Introduction to Dog Behaviour (Pack Leader)

The world of dog behaviour can be said to be divided between those who are fans of Cesar Millan, and those who are not. Courses Direct offers behaviour courses for both schools of thought.  Our policy is that so long as animal welfare is at the top of the agenda, differing opinions, styles and techniques are perfectly acceptable. After all, trainers, behaviourists, owners and the dogs themselves are not all the same.

Nobody will argue with Cesar over 'Exercise' or 'Affection'. So that only leaves the 'Discipline' part of Cesar's style causing concerns.  But is this desire for a more humane approach, void of all discipline, appreciated by our dogs? Do they have a concept of humanity? Or should we be trying harder to understand and communicate with dogs using dog psychology rather than forcing our own human psychology upon them?

Who Is This Course For?

Anyone interested in dog behaviour from the pack leader viewpoint. If you work with dogs and wish to have a better understanding of how they think and how best to approach working with them from a canine rather than a human point of view, then this is the course for you.

If you would prefer to study from a more neutral standpoint please view our Introduction to Dog Behaviour course. click here

Being the pack leader is not about a bunch of rules that turn your house into a prison for your dog. It's not about ruling with an iron fist. It's about representing a certain energy which your dog instinctively respects and follows. It's about making the decisions. It's about reward AND consequence, not just reward reward reward. This is much more in line with how dogs behave naturally when you take the over emotional and humanising owner out of the equation. This applies to who can come and go near you or the house, and how we behave in the presence of other dogs or children for example. It's about the dog revolving around you, not you and your life revolving around your problem dog.

Aims:

• Examine the extent of humanisation that can exist, from mild examples of owners referring to their dogs as their children, to more extreme examples of unhealthy and selfish relationships between owner and dog.
• Learn how to master the art of being calm but assertive.
• Consider what some dogs may see as weakness, not kindness, and why they think that way.
• Study the work of leading experts from Dr Bruce Fogle to Scott & Fuller, and consider why dogs are simply not wired up to have a concept of equality.
• Learn how to maintain the loving dog-owner relationship, treat them as one of the family, but also represent an authority figure.
• Learn how to get respect from your dog, not just love and trust.
• Learn about dog training and operant conditioning, its role and its limits. Study how dogs learn by association and the difference between how dogs learn and how dogs think.
• Understand why the positive reward approach is perfect for obedience training, teaching dogs new things, fears, phobias, anxiety and even fear based aggression.
• Master the art of discipline and what it actually means. Learn how timing is key and why the absence of rules, boundaries and limitations can lead to anxiety, insecurity and more serious behavioural issues.

Most importantly, learn all about the most significant and influential element to a happy and balanced dog - yourself. In this course, there is as much on human psychology as there is on dog behaviour.

Please note: this course and Courses Direct is in no way directly affiliated with Cesar Millan

Lesson Structure:

INTRODUCTION

UNIT ONE - The History & Evolution of Dogs & the Wolf

UNIT TWO - Genetics & the Dog's Mind

UNIT THREE - Breed Difference

UNIT FOUR - Hormones, Health & Diet – Their Influence on Behaviour

UNIT FIVE - Communication, Body Language, 'Nose-Eyes-Ears'

UNIT SIX - Early Learning, Mum and Pack’s Influence, Socialisation, Habituation

UNIT SEVEN - How Dogs Learn, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Discipline.

UNIT EIGHT - Pack Structure - What It Means To Be 'Pack Leader'

UNIT NINE - Exercise, Discipline & Affection

UNIT TEN - Common Behavioural Issues

UNIT ELEVEN - The Owner Influence, Energy & Personality

UNIT TWELVE - Getting It Right, Recommended Daily Routines, Feeding, Dogs & Children