01/09/2026
CHECKERS, CHESS, OR A LOAD OF TOSH?
I won’t credit this individual by naming him but it’s definitely not as good as when Mr Cantona said, “When the Seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think... sardines may be thrown.” Now Eric was a bit of a footballing God, and quite nuts, so he can be excused. But this other pile of old drivel? Nah!
After 35 years in the Armed Forces, I have served under some fantastic leaders / bosses and others who couldn’t run a bath, without screwing it up…and then blaming someone else.
When I train a dog, I try to be a good leader, not a dictator.
Whilst I'm “usually” in charge I realise it is a 2-way process. The term leader shouldn't equate to that old time Fuhrer, demanding slavish compliance through fear, intimidation, and learned helplessness.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I think a good leader / boss should focus on three things:
CLARITY AND TEACHING
Set clear and consistent expectations.
Teach before judging performance.
Communicate in a way the learner can understand.
Break difficult tasks into manageable, achievable steps.
Provide the right tools, environment and opportunities to succeed.
FEEDBACK AND ADAPTATION
Listen to the learner
Observe non-verbal feedback, including hesitation, confusion and discomfort.
Adjust the plan when the learner / dog is struggling.
Understand that different learners / dogs are motivated by different things.
Recognise effort and reward good decisions.
SAFETY, CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Build confidence rather than creating a fear of making errors.
Remain calm and predictable under pressure.
Protect the learner / dog from situations they are not ready to handle.
Allow rest, recovery, reflection and time to process learning.
Take responsibility when instructions were unclear or expectations unrealistic.
Maintain boundaries fairly.
Develop independence rather than controlling every decision.
Never ask someone to do something unsafe merely to prove your authority.
Measure good leadership by the learner’s confidence and competence, not by how submissive they appear.
Applied to a dog, leadership might mean: “I will teach you, guide you and keep you safe. I will pay attention when you tell me that something is difficult. I will set reasonable boundaries and help you make good choices. I will not punish you for failing to understand what I have not taught clearly.”
The best boss is comfortable when in charge but does not need to prove it constantly. Their authority comes from being competent, clear, fair and trustworthy.
A well-led dog should not merely comply when closely supervised; the dog should become increasingly confident and capable of making good decisions based upon what he has been trained to do.
