Being a great leader means being a strong but calm presence in your dog’s life so they have someone they trust completely and always want to follow. This is incredibly important but let’s clear something up first.
Being strong or firm, DOES NOT mean dominating them or being the “Alpha” through force and dominance. This is a scare tactic and is sure to create a fearful dog and can easily lead to fear driven behaviours. A fearful dog is definitely not a happy dog.
Being a great leader is all about setting your dog up for success without dominance. No angry yelling, no verbal frustration and DEFINITELY NO physical harm or extreme force used. Period.
As mentioned in the “Be Calm” essential, a great leader is always working on their calm energy but you still want to be confident and firm. Rottweiler’s can respond better to confident, firm leadership but as always, this is never mean, angry or harsh in any way! Learn as much as you can about this important skill and remember, it can take some practice while working with your Rottie to get it all right. Always be aware of your energy at all times and how it is affecting your dog.
Following the information in this guide will help you develop the habits and skills of a great leader that your Rottie wants to please and follow.
Leadership is all about:
- always being a calm but firm & in-control presence for your Rottie to follow.
- having patience when teaching your Rottweiler the habits and behaviours they need to learn.
- respecting the process and the time it takes, as each dog learns at their own pace.
- setting them up for success in every way you can.
- always guiding them in a calm, relaxed way and never showing anger, harshness or frustration.
- challenging yourself to learn everything you can to ensure your Rottweiler’s ongoing development.
- being fully committed to your Rottweiler’s physical and mental well-being throughout their life.