Pack leaders (CANINE) A bit of advice please from experienced owners

I'm just bumping your thread because I'm curious, but I'm not an experienced dog owner.

You are supposed to be the pack leader, otherwise they would be fighting each other to death. That's what they say. As for why they didn't bother alert you, I have no clue. My previous dog tuned in with my moods, so when I wasn't feeling well, he wasn't very motivated to do much at all.

Thanks for the bump, it is very much appreciated. You hit on an important point, if i am not well all my dogs just like to "chill out" lean against me AND sleep BUT this (due to my health and my age (78) is a worry.

I would HATE to kennel any of my dogs outside as it seems that I would need to put them "on edge" to become an alarm.

Perhaps this may be needed!
All my dogs have been gun dogs or ratters NONE have been protection dogs. Perhaps this is sometthing I need to look at.

Thank you so much for your bump,
Cheers!!

They know that you're injured and assume you are unable to protect yourself.

So they have gone into stealth mode. Whereas before they would alert you to a possible intruder, now they are more concerned about staying hidden and unnoticed while you heal.

Once your injury heals and you are mobile again they should return to normal.

THANK YOU!

That makes so much sense.

It is very true that they would sense that all my callers were (although) needed were NON threatening and so as you say were into a stealth and protective mode!

This make so much sense!

One of my labradors is 16, blind and "pretends" deafness and 6 months ago a salesman opened my front door and tried to walk straight in. She flew at him and made him run from the house screaming apologies.

Brilliant, thanks for your input.

I agree with this. They are alert but laying low...with
you.

they are acting different because of NUBIRI and FUKUSHIMA. once NUBIRI has gone past and FUKUSHIMA is all fixed up they will go back to normal

Dogs work from two places. First and foremost their instincts. Second is their emotions, which are very connected to yours. At this time your dogs may be a bit confused. Their instincts are getting mixed up because you are down, probably sleeping alot and probably on pain medication....meaning, you are probably pretty emotionless at the moment. So, they find themselves in a very strange place where their instincts are not telling them what to do next and yes, you are their pack leader. That is the name of the game.

If you notice your dogs beginning to become testy with each other, it is because one or some of them are attempting to take on the role of leader. What two dogs are face to face and barking or growling at each other, the looser is the one who stands down first. The other will then feel it's dominance over the other. The only way you would want to stop this process, is by showing your own dominance as leader of them, in a non threatening way.

So to keep the status quo, try your best to keep up your leader image intact as much as you can while you recover.

Thank you for your reply (sorry it is so late but due to time zone differences and my health i had to log out)

I have not had any problems with dominance (thank goodness) I should be glad that my illness doesnt seem to have caused a problem with "our" day to day "rubbing along"

I would like to have your input though over how i can make them react to visitors when i am very much under medication.

I have had one idea. i am thinking of getting a new door bell fitted that has has a totally different sound. I am thinking about reversing my life long training of them being quiet and just giving me "physical" indications of alert.

I have spoken to my neighbours today about this problem.
To be honest, they are muslims and so shy away from dogs, BUT they very quickly understood and were quite amazed when my dogs accepted them as "OK " people and didnt bark at them.

I have explained my health problems to them and although they are a bit wary I think they could be a real help to me if my dogs start barking.

Any and all thoughts would be welcomed.
Cheers