The Lead Dog

In the picture above, who is the lead dog? Is it the musher? Is it one of the dogs out in front? It isn't such a simple question from this perspective.

In terms of mushing, the leaders are the dogs at the front of the team. Their job is to stay on the trail, keep the gang line (the line that connects the team and the sled) taught, and help motivate the team.

If the leaders do all that, then what does the musher do? I thought the musher was the lead dog?

See, a dog team is just that, a team. Much like a football team. You wouldn't have a football team with all quarterbacks. You need each player to fill a particular spot on the team. Same thing happens in a dog team. You have lead dogs, swing dogs, team dogs, and wheel dogs. Each pair of dogs has a team position.

The musher is the coach of the dog team.

Take another look at the picture above. The musher is BEHIND the team. By now you have read about how you should never let your dog walk ahead of you or he will turn into the alpha dog? If that is true, then how does a musher coach his team? Doesn't that mean the dogs out front are the alpha dogs?

The leaders are the quarterback(s).

It's all about team work. Everyone has a specific job. And it is the mushers job to motivate and manage the team. Not unlike a football coach. If the coach is doing his job well, the team will perform well. And if the coach is lousy, the team won't perform well.

Are you the lead dog at your house? Yes, that was a trick question. I just wanted you to think about what it means to be the lead dog. The leader is a team position, the coach puts it all together.

Dogs need humans to be their coach. Since you have asked your dog to live with you (and not the other way around), you need to show your dog HOW to live with you. It is not innate for a dog to live as humans do. You have to teach that. That is what dog training is all about!

When we ask dogs to spend several hours alone (like when we at work), we are asking them to live like a human. Except that they don't have the internet, TV, or telephone to keep them entertained.

Alone time for a dog is really boring. It is where they begin to develop much of the behavior that we consider bad behavior. Barking, digging, separation anxiety, chewing. It is not natural for dogs to be alone.

Dogs can be taught to be alone. Just as they can be taught to pull a sled. It cannot be taught overnight. Sure, the mechanics of putting them in a crate can be done in minutes.

You wouldn't start training for a marathon by running the entire 26.2 miles the first day.

Teaching your dog to be secure with being left alone is what takes time. Keep this in mind when you teach your dog to be alone (whether it is in a crate, in the backyard, or in the car).

This is where you need to use your coaching skills! Remember, a coach tries to bring out the best in each player.

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