Jumping Up
As much as most of us like dogs and don’t really mind them jumping up on us for joy some of the time, there are other occasions when it is not appropriate for them to do so. The problem is that dogs don’t understand that it is okay to jump up on you when you are wearing jeans but not okay when you are all dolled up and waiting for your date to arrive or you are on your way to the church social. Also, some people are terrified of dogs, and the last thing in the world they want is to have a dog leaping all over them. For all of these reasons and more, dogs must be taught not to jump up on anyone -ever- not even when they are puppies.
If your dog comes bounding up to greet you and plants his feet on you for a love pat, push those paws down and command “Off!” Just as soon as all four of the dog’s feet are on the ground, praise him lavishly. Remember to only use the off command and no other. Don’t say “Down” unless you actually want your dog to lie down. Don’t try saying “No” one time and “Scoot” the next. Success depends upon your dog associating the command with the word.
One of the problems you may face is that some people will ignore your wishes and say, “Oh, I don’t mind, I have dogs of my own. I love them all.” They are trying to be nice, but nevertheless, they are making your training job more difficult. You’ll have to be direct about this situation and simply tell the person that you appreciate their kindness but that you are in the process of trying to teach the dog not to jump up on people. I’m sure they’ll understand and respect your wishes.
The no-jumping-up rule has to apply to everyone in the family as well. It’s difficult for a dog to determine who doesn’t mind or when the behavior is acceptable, and it’s because something that dogs like to do, the lesson will take forever to get across if everyone in the household doesn’t cooperate.
Chewing Problems
All dogs chew, and they do so for a whole lot of reasons. To begin with, dogs do everything with their mouths that we do with our hands. We humans, who should know better, do some terribly destructive things to relieve tension and escape from anxiety or frustration. Smoking cigarettes or compulsive eating are not exactly healthy measures, yet we continue to do them.
Dogs also chew to relieve anxiety and stress. Dog’s that aren’t given sufficient exercise use up some of that energy by chewing; they test everything they come across to see what it is, what it tastes like, and what it’s made of. They chew to relieve the pressure of those tiny new teeth trying to burst their way through the gums.
There are a lot of reasons puppies chew-some of the results are acceptable in human society, some of them are not. Chewing is good when it is done on a bone or a safe chew toy, but bad when it takes place on the corner of your new coffee table or oriental rug.
Giving your dog things to occupy his time and taking the dog with you when you run errands or take short trips helps to keep his canine mind interested and active. There are very few dogs that are willing to sit around day after day with absolutely nothing to do that won’t eventually pick up something to relieve that boredom.
If you know your dog is inclined to chew and leave him in the living room when you go to the movies, expect him to have obliged your negligence. If, on the other hand, he is tucked safely away in his crate or his own small area with something to occupy his jaws, you can come home without fear that the entire encyclopedia set has been digested.
