Do you have a puppy that jumps on you, company and even your Grandma
who has a walker? This can be a very irritating trait for your dog to
develop. Unfortunately, it can make people dread coming to your home.
No one wants to try to have a conversation with a fluffy fur ball
trying to jump on them or sit on their lap.
There are many dogs
which are just too friendly. They never meet a stranger, and they would
even roll the red carpet out and lavish love on the most grouchy
individual. While no one wants to discourage friendliness in a puppy,
they do need to learn social manners.
Have you ever known a
person who you try to avoid? When you see this person coming do you do
everything within your power to ensure you aren't held up by their
endless chatting? There are some dogs who people simply want to avoid,
too. If one of these overly friendly guys is in your home, you should
teach them self-control. This can be done through consistent training.
Sometimes
this sort of problem arises because a puppy thinks he is in charge of
the home. He thinks he is "Lord of the Manor" and everyone should be
pleased to have him on their laps! Dogs usually develop this attitude
when they do not feel that a leader has been clearly defined in the
home. These canines are more than happy to step into the role as the
alpha male and do things at their whim and fancy.
The most
important thing you can do when you bring your puppy home is to send
him the signal that you are the leader of his pack. One of the first
steps to achieving this is to have your pet rely on you for his food.
You should never leave a full bowl of food out for your puppy to munch
on at his leisure. By having you be the one which meets his hunger
needs, he will quickly learn to respect you. You should have a set
routine when you feed your dog throughout the day. Any food that is
left after 20 minutes should be put away until the next feeding.
Dogs
can also get confused and think they are the king of the house when
they are the first ones greeted by a member of the family after an
absence. You should make a point to greet all members of your household
before you acknowledge your puppy. If you live alone, you can go to
your room, change clothes or get a drink before you settle down and
greet your puppy. Many owners only intensify a bad jumping habit when
they greet their puppy exuberantly when they come through the door each
day.
It is very important that you start teaching your puppy
what "down" means the moment they start a habit of jumping. This is not
a very hard technique to teach your puppy--if you practice it ever time
they jump. The best thing to do during this phase is to let your pup
jump on you. When he does and bounces back to the floor say "down."
But, don't say this while he is jumping. You have to wait until all
four feet of his feet are firmly on the floor. You should also use this
word each and every time he is caught reclining on the furniture and
you have to put him on the floor.
Once your dog seems to have an
understanding of what down means, you should never allow him to jump on
you again. Each time your puppy starts to jump on you, turn away
immediately. Your pooch will miss his mark and hit the floor. Don't
make a fuss. Simply turn your back and step out of his way. Once your
pup is back down on the floor, you can reach down, pet him, and say
"down." Your pup may not take to this at first. He may continue to jump
repeatedly until he reaches his target . . . you. Every time he jumps
up to you, simply step away and turn your back. Never greet your puppy
until he is completely down on the floor. Your puppy will soon learn
what down means, and he will also learn that he will not get attention
from you if he is jumping. While this can easily turn into a match of
wills, it is important that your dog understands that you are the
leader of his pack!
An option to teach your puppy that jumping
on guests is unacceptable is to have him on a leash. Have a leash by
your door and if a guest arrives, put him on the leash before you open
the door. If your pup stands up on his back legs and tries to greet the
guest, pull him gently to the floor and say "down." You should advise
your guests to ignore your puppy until he is on the floor. When your
puppy starts to stay on the floor when guests arrive, have dog treats
by the door to reward him with. Each and every time he does not jump up
to greet a guest, praise him for staying down and give him a dog treat.
Dogs
are very intelligent animals. They learn rather quickly. They can learn
to obey and blend into the family, or they can learn to run wild and be
a general nuisance to everyone. The choice is up to the owner. It is
best to start training your puppy from day one. While many commands
cannot be learned right away, you should always let your puppy know
that you are the leader of his pack and that you will take care of him.
In return, you expect to be obeyed and respected.
You may find
that some dogs take to learning their social skills easier than others.
You should never give up if you have a pooch who is a slow learner.
Once it mentally clicks with your puppy what you are expecting from
him, he will usually happily oblige. Puppies thrive under consistent
training, routine, and praise. Once he discoveries that you will pile
on the praise and adoration, he will gladly keep his feet on the floor
and greet you and your guests from a comfortable distance.
Some
dog owners may have trouble mastering the proper tone and techniques
which are needed to command their dogs respect. If you are finding it
hard to train your puppy, you may want to consider taking your canine
to an obedience class where the pair of you can benefit from the
instruction. You can check the local newspapers or go on the Internet
to find the next available class in your area.
Your puppy will
be with you for the rest of his life. You owe it to you and your guests
(and even your dog!) to teach him how to interact and get along
socially with humans.
About the Author:
Author Ian White is founder of Dog-Breeders.biz. Those seeking dogs can
locate and match with appropriate breeders. Dog-Breeders.biz automates
the matching of dogs for sale with dog wanted entries, with daily email
notifications. Dog lovers and breeders can find more information on the
website at: http://www.dog-breeders.biz
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