What kind of energy are you projecting to your dog?
Think about how your dog perceives you. We tend to use far too many words when we are communicating with our dogs. In our human world, when we are communicating with each other, only 7% of our communication is verbal the rest being made up from body language, facial expression and tonality of voice. We may think that we are telling our dogs what we want them to do by our voice but it is our body language and facial expression that our dogs pick up on. They are constantly watching our bodily signals and reading the energy or vibe that we are giving off. Also, they tune in to this energy within the first 5 seconds of any interaction with you.

If you become frustrated with your dog and shout or become annoyed your dog will perceive you as projecting an emotionally unstable energy and is unlikely to respond to you as a pack leader. This is because there is no room in a dogs psyche for emotional energy. In a pack environment emotional energy leads to instability which would put the survival of the pack under threat. Because dogs have still got 87% wolf DNA, this is still how your dog thinks. In their world, there are only 2 job vacancies pack leader or pack follower which one are you?

What energy should you be projecting to your dog?

Pack leaders don’t project panic, indecision, tension or nervousness. You, as pack leader should always project a calm assertive energy. If you do, then your dog will have a calm-submissive energy. Pack leaders control all of the vital resources food, exercise, affection, warmth. And nothing is open to discussion. Even a submissive dog will try to fill the vacancy for pack leader if it feels that there.

To be a calm-assertive leader try this
Be aware of your body posture, do not slouch or drag feet –
Keep arm movement close to your body
Keep words to a minimum
When training has a positive picture in your mind of what you want what you are seeing projects straight to your dog
Be consistent

The L Word
We love our dogs and rightly so. They give out a lot of affection and enjoy receiving it in return from us. However when we give affection at the wrong time it can be detrimental.

Do give affection
When your dog is in a calm-submissive state
After exercise and dinner.
Changed an unwanted behaviour.
Learned a new one.
Responded to a command (especially the recall!)
Do not give affection When your dog is fearful of something noises, people, buses etc. When he is being possessive. Barking excessively, or being aggressive, dominant, or begging for food.