Dogs descended from wolves, and consequently, they naturally act like pack animals. That means that they instinctively seek out nearby packs and join up. It explains why dogs can quickly get along easily with other animals, specifically other herd or pack animals like sheep, horses, and cows. There are even plenty of cases of dogs and elephants becoming the best of friends.
The Key Behind the Human-Dog Relationship
That pack mentality is one of the main reasons why dogs bond very well with their human owners. As humans, we are social creatures, which the dogs can instinctively sense and thereby look to enter our pack. In this case, humans are the leaders of the pack and the dogs are under their guidance.
Positions in a Dog Park
In all dog packs, there are a few primary positions; including the front, the middle and the rear. The leaders at the front are responsible for leading the pack to look for things they need for their survival, including food, shelter, and water. These leaders both protect and direct the others. Meanwhile, the dogs found in the rear part of the pack are highly sensitive, and their duty is alerting others to any danger.
Meanwhile, the middle part of the pack is reserved for happy mediators. Their responsibility is maintaining stable energy throughout the pack and settling down any front or rear pack mates that are starting to exhibit unstable energy. It is easy to spot these dogs in your dog pack as they are the ones that will rush and break up fights when some dogs start fighting or playing too roughly.
Humans Must be The Pack Leaders
Not all dogs are pack leaders. Many dog packs will usually have a couple of leaders, with all the remaining dogs being followers. That is the perfect model to follow when you bring any dog into your human pack. It is highly recommended that humans act as the pack leaders and the dogs should follow your every word.
When a dog doesn’t have balanced and robust pack leadership at home from its owners, it quickly becomes unbalanced. That negative state will usually result in anxiety, aggression, confusion and other behavioral issues in your dog. The only way that your dog will be less anxious, secure and balanced is when he or she knows what their owners want and always receives consistent and clear directions every time.
Conclusion
When you bring a dog into your life, you are committing to fulfilling all their needs. Hence, being a confident pack leader will help to meet your dog’s essential instinctive and psychological requirements.
References: ANCAREREYNS, Ceasars Way
