History: Raised from a puppy.

Age: 9 years

Story: Parker was bought directly from his birth home to be raised by Wendy. Her daughter also had a love of dogs and enjoyed training. Unfortunately, Wendy was not entirely ready for the emotional commitment to a new puppy after losing her previous dog very recently. Her natural distancing, however, was exactly what that young pup needed. Wendy went through the mechanics of walking, feeding and caring for Parker, but the emotional attachment was not yet there. The effect of this was very interesting. Rather than being showered with affection, the center of attention and getting everything he wanted, Parker was learning that he had to work for attention and earn affection. Without realizing, Wendy was in fact teaching the dog the best lesson there is... He was NOT the Alpha!

I tell this story, not because of any profound change or outcome, but because of the lessons we can learn.

1. Dogs are not humans. Although the human/canine bond can be very strong, it does not make a dog a human. We must respect this. Giving a dog love and affection is very important, but we must do this according to the rules of a pack, not human tendency.

2. Actions speak louder than words. Every dog in a pack has its place. This place is evident and accepted by the way it is treated by other pack members. Obviously dogs do not speak human, so it's important that we learn their way of communicating in order to keep them happy and aware of their place within our family unit or pack.

Wendy's affection for Parker grew over time. And her daughter's additional training created a little fun for the family (i.e "steal Dad's glasses/wallet/phone" and "fetch my slippers"). But over time, Parker has fitted well into the family and developed his own routine within that pack.

For more information on pack formation, click here: