MISTAKE #10: DEFENDING THE UNDERDOGS BY TREATING THEM EQUALLY
This Mistake is about sticking up for and defending the underdogs. A classic human theme in our society is to support and celebrate the underdog. We have countless stories celebrating how the underdog, the runt, the one we least expected, the handicapped one, who came up from the bottom of the pack and went on to win the day, against amazing odds. They’re our heroes. We root for them, we uphold equal opportunity for everyone. We hate to see anyone treated unfairly. When we carry that idea out to our dog family, we get into serious trouble.
I promise you, your dogs do not understand this viewpoint at all. To them, survival of the family group depends on clear roles of authority and Leadership. The strongest and smartest among it are acknowledged as the Leaders, the most qualified. Those Leaders carry the responsibility for the safety and survival of the group.
Then there are the supporting roles. There are those that act as advisers to the Leaders. Their role is just as important and carries the same respect as the Leader. Some of the members of the pack act as scouts, nurses, voyagers, or nursemaids. Some carry the story and memories of the group, and some tag along as the rear guard.
Occasionally they will actually switch roles depending on their own individual strengths and what is happening. The weaker beings can sometimes attract threats or unwanted attention from enemies in the wild, and those beings create danger for the pack and often wind up becoming lunch for the enemy.
Is it any wonder then, that there is a clearly defined pack or herd hierarchy? The safety and survival of the group depends on it. Why then would our dogs tolerate a weaker being to be elevated over it in status or rank?
Treating your dogs equally offends their sense of propriety and earned rights. The truth is that every role in the family group is important. Think of it this way. The child isn’t supposed to act the father or the mother. Certainly it’s not supposed to act like a grandfather. If you elevate the child to a Leader level before they are qualified or ready, it adds a great deal of stress and confusion to it and the family. What you want to do is allow the child to be the child and celebrate it in that role.
So, in the same way, you need to allow the lead dog to be the Leader with all due respect and rights – and by the way, that should be the Leader under your alpha Leadership. Then treat others as is appropriate to their rank and status. If you understand and practice this concept, I promise that your dogs are going to thank you for it.
