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Why great owners lead by example

The more I developed my ideas, the more I realised how important it is to project the right kind of leadership. Through studying wolves and working with my own dogs, I had learned that dogs don’t associate leadership with ranting and raving, bullying and dictating or even overt affection. Instead, natural leaders seemed to demonstrate calmness, consistency and decisiveness. As I developed these principles, I realised that I had seen them applied before by another inspiring owner.

Throughout my life I have met people whose ideas about our relationship with dogs have influenced me almost subliminally. I have not felt their full impact until long after the event.

Back in the 1970s, for instance, I had had no idea how important my friendship with the headmistress of our local primary school would become. It is only now, thirty years on, that I can fully appreciate the lesson Patsy and her German shepherd, Bracken, provided.