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One of the things most pet owners are related to do is to properly dominate their dogs. They want to treat their dogs like equals, as though they are part of the family. But the truth about dogs is that they do not want to be equals. They want to know their place.
As pack animals, each dog has a pecking order – a dominance hierarchy where each dog fits somewhere down the line of "who is the boss." One dog is the leader of all the dogs (often referred to as "alpha"), another is second in command, and so on, much like a military system. Because this order is part of a dog's natural behavior, dogs expect this system of governance even as pets. A failed system, where a dog does not know its place (whether it is supposedly to be the dominant or submissive member of the group) makes dog's nervous and uncomfortable.
So it is always important to ensure that you are the alpha in the eyes of your dog, and that requires that you show your dog that you are its boss. One of the best ways to do this is through commands. An alpha dog does not take commands from its subordinates, so as you teach your dog to listen to your commands, you are teaching it that you are its leader.
To show your dog you mean business, all you need to know is one command. For now, let's assume your dog knows "sit." Rather than just simply telling your dog to sit whenever you are showing off your dog's tricks to your friends, you should also tell your dog to sit in other situations as well. For example, every time you are about to open a door, whether it be to your room or the basement, or anywhere else your dog is allowed to roam in the house, tell your dog to sit, and do not open the door until it does. Only after it sets do you allow your dog to enter a room.
Similarly, before you give your dog its food or its toys, tell your dog to sit. While it looks like a simple command (depending on how excitable your dog is and how well it is trained, sitting will not appear very difficult) what you are teaching is the one that is deciding when it eats, plays, and when it enters a room. By, in a sense, showing your dog it needs your permission if it wants to do any of the behaviors it wants to engage in, you are dominating your dog.
Again, the best way to ensure you live happily with your dog and that your dog grows up stress free is to teach your dog that you are the alpha and it is your subordinate. You may not want to, but it is an important step in your relationship with your dog.
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