As a dog’s co-owner, we’ve all been there when you’re both trying to command the dog, and the dog isn’t listening to well, either of you. Only to make the situation more frustrating for everyone involved.
This fun dog parent moment is not uncommon, and it eventually happens to the best of us. However, there are way to help not only yourself out, but your four legged pal.
So the question is, who commands the dog when out?
But, the answer is both of you. Which is conflicting, I know. So let me explain.
You know your dog best, and each of you as owners will have a different kind of bond with your dog.
For me, Roper loves to bring stuff back to me and responds quicker to commands (he’s smitten with his mamma 🥰).
For Gage, Roper doesn’t question his authority and looks to him for guidance in how to proceed. He knows dad is the Alpha in our little pack.
For both of us, Roper needs praise and affection to let him know he’s making us happy with his work.
So, who commands Roper when we’re out? We look at the situation we’re taking him in and determine how we need him to behave, then match with who has the best relationship in that behavior.
For example, when we’re taking people out to hunt upland game, I’ll take the lead with working Roper since he is quicker to bring the downed birds back to me and then get back at it.
When the hunt goes into the woods or public places and the risk factor increases, Gage will take the lead at commanding, because of his relationship of being the alpha male in Roper’s world. Also, because Roper will look to him for what is expected of him (work, play, or sit & observe).
Needless to say, when determining who will take the lead in being the main commander should always come down to how your dog responds to each of you. This will eliminate the need to call for your dog while your partner is also calling for the dog, causing confusion.
When, not if, because all dog owners know that dogs can be stubborn, one of you needs to step in as support, be sure not to talk over each other. Let the commanding owner finish their command and pause for at least 5 seconds before asking your dog the same command.
Please note, If this is an emergency situation, do what is needed for your dogs safety, but adding any type of anxious frantic energy into the air by both yelling will only confuse the dog into not following the order.
If you’re not sure what kind of bond you and your partner have created with your dog, the simplest way is through play. Whichever fun outlet your dog prefers, both of you engage and focus on how your dog reacts. Does one of you throw the ball, but they bring it back to the other? Who does the dog make more eye contact with?
Other things to think about when it comes to determining the type of bond you have with your dog is who they go to for certain things, like food and nurturing, and who is more likely to discipline.
The person that does the majority of the feeding and discipline will be the owner that the dog views as alpha. The person that nurtures and plays more will be the person they strive to make happy. However, in some cases, the dog will choose only one if its co-owners as its commander. The most important thing is to observe and identify the bond that has been created between human and canine.
And just like how people change as they grow and learn, these bonds can shift, especially as our own interactions evolve with the dog.
If you have a particularly stubborn dog who doesn’t take either of you seriously, it may because they don’t see you as alpha, and they believe they are the pack leader. Check out Lessons from Roper: Establishing the Pecking Order, where I break down how the pack order can be disrupted, and what to do to put your strong-willed friend lovingly back into place. Also look out for the blog coming soon that’s all about E-Collars, the controversy behind them, but why we love them as a safety resource out in the field.
Time to go work on that bond with the newest Copper Dog, Cinch, and to validate mine and Roper’s through cuddles and play.
The Copper Dogs 