Who's the Boss?

Jack comes to visit, all seventy pounds of him. He's just a pup, and his clumsy feet trample poor old Mr. Wilson. Wilson doesn't mind much, he gets crushed into the soft grass, rolls over, lifts his head and raises the little stub of a tail and gets right back to being in charge.

It's a never ending game that dogs play with each other, and with us humans. Every moment that they spend

with another being is spent asserting dominance or submitting to the will of another. What we perceive as a need for affection when our dogs lick us or jump on us is actually the dog's way of asserting dominance over us. By marking us with their scent they have, in their minds, taken control of us. It's up to us to take it back.

When Mr. Wilson lifts his head, even though he is just a little squirt, he is taking charge. By raising his tail he is telling Jack, with his scent that we cannot sense, but other dogs certainly can, that he is the head honcho, and the games will be going his way, or no way!

Once the dogs and humans figure out who is in charge, everybody can relax, and get on with the business of the day, which besides taking and giving control includes a lot of running and jumping and wrestling and fun. Dinner time is a whole different set of who's the boss maneuverings, and a great time to let the dogs know who is really in charge.

Us!