El Paso Dog Parks - A Pet Service Directory for West Texas and Southern New Mexico

If you have a dog that is challenging your leadership and not listening to your commands, try a new philosophy with him:  “Nothing is for free.”

This means that all the good things in your dog’s life need to be earned.  We have to earn our salaries by performing certain tasks, so why shouldn’t a dog have the same opportunity?  Dogs actually thrive on having little jobs to do, because it serves to increase their self-esteem as well as teach them to listen to a pack leader.  Start asking your dog to sit or stay or lie down before being petted, getting a treat, being fed a meal, or receiving a toy.  This will instill self-discipline in the dog and create a calmer psychological state.