leadership, the foundation of training
Leadership Isn't Mean
One of the biggest reasons dogs don’t listen isn’t stubbornness, dominance, or attitude.
It’s unclear leadership.
Most people want their dog to listen — but they don’t want to be “harsh,” “bossy,” or “mean.”
So they soften everything.
They hesitate.
They talk too much.
They let things slide.
And the dog stops listening.
Dogs Don't Follow Feelings — They Follow Decisions
Dogs don’t measure leadership by tone of voice or affection.
They measure it by what happens after a decision is made.
Do you follow through?
Are rules the same today as yesterday?
Does “no” actually mean something?
Do boundaries exist, or are they optional?
A dog will only follow someone who appears confident in their choices.
Tough in the Moment, Soft When It Matters
This is where most people get it backwards.
They’re soft when the dog is misbehaving
and tough later when they’re frustrated.
Dogs need the opposite.
In the moment: clear, calm, firm
After the moment: relaxed, neutral, fair
Leadership happens in real time, not after the fact.
Words Are Not Consequences
Calling a dog over and over
Yelling
Explaining
Lecturing
That’s noise.
If nothing changes after the words, the dog learns one thing:
Your words don’t matter.
Leadership means when you intervene, the behavior actually stops.
Boundaries Are How Dogs Understand Structure
Leadership shows up in everyday life:
Doorways
Personal space
Furniture
Food and toys
Where the dog settles
Whether the dog moves when asked
Inviting a dog onto the couch is leadership.
Letting a dog push into space without permission is not.
Boundaries don’t remove affection.
They create clarity.
In the Dog World, Corrections Are Simple
When one dog corrects another:
It’s quick
It’s clear
It’s over
No emotional baggage.
No long explanations.
If a correction is ignored, that’s information — not disrespect.
It means the dog doesn’t believe the leader has authority.
That’s when problems begin.
When Dogs Push Back
Dogs don’t challenge strong leadership.
They challenge inconsistent leadership.
When humans are:
Wishy-washy
Emotional
Inconsistent
All talk, no follow-through
Dogs stop trusting the guidance.
From the dog’s point of view:
“You don’t have this handled, so I will.”
That’s how anxiety, reactivity, and aggression develop.
Real Leadership Is Reassuring
Clear leadership:
Lowers stress
Builds confidence
Prevents conflict
Creates reliability
Dogs don’t want control.
They want someone worth following. I will teach you leadership and everything else gets easier.
Contact
Questions about what your dog is saying to you in certain situations or just about your dog’s behaviour?
Reach out to angie@royalk9.ca Angie’s always happy to help guide you in the right direction.
