SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Training
How Do I Train My Dog?
How
To Prevent Puppy Jumping & Walking Problems
Jumping
up is one of these puppy behaviors
that some people encourage but others deplore. There's no doubt
that being greeted by a puppy jumping up to give you a hug
or a sloppy kiss has its appeal, but when that puppy reaches
adult size, suddenly the behavior is, well, not so appealing!
Before it gets out of hand, look into your crystal ball and
decide whether this is a behavior you really want to encourage.
It can be tolerable in a small dog, although you run the risk
of snags in your stockings, but a puppy that will be the size
of a half-grown bear cub can inadvertently cause injuries by
knocking something over. Teaching a still small puppy to sit
instead of to jump up for attention is a good way to prevent
problems later.
When the pup looks like it's about to jump up, tell it to
sit, then bend down to give it attention or a treat. The puppy
can't sit and jump simultaneously, so if it learns to sit when
told it won't jump. With consistency, the puppy will learn
to sit to get attention.
Walking Properly
And of course, there is the problem of teaching a new puppy
how to walk properly. Early training can make walking a puppy
much more enjoyable. It's best to use lots of food or a favorite
toy and back up training with tons of patience in order to
teach puppies to walk right at your side without pulling on
the leash.
“I put no pressure on the leash,” says Amy Harmon, long-time
dog trainer and part owner of her southern California school
for Obedience Training.
She goes on to say: “In my right hand I hold a hot dog or
a toy at my left thigh, where the heel position is, and say,
'Puppy, heel.' Off we go, even if it's just 10 steps. I keep
my right wrist at my thigh so the toy or hot dog is right where
the puppy's nose is, and if they're not there, they correct
themselves.”
The bottom line here is that it is a heck of a lot easier
to teach a puppy what you want it to do than to unteach bad
habits in an older dog. Remember that the amount of time and
effort you spend training a puppy will be repaid over its lifetime.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2009
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