above her + she's at the bottom of the pile of beings, so she does as everyone says xxx

Bonniesmummy · #8 21-07-11, 09:06 PM

Just because your dog takes to one person more than the rest of the family does not mean that she won't listen to the others. Bonnie listens to me (majority of the time) more than anyone, then my oldest son, then my OH then my youngest son... in that order and it's simply becase of the order of amount of time spent with her/doing things for her/training her.
Your dog may well take to one person more than the rest of the family but if you ALL train her in the same way and walk/feed her equaly the you shouldnt have a problem

Stuart · #9 21-07-11, 09:07 PM

In 6 months time Elba is going to be a lot bigger and stronger, so I think in order to fulfill your wish to have your youngest son take Elba out, you are going to have to teach your son as much as your dog.

Its not an easy question for me to give good advice as our kids left home a hundred years ago,... but I think you will have to do as I suggested earlier, take turns doing everything, dont let Elba feel that your children are too far below her to be of no authority

Elbe · #10 21-07-11, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesterjenn

I've found with GSDs they generally attach themselves to one person.

Both of my two are "my" dogs, but I believe this is because I train and walk them and are with them more than my husband, but I still expect them to listen to my hubby and if they don't, I reinforce his command. I will expect them to obey our son when he's older too (he's only 9.5 months)

Thank you. I am hoping that as we are all training her (in the same way...our children are being trained too!) that she will take us all seriously and not see anyone as weaker than the others. By all means i'm sure she will see one as 'the boss of the bosses' and as my partner is away a lot with work, that may well end up being me, but I hope she see's us all as 'being in charge'. (In a loving way......similar to having children really!!!!!) :-)