Unfortunately, eliminating problem behaviors is one thing that most puppy owners eventually face. And how to train my puppy properly is a concern to all dog owners. This article will focus on a few of the most commonly encountered behavior problems.
Train My Puppy – Jumping Up On People
One of the most frequently cited problems with dogs is that of jumping up on people. Unfortunately, this is one of those behaviors that is often inadvertently encouraged by well-meaning owners. After all, it is cute and adorable when that little 10 pound puppy jumps upon you, your family members, and your friends.
Many people reward this behavior on the part of a small puppy with kisses and treats. This is a huge mistake, however, since that cute little puppy may soon become a full grown dog who could weigh well in excess of 100 pounds. Suddenly that cute jumping behavior is no longer quite so cute.
In addition to being annoying, jumping up on people can be dangerous as well. A large, heavy dog, jumping enthusiastically, can easily knock over a child or an older or handicapped adult. In today’s litigious society, such an incident could easily make you, as the dog’s owner, the subject of an unwanted lawsuit.
The time to teach a dog that jumping up on people is unacceptable and do so when he is still young and easy to handle. Retraining a dog that has been allowed to jump up on people can be difficult for the owner, and confusing for the dog.
It’s quick and easy to teach your puppy how to greet people with all four paws on the floor.
1. When you know you have visitors coming round, leave a small pot of treats by the door and ask your visitors to grab a few before ringing the bell.
2. As your pup rushes up to say hello, ask your visitors to keep their hands down low and feed the treats to your puppy, one by one.
3. It’s important that your pup only gets the treats when all four paws are on the floor. So, if you think your visitors might struggle to follow your instructions, then you can have your pup on a leash, and you do the treat feeding instead.
If one member of the family reprimands the dog for jumping and another praises him, the dog will be understandably confused. As with other dog training issues, consistency is the key to teaching the dog that jumping is always inappropriate.
When praising and rewarding the dog for staying down, it is important for the trainer to get down on the dog’s level. Giving affection and praise at eye level with the puppy is a great way to reinforce the lesson.
Train My Puppy – Pulling And Tugging At The Leash
Pulling on the leash is another problem trait that many puppies pick up. Unfortunately, this behavior is also one that is sometimes encouraged by dog owners. Playing games like tug of war with the leash, or even with a rope (that can look like a leash to the dog) can unwittingly encourage a problem behavior.
The use of a quality body harness can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or retraining a dog that has picked up the habit of pulling on the leash. Try training the puppy to accept the body harness the same way it accepts the regular buckle collar.
When walking with your dog, try using a lure or toy to encourage the dog to remain at your side.
When walking with your puppy, it’s important to keep the leash loose at all times. If the pup begins to pull ahead, simply use a treat to encourage them back to the correct position.
Remember to start with just taking a couple of paces before praising and rewarding. Then, slowly increase the distance step by step, but all the time focusing on maintaining that loose leash.
When training a puppy, it is important to never let the puppy pull you around. Training the puppy to walk properly while he or she is still small enough to handle is absolutely vital, especially when dealing with a large breed of dog. If your 150 pound Great Dane hasn’t learned to walk properly while he or she is still a 20 pound puppy, chances are it never will.
There is no need to correct your puppy or apply any pressure to their sensitive neck area. It’s up to you to make sure that you make it as easy as possible for your puppy to get it right. The best place to start loose leash walking is in the quiet environment of your home. There they won’t be distracted by other dogs, people, or the traffic. Then by the time they’ve had their vaccinations and are ready to go out, they’ll be loose leash walking pros!