If so, your dog is trying to win valuable
points in The Game. Dogs love this game! Whoever wins the most points earns the
right to be Boss. Dogs have lots of ways they can win points – especially out
on the walk.
Stopping to sniff and making you wait…and
wait…and wait…is a classic way to win lots of points against humans. For every
second you stand around patiently waiting for your dog to endlessly sniff – it thinks
you’re being nicely obedient and submissive. Really dominant dogs will sniff
for longer and longer, testing to see exactly how submissive you’re prepared to
be.
Why
bother stopping your dog from sniffing while you wait? If your dog’s point score is higher than yours out on the walk,
then it gets to do what it likes. It can drag you around on the end of the
leash. It can lunge out and attack other dogs. It can make the entire walk a
nightmare experience. It can earn enough points to misbehave when it gets home.
Solution:
Easy. The moment you sense your dog’s testing you
by dominantly sniffing and making you wait – do this, Start walking, firmly
dragging your dog along after you. If your dog’s too big and strong to do that,
casually walk through it with your chin raised until you break that stubborn,
concrete stance. Some people don’t mind their dog constantly sniffing as long as
they keep up a nice steady pace at their side.
TIP: Very dominant dogs will test you out at the very start of the walk
around your letterbox and front gate – and again on the way back, just before
you go inside your gate again.
Come on – it’s time to win points in The
Game so you can have a more enjoyable walk!
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