Who eats FIRST?
The difference between dogs/cats and other animals such as cows, sheep, goats, and the like are that dogs and cats live in the house. Strange comparison?
Stay with me here, because this difference is important!! I grew up on the farm, and I knew that the animals could not feed themselves. My father and grandfather made sure I knew that the animals were fed first, then we got to go have breakfast.
What does this have to do with dogs? I usually am up quite early, and of course, I remembering my upbringing, feed the 3 dogs. Then my wife and I have breakfast. Kat, my wife, tells me that it's not good to feed the dogs before us. I, being trained by my parents, knew this could not be!! Feed the animals first! That's my motto.
So here's the deal. Dogs are pack animals. The live in our home. If dogs are to learn to behave, then they must come to know us as their pack leader or in other words, Alpha. DING, DING, DING!!!
So when I feed the dogs first.....I am telling them they are above me in the social ladder of the house. They take control. Then I am to expect them to listen to me? Yeah, RIGHT!!!