MOVEMENT-

if you’ve ever trained with me for more than 5 minutes then you’ve heard me say the phrase that "movement is dominance."

"Dominance" has become an ugly word in today’s society, but it is just another term for taking the lead. Even if there are only 2 living beings in any situation, whoever can move the other is the dominant one. The dominant one takes the lead on which direction is traveled and how they will get there.  Even very kind, easy going people- or dogs- can be dominant by using some form of manipulation to move another.
Dominant does not mean “abusive.”
I once had someone tell me they only use “positive reinforcement” for their dogs because they don’t like to hit them.
What?
So abuse is the opposite of positive???
Um. No.

Yesterday I was watching a pair of geese move their tiny flock of babies across a busy street and parking lot. There were about 8 geese total. Mama Goose was pecking at the bums of the tiny geese, moving them along slowly but at the same time keeping them close together and going all in the same direction.
What she was not doing was standing in front of the babies, facing them, and pleading for them to come with her.
And yet that is what I constantly see humans doing to try to convince their dog to follow them. A good leader does not beg and plead and barter. A good leader moves in the right direction, facing forward demonstrating confidence in the movement.
I'm sure some of our “positive only” training counterparts would consider her pecking at the tiny yellow fluff butts to be abusive. I mean, she looked pretty aggressive, with her neck coiled like a cobra squawking and carrying on.  Why didn’t she just kindly and patiently offer them a treat if they all stayed together and went across the parking lot?

Because the seriousness and dominance she demonstrated let her babies know that it was critical for them to follow her. She kept them safe. She delivered them to the other side despite the closeness of big scary rolling tires and roaring engines.

 The uncertain goslings trusted her completely and she delivered them safely to the other side. None of the baby geese were traumatized by her authority. Instead they reached the pond on the other side and nestled down peacefully into the long grass.

We, as dog handler’s, need to learn to move our dogs just as Mother Goose did.

For the safety and well-being of your dog, learn to be the leader and don’t be afraid to use humane correction to keep your dog's world big and safe and fun.  Whether you're walking into the vet or trying to get them into the car, be a good leader, not a sappy nagger and don't worry about what other people think.  Find the right collar, leash and equipment to help you be a successful leader and don't join in your dog's drama and anxiety by feeling bad.

Look forward at where you are going.  Move assertively.

Lead,  Feel good about it.  Repeat.