recognises that the dog has the right to respect from people.
That bullying, in the name of 'training' is unacceptable. That 'training' is about communication, management and mutual understanding,  not about issuing orders and forcing a dog to comply, just for the sake of it. There will always be a big gap between a dog's perception of the world and our own, but the Teamwork Training approach tries to bridge that gap.

Naughtiness rules OK!

If you like a dog that's a bit naughty, then that's fine. I won't turn your dog into a robot. If you want your dog to sleep on your bed, then why not? If you want to cuddle your dog on the sofa while you watch Corrie, then fine, cuddle away. Doing these things does not cause your dog to be aggressive or teach him to be 'disobedient'! If your dog is being aggressive or disobedient its either because he feels threatened or fearful or because you haven't learned how to teach him what you want yet. It might also be because you haven't learned how to control or understand his behaviour yet. It is also likely to be because someone at sometime has led him to believe they are appropriate or advantageous behaviours for him to carry out. Until a dog tells me otherwise, or the science is there to support the thesis, I'll resist the idea that he's doing those things because he thinks he's some  kind of alpha wolf.

Its your household...you make the rules, but there's no need to bully the dog into understanding them.

A pack leader?

I don't believe your dog is trying to be a pack leader when he scrounges food at the table, or pull you through doorways, or guards his foodbowl. My experience of dogs over the past 35 years leads me to believe he does these things because he has learned to and inadvertantly you, or a previous owner, has taught him. The science supports that. If your dog has ever received food from a table, he will scrounge  more. If he pulls through a doorway its because he has learned it gets him places he wants to go (or leave!). He's not jumping up in order to be 'dominant' he's saying hello. Why would you want to reject and ignore a 'friend' that just wants to say hello?

Ignore the behaviour and teach a more appropriate way to behave is what training is about if you don't like the way he greets you, or walks on the lead. Its not about punishing the dog for doing things people have taught him 'works' to get things he wants. Like most dog owners I want my dogs to be included in my life. I want to be nice to them. That's why I own dogs. Does that mean my dogs run riot? No, although my houserules may be different to the ones you want from your dog. But I don't need to be unpleasant or harsh with them to get the control I want. Control isn't about physical domination. In my experience physical domination usually causes more problems than it fixes. It might give the illusion of control and 'obedience', but it can ruin the trust and confidence that ought to be there in a relationship with your dog.

Control
Taking control, and staying in control, is essential, but it doesn't need to mean you spend 24/7 pretending to be an alpha wolf or wondering if your dog is planning a coup to take over home and hearth. We humans were born with highly sophisticated brains; so it makes sense to use those brains to relate to, and teach, an animal that can do so much damage to us if it wants to. The ultimate control a wolf pack leader will exercise, should he choose to exercise it, is physical, whatever the more subtle language he uses before that point is reached. It is using his superior physical power to ward off attacks by challengers to his authority that ultimately brings 'order' to the pack. That kind of control is neither appropriate nor relevant in our domestic dog's relationship with us and our family. A domestic dog is very different to a wild wolf. And why would we want to encourage the idea in our pet dogs that they are some kind of 'wolf' in a pack anyway? Its a rough, tough existence and not what I want of my relationship with my dogs.

What we humans do have is that we are the controllers of all that is important in our pet dogs' lives. We own the can openers and we design fridge doors so dogs can't help themselves to their food. We are the ones that go to the shop and buys the dinner. We are in control of how and when the dog gets his exercise and play. The dog is totally dependent on us while he lives with us. If we 'clever' humans want control, why do we need to do anything other than control those essential resources and the way we dispense them?

The power of positive reinforcement

Clicker training, and a recognition of the value of operant conditioning in getting the behaviour you want from your dog, is very much at the heart of the Teamwork Training approach. Understanding that a dog wants things like food, play and attention and we humans have the power to change a dog's behaviour through how we give those things.

Emotional stability

However, the Teamwork Training approach also recognises the need for emotional stability in the dog and never loses sight of the fact that the dog is a cognitive, thinking creature that feels emotions like fear and stress far more than most people realise. Emotion impacts on a dog's ability to learn and be 'obedient'. If the dog isn't iin the right frame of mind learning becomes very difficult and training is a lot more hard work, both for the dog and for the trainer. Getting the environment right, so the dog isn't under stress, scared, over-excited or confused, is usually part of the solution to behaviour or training problems. A dog that is happy, confident and stress-free will learn easily and will want to cooperate.

 "If you want to cuddle your dog on the sofa while watching Corrie, then fine, cuddle away!

Aggression and disobedience are not caused by owners loving their dogs and showing them affection."

"You can be nice to your dog, have it show personality and individuality and have it behave as you want."

"A dog that is happy, confident and stress-free will learn easily and will want to cooperate".