Building a mutual respect and understanding between you two shouldn't be all that difficult. As you work on your boundaries and rules together respect should just form, and if you train your rules properly your pup will understand in due time what is acceptable and what isn't.
There are many exercises that you can do to help build this relation ship.
Feeding or hand feeding your pup will associate you with controlling food or good treats. This will set more focus on you and your actions as there is a chance anytime you are up or request an action there will be food given.
Training behaviors or tricks is another great way to build this relationship. Again treats are usually involved so there is that, but when it comes to behaviors and tricks there is a level of excitement and accomplishment. This goes both ways and is a great way to build a stronger bond.
Defining your rules from day one and implementing them asap. If you don`t want your pup mouthing or biting start working on it right away. If you don`t want them on the sofa, tell them to get off every time they jump up. If you don`t want them in the kitchen while cooking back them up until they are waiting outside of it.
Having these rules and enforcing them never ever needs to be mean or vicious. 99% of the time you can get your point across by simply triggering movement in your dog with your own body language.
On the rare occasions you may want an area you can use as a time out.
Having them however sets your pup up as having boundaries, and expected behaviors though. Polite etiquette for daily life, or meeting random people or dogs.
In short the more time you spend with the pup the stronger this relationship or bond will become. You won`t need tricks, or to enforce your role as the leader, but you will however have full attention and expected behaviors from your pup that it can rely on.
~Chris~
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Is this about the cake problem? What's the matter with you mathematicians, cake is never a problem. - Professor Lazlo
