Do you have a dog that misbehaves, refuses to listen to all your commands, or can’t seem to be trained? Are you frustrated that you ever hoped to have a wonderful, obedient pet as part of your family, only to find that your dog is now a nuisance? You keep the dog because you and your family love it. After all, the thought of gifting the dog, or worse yet, leaving it in the kennel makes you feel guilty and heartbroken. Your dog is no longer an impatient and impressionable puppy and you wonder … is it too late to train my dog?

I get that question from many dog ​​owners wondering how they will handle their wayward friend and I always answer the same thing: it’s never too late to train your dog! Before training (or re-training) your dog, you need to establish some new ground rules. These basic rules form the basis for how you and your dog will interact with each other. So why have these ground rules? Dogs are pack animals and they understand that there is a hierarchy in every pack. Hierarchy generally consists of a pecking order in which a dog emerges as the leader. A dog is more likely to obey a strong and assertive leader and to ignore members of the pack that it considers to be lower in the pecking order. As a dog owner, you must be the leader of the pack. However, your dog may not see it that way! Some dogs have a naturally dominant personality and will want to be their leader. Other dogs are submissive by nature, but are forced to take on a leadership role that they cannot handle due to their owner’s lack of guidance. In both cases, the dog ends up ignoring the owner and playing by his own rules.

To effectively train your dog, you must be the leader of the pack. The good news is that there are some easy ways to become the leader of the group. By setting the ground rules below, your dog is more likely to recognize you as the leader and become more receptive to training.

When it comes to leadership, dogs are quite literal when interpreting their behavior; For dogs, leadership is about being first, tallest, and being in control. Here are some ways you can show your dog that you are first, tallest, and in control:

1. When sitting or sleeping, always stay at a higher level than your dog. You can make the dog sit on the couch, but only when you invite him to. Canine companions literally want to admire their leader, so keep a height advantage so the dog understands your place.

2. Eat before your dog at mealtime. After you’ve eaten, have your dog sit up while you place the food on his plate. Allow the dog to approach the bowl only when you have released it from the command to sit. This clearly indicates to your dog that, as the leader, you are the first to choose whatever food is offered.

3. While walking your dog on a leash or through a door, make sure you are first and foremost. This is because pack leaders always walk in front of their pack.

4. Make sure the dog does not have constant access to any toys. As the leader, you are in control of the pack’s possessions and therefore may award (or remove) toys at your discretion.

5. As a leader, you are free to show love and affection only when your dog is calm and well behaved. If your dog has a tendency to need or misbehavior, you can (firmly and humanely) correct it or just show indifference (walking away and ignoring the dog). Followers of a pack tend to bow to the leader, and good leaders can show affection, disapproval, or indifference in the appropriate circumstances.

These five basic rules are subtle, but effective. They clearly indicate to your dog that you are emerging as the leader of the pack. Your dog may rebel at first, but as with any change, a period of adjustment should be expected.