Dog owners and their pets often separate and reunite. Many people think this happens only a few times daily, such as when going to work or shopping. In fact, this separation behavior occurs all the time. At home, the dog’s presence is everywhere, always following its owner. But this does not mean the dog sees itself as a lovable pet; on the contrary, it is the highly protective and extremely loyal leader of the pack. Therefore, whether its owner leaves the house, steps into the garden, or goes to the restroom, the dog sees this as its child leaving its protection, and it must take responsibility. The owner knows how long they will be gone, but the dog does not. Once the owner leaves, the dog believes they will not return and will never see them again. So whether the owner is gone for 8 hours or 8 seconds, as soon as they reappear, the dog reenacts the ritual aimed at reestablishing its leadership position. To correct this behavior, the dog owner must appear as the leader, and the first step to establishing leadership is to learn to ignore the dog.

　　All dogs have their own reunion rituals with their owners, which may be jumping and spinning or barking loudly, or bringing toys. Whatever they do, the owner must pretend not to see them, acting as if nothing happened. If this is not done, the dog will think it has received recognition and that you have expressed submission. Its behavior successfully gains attention, confirming the leadership status it wants. Even if the owner turns and yells “Stop,” it still lets the dog achieve its goal. The key here is to not give any attention to the dog in any way, including no

　　eye contact, no talking, no petting. Except gently pushing the dog away, the owner should do nothing.

　　No matter how restless the dog is, it will eventually end the ritual and walk away. In most cases, the dog will pause to consider what just happened. Then it is likely to come back to repeat the same ritual. If it does, still ignore it. This indicates the dog is starting to realize that the environment around it has changed significantly. It does this to try to exploit your personality weaknesses, craving your response. I have seen some dogs perform the same ritual more than a dozen times before giving up. Each motion grows weaker, and finally, the barking is barely audible. Remember, the key to this method is to stay firm until it "runs out of tricks." Any effort to get the dog to cooperate before then is futile.

　　The dog will relax or walk somewhere and lie down, signaling it has given up resisting. This is the first sign owners get, showing that the dog is viewing them and their leadership from a new perspective. The dog’s hesitancy reflects its new recognition of the owner’s status. Although just a beginning, it is an important breakthrough.

　　At this point, it is crucial to do nothing for 5 minutes. If desired, you can give the dog more time, but during these 5 minutes, make sure not to attempt any other interactions. I call this the "pause time." During this time, the owner should continue with their daily routine. Some might start feeling impatient; I tell them not to think about anything. You can go to the kitchen to make tea or coffee, just passing time as usual. The purpose of this pause is to allow the silent process that "deposes" the dog to solidify. During this time, the dog’s job is to focus on understanding what just happened. It needs to figure out two things: first, its ritual did not elicit any response, ending in failure; second, some subtle changes have occurred in the hierarchy—the relationship with other pack members has shifted.

　　Some dogs may grasp this more quickly and need less time, while most might require longer. In my experience, 5 minutes is generally enough. But if during this period the dog approaches without being invited, be sure to ignore it; sometimes it will even sit on the owner’s lap, and the owner should silently refuse it. At that moment, do not allow the dog to make any demands.

　　Of course, this can be challenging, especially with large dogs. But the owner must be uncompromising. If the owner is standing and the dog comes up, the owner must block the dog with their body and turn away. If the dog jumps up and places its front paws on the owner’s knees, the owner must silently raise a hand on the dog’s chest to gently push it down. The owner must never push the dog harshly or speak. I cannot stress this enough. Even if you say "Go away," the dog will think it has achieved its purpose and been acknowledged. Once you get through the 5 minutes, communication with the dog can begin. At this point, the interaction is purposeful—to emphasize to the dog that a new leadership position has been established.

　　I often hear complaints that ignoring the dog is too cruel. To this, I always respond: what I do is actually to build my relationship with the dog on the correct foundation. Because of this, I can enjoy my time with them more. Since I can do things at home without interruption, I have more time for sincere, quality interaction with the dog. All dog owners can learn from the start to arrange higher-quality time. This does not mean ignoring your dog; you can still hug and pet your beloved dog, but it must be done the right way. When the dog no longer feels confused about who is caring for whom, the relationship will feel closer. The dog only comes when called by the owner. (Source: PetsZone)