"Intelligent dogs rarely want to please people
whom they do not respect."   - W.R. Koehler

Demoting Your [Bichon] To A
Proper Pack Position without force

Follow these rules for the rest of the dog's life. Never bend the rules. Post these rules in a prominent place and read them frequently.

• Never roughhouse or play tug of war with your dog. If you lose the tug of war, (and eventually you will), the dog will think it is stronger than you. Stronger dogs have a higher rank in the pack.

• Neuter or spay the dog. Fluctuating hormone levels can make any training program difficult at best and impossible at other times.

• Place the dog on a dry premium dog food with a protein level between 18-22% and a fat level between 10-14%. Avoid higher protein foods.

• Learn the down stay command and perform it every day with the dog until the dog remains in the down stay for 30 continuous minutes.

• Never let the dog demand petting. Only you should determine when to show affection and when to end the petting or rubbing.

• Always make the dog sit or lay down before petting or rubbing. Sitting or lying is a subordinate position, exactly where the dog belongs when dealing with you or any family member.

• Only issue commands you are able and willing to enforce.

• Give one word commands, and then enforce.

• Never let the dog lead the way through a door or when walking on a leash. Leading the way is the right of an alpha; that can be any family member, but never the dog.
   
• Make the dog earn everything, even affection.

• For the first month of boot camp, attach a leash to the dog's training collar when he is free in the house. The dragging leash gives you total control of the dog. Three important points:
   1. Never leave the dog unattended with this leash on.
   2.Tape the leash handle so that it does not accidentally hook onto something.
   3. Never leave the dog unattended with his training collar on.

• Do not let the dog sleep in the bed with you. If you have children, do not let the dog sleep in the bedroom with you. The dog can sleep in the bedroom with the children, but only on the floor. sleeping position, in the canine world, carries great importance. Pack equals sleep together, second rank dogs sleep near the alpha. Make your dog sleep on the floor of the children's room or somewhere else in the house.

• Perform basic obedience commands with the dog everyday for a maximum of four minutes and no more than twice a day. This is contrary to most dog trainers recommendations, but the bichon is very smart and will bore easily.

• Praise the dog lavishly when it does something correct.

• When the dog has misbehaved, use your voice and body language to convey your displeasure. Never use force on a bichon, it's a waste of time. A typical correction would be to use a short phrase in a slow voice, "Bad Dog", followed by a non-threatening stare that lasts no more than a second or two. Then slowly turn your back on the dog and ignore him. The length you ignore the dog depends on the severity of the punishment. If the dogis contrite and asks forgiveness (tail is down, tentative movement toward you) always make sure you forgive. If the dog approaches with tail up, ears forward and a light gait, then he did not get your message and you must practice the voice and body language routine again.

• Always forgive and forget. Dogs do not carry grudges, so they don't understand why we stay mad for so long. Even the most severe infraction should be forgiven within 15 minutes or the lesson will be lost on the dog.

• When company arrives, place the dog in a down stay position where he can see most of the happenings. Never let the dog crowd the doorway to inspect guests. Never let company approach the dog while it is in the down stay after they first arrived. Wait until everyone has settled in and then release the dog.

• Never get into a physical confrontation with the dog. You will both lose. You will likely get bitten and thedog will likely be destroyed for biting.   If the dog physically challenges you or a family member, walk away and get professional help.

When to Call For Help

Certain dogs, already accustomed to being the leader, do not give up position easily. Dogs almost always give warning signs that they are about to confront you.  Learn to recognize these signs and avoid the confrontation.

The dog growls at its food bowl, or stops eating and stands stiffly when someone comes near.

The dog refuses to move out of the way of a family member who wishes to pass.

The dog has a belligerent attitude.

The dog refuses to come when called and actually turns it's back on you.

The dog resists efforts to put it in a down position.

The dog tries to stand over you when you are lying down.

The dog continues to try and mount family members.

Most dogs will readily accept leadership from another pack member, as long as the dog knows the rules and regulations. Dogs want structure in their lives. Dogs are social animals and want to belong to a pack, and most dogs will modify their behavior to the pack standards. These tips are designed to institute a defined structure to your family. Just like with people, occasionally a social misfit crops up due to bad breeding, early separation from litter mates, or behavior patterns too ingrained to change. If a dog fails to respond to a program like Boot Camp and basic obedience training, you should consult your veterinarian for other options.

Author:   D. J. Donahue