Dog obedience: Stop the jumping!

Does your dog jump all over visitors? Does he even jump all over you when you first get home? Does he fail to quit jumping when you give the command to stop?

Every dog is a different personality, but here are some tips that might work for you:

First, you and any guests must learn to ignore the dog when you walk in the house. No eye contact, no petting or talking to the dog. This is to dispel the idea that someone coming in is an exciting event.

Once the dog learns to calm down, you can go back to greeting him - but quietly.

When the dog does jump on you, instead of moving backward, move forward, into the dog. He'll not only lose his balance, but he'll get the message in "dog talk" that this is your space and he is to move out of it. You can give the command for down, but don't give him any other attention.

If this happens in the same place in the house repeatedly, keep a can of pebbles or pennies nearby and shake it at him. Dogs don't like that sound and will retreat.

While you're teaching the dog not to jump for attention, you need to also teach him that he will get positive attention by sitting quietly. Your dog wants attention from you - and if the only way he can get it is by being a pest, he'll be a pest.

So, when the dog is sitting quietly, tell him he's good, give him a pet, or even a treat. If he comes to sit quietly beside you when you're visiting with a guest, take a second to acknowledge his presence and give him some petting while you talk.

Try hard to remember not to just say "Good Dog." Praise the behavior itself using the words you use for commands. For instance, say "Good sit", "good off," "good down," & "good stay."

He knows he's a good dog - but he needs to know what he did that was so good!

Living happily with dogs

Dog lovers need to read more than one doggie blog... so go here and read about 31 doggie duties to do dutifuly for 31 days.

I told my own dogs what it said, and they agreed with everything but #20 - you'll see why.

I've always lived with dogs, and until about 6 years ago had never considered taking one to obedience class. But then our rescue sponsored obedience classes and I had a young dog, so I decided to take part. My dog loved it! She would get so excited when we'd pull up in front of the building that she couldn't sit still. From there we did advanced obedience and then agility - and we had great fun.

So, since these dogs have always been a part of my life, and since I had assimilated what I learned in obedience school into our daily lives, I hadn't been thinking much about the "commands" I give the dogs. I don't much like that word, by the way, but guess it's the one that fits.

Then our neighbor got a puppy and started asking me about how to train her, and I started paying attention to what I was saying and doing with my dogs. I was amazed when I realized how many commands they respond to, and how often I use some of them. Like "wait." I think I say that a lot! "Leave it" is another one - every time they start to harass the cat.

Now I'm hoping that we can find an obedience class somewhere nearby when little Freckles gets just old enough to pay attention.

The reason I never considered obedience class sure sounds silly when I think of it now... I had some notion that it would turn a dog into a robot, or make him lose his personality, or something. In truth, all it did was make us enjoy each other's company a whole lot more.

Dog obedience training: A very important command

What do you think is the most important command you can teach your dog? I guess it would be hard to rate them, because things like come and stay and off (or down) make such a difference in how you get along with your dog.

But I think one of the most important is "Leave it." Teaching it takes a little bit of patience, and a little bit of "setting the stage." When you're interacting with your dog at home or when you have him on a leash, he isn't getting into too much mischief.

To teach this, have the dog on a leash so you can give a tug at the same time you give the command. Put something interesting where he'll be attracted to it. (This could happen naturally if you're out walking in the neighborhood.)

As soon as the dog starts to go toward the object (or other animal) give a tug and say "leave it." If you have to tug a bit harder to get his attention, do it. Then when he comes back to you, tell him "Good leave it" and praise him mightily. Give a treat, too.

It sure is nicer and more effective to be able to yell "leave it" and have your dog get out of the trash than to scream "Get the H... out of the garbage, you idiot!"

The other day I let my dogs out of the car at a neighbors and one immediately spotted the cat and headed that way. I said "Pepper, leave it." And he came right back to the car. Of course I felt just a little bit smug when my neighbor commented on how well my dog behaved.

Living with well-behaved canines really is a lot of fun. Now if I could just figure out a way to make the cat listen...

Yours for joy,
Marte