Who's in control?

I was walking Gus in the park yesterday. I hear the jingling of a collar coming up behind us and I brace myself for what happens next. A medium boxer attempts to sniff Gus. Gus's hackles are up immediately, he yanks on the lead and lets out three low growling barks and goes for the boxer's throat. I pull on the lead, desperately try to move Gus away. End up being under low lying branches of a tree, bending down and trying to get Gus under some kind of control, saying "sit". All is pointless, because the boxer keeps coming back for more and Gus repeats his growling and lunging. I walk away and I assume the boxer's owner eventually collected his/her dog. I have no idea, I didn't look round, just walked away and burst into tears. I cried all the way home.

Being 8 months pregnant and having to deal with dog aggression is not really how I wanted my Sunday morning to go. It really shook me up and made me think about how safe I'd feel with Gus and baby out walking. Something that will happen in a few weeks time. I don't want to give Gus up, but I really don't think it will take many more experiences like that before B takes him back to the pound. So, I've launched a take back control project with our little dog. All the books, TV shows, advice websites say again and again you have to be the leader. So my mantra with Gus is "I am the leader". I've started to be a Nazi on walks with him and we are doing leadership activities at home (he lies next to me without moving for 30 minutes, every time he pops up, I put him down without saying anything). He is being a little stubborn - which tells me I am not the leader in his eyes - but we will get there.

I've been too soft and it is not good for him or me. It is the same way with teaching - and I assume going to be exactly the same way with parenting. With all three I have to be a leader - firm and consistent. However, there is always a little voice that is prone to bending the rules. I need to stop that little voice. I think of how often I have done it in the classroom and it has resulted in so much pain and stress for me dealing with the negative consequences.

I have four weeks to develop my leader persona to help me be a dog owner, teacher and a parent! I am the leader. I am the leader. I am the leader.