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Dog Training: How You Can Prevent Your Puppy From Jumping On People, Tugging The Leash And Roaming Around Dangerously
Unfortunately, eliminating problem behaviors is one thing that
most dog owners eventually face. Here we will focus on a few of
the most commonly encountered behavior problems.
Problem #1 - 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 up on 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 is 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.
When the puppy tries to jump on you or another member of your
family, gently but firmly place the puppy's feet back on the
floor. After the puppy is standing firmly on the floor, be sure
to reward and praise him.
It is important for every member of the family, as well as
frequently visiting friends, to understand this rule and follow
it religiously. 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.
The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious -
they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are
reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is
important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways.
Many well meaning owners, family members and friends
inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the
puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.
One way to redirect the dog's happiness and excited ness from
jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This
"shaking hands" posture is an acceptable way for the dog to show
his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their dogs
to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on
people.
Problem #2 - 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 well meaning owners. Playing games like
tug of war with the leash, or even with a rope (that can look
like the 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. A training collar, when properly
used, can also be a good training tool for a problem dog. When
using a training collar or choke chain, however, it is very
important to fit it correctly, and to use a size that is neither
too big nor too small for your dog.
When walking with your puppy, it is important to keep the leash
loose at all times. If the puppy begins to pull ahead, the
handler should quickly change directions so that the puppy fast
finds itself falling behind. It is important to reverse
directions before the puppy has reached the end of the leash.
The leash should stay loose except for the split second it takes
the handler to reverse direction. It is important to use a quick
tug, followed by an immediate slackening of the 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.
It is important not to yank or pull on the puppy's neck when
correcting him. A gentle, steady pressure will work much better
than a hard yank. The best strategy is to use the least amount
of pressure possible to achieve the desired result.
Problem #3 - Escaping and roaming the neighborhood
A responsible dog owner would never dream of allowing his or her
dog to roam the neighborhood freely. Allowing a dog to roam on
its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the dog and the
neighborhood), and probably even illegal. Most towns have
ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around
free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found
wandering the neighborhood unattended.
Of course sometimes that wandering dog is not the owner's idea,
and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their
own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including
passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is
much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose dog, so
let's talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can
take.
Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution.
A bored dog is much more likely to spend his day plotting the
great escape. A dog that is surrounded by everything he or she
needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean,
water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly
sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.
In addition, a dog with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely
to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play
sessions with your dog into your daily routine. Make one of
those play sessions right before you leave. If your dog has a
chance to work of his or her energy, chances are he or she will
sleep or relax much of the day.
Of course dealing with the dog is only half the problem. It is
also important to make the property as escape proof as possible,
through proper fencing and other measures. For dogs that dig, it
may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing
metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For dogs that jump,
it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of
these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the dog to
the house when you are not at home.
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