Understanding Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Separation Anxiety is the name for what happens when a dog is over traumatized by the absence of its owner. It is a dangerous problem because it means the dog cannot be left alone without it showing signs of stress, which may include destructive behavior, uncontrolled urination, or defecation, and loss of appetite.

This problem is more common in the more intelligent breeds but can occur in any breed of dog. It can be due to early weaning, coming from a puppy mill, poor genetics, lack of early socialization, but is often is the result of an owner who coddled their dog too much.

Dogs are pack animals, it is their nature to want to be with their “pack”, or in this case, their owner. In nature though, some animals are left in the den, while the hunters hunt. So it is equally normal for some dogs, and pups, to be left behind from time to time. When an owner allows their dog to be dependent on them all the time, they encourage it to become stressed if left for any length of time.

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Because owners often feel like they have to soothe a crying dog, they can actually encourage the behavior to start. While in some cases it does not become true separation anxiety, when it does, it is a real problem. Comforting a lonely dog tells it that there is something wrong with being alone, and something to fear.

Acting early, teaching the dog to be crate trained, is one of the best ways to prevent separation anxiety. Once the problem has developed, an owner must condition the dog to accept their absence. Unfortunately this is sometimes difficult because the owner who has coddled their dog does not see the problem for what it is, and sometimes they enjoy the feeling of the dog being so needy of them.

Simple Lessons

If your dog knows obedience, and every dog should know the basics, have it “Sit” and “Stay”. Step away from the dog, but watch it, make sure it obeys and remains in the Sit/Stay position. Correct as needed, but never talk to (or touch) a dog when you are correcting them. Return to the dog and reward. Get the dog to hold the Sit/Stay and go in another room, out of sight. Use a mirror the dog is unaware of to monitor it for movement, correct it as needed, but gradually extend the time you are away and out of sight of the dog before returning and offering a reward. Never train for too long, always end on a positive. Never overly reward a dog on your return.

Harder Lessons

Leave the dog alone in a space where it can do little damage, preferably a crate. Rest assured, this is going to be harder on you, the owner, than the dog. If you fail here, you will fail to help your dog. Provide the dog with a new toy to occupy its time. The toy must not be anything similar to one the dog already associates with his, or her anxiety. Meaning if the dog normally chews stuffed animals to bits when left alone, provide a hard rubber toy, not a stuffed one. Now the hard part: Leave it alone!

At first leave only for a matter of seconds, before the dog has become anxious. Gradually extend your periods of absence. Sometimes leave through your front door, and re-enter through your back door. Do not overly greet the dog or say soothing things like “Don’t worry, I’m back.”. Simply approach the kennel and let the dog out. Excessive greeting on your part encourages anxiety.

As the days go by you can extend your time away, so that eventually you can be gone for more than an hour without undue stress on your dog.

Prior to leaving the dog in a crate, and upon your return, do not pay too much attention to the dog. This re-enforces the behavior. When it is time to crate the dog put it in and leave. Comforting the dog before leaving it sends it a signal that something is wrong.

Other Tips

Leave the radio on when you are away.

One longterm management for separation anxiety, is by using the Bach Flower rescue remedy. This is a homeopathic remedy often used by animal shelters to reduce their anxiety, and negative reactions due to being in a cage for a prolonged period of time. An owner puts drops of the remedy into their dogs water, and many people swear by it. This can be purchased at a health food store for humans.

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How To Stop Your Fence Jumping Dog And Keep Him Safe At Home

Are you just plain fed up with your fence jumping dog?  Are you worried that something bad is going to happen to him when he escapes?  Here are some tips for keeping safe at home in his own yard.

Tips For Slowing Him Down

Make it harder for him to get over the fence.  First, you may need a taller fence.  He can’t argue with gravity.  If it’s too high, he can’t get over it.

Remove anything he’s using as a step.  Trash cans, barbeque grills, tables, and firewood stacks should be moved away from the fence.  If he’s using a shed, you may need to block his access to it. 

Plant some bushes in front of the fence to prevent him from getting a running start.

If you can, get on the other side of the fence with a hose.  When he starts to come over the top, squirt him and say “OFF!” 

You may need to allow him in the yard only when you’re there to supervise him.  It may be necessary to keep a hard-core fence jumper on a leash so he can’t get away from you. 

Preventing Dog Jumping Fence Is The Best Cure

Fence jumping is a self-rewarding behavior.  Every time your pup leaps over the fence, he’s being rewarded for his actions because he’s getting what he wanted, which was to get out of the yard.  Like many dog behavior problems, once this bad dog habit is established, it’s very hard to break.

Spend time training your pup when he’s still very young.  As little as ten minutes a day will pay big dividends later on by preventing future dog behavior problems.  These dog obedience tips will be useful for any pet owner.

We’ve all seen somebody trying vainly to get a canine on the loose to come back to them, while the pet is happily ignoring them and dashing in and out of traffic.  Prevent this potentially tragic scenario by teaching your puppy to “come” while he’s still young.

The “sit-stay” command is another basic command.  If you notice your pup even thinking about going over the fence, immediately tell him to “sit” and then to “stay.”  A well-trained pet will listen to you.

“Off” is used for a variety of situations.  You can prevent your pup from jumping up on people, or jumping on the fence, or keep him off the furniture with this command. 

Training your pet is very important.  When he listens to you and obeys you, he’s accepting you as the pack leader.  Many well-meaning people don’t realize that they need to be the pack leader in order to gain their canine’s respect.  Without that respect, it’s very difficult to train him.

A Good Dog Training Course Is Essential

You’ll want to find a good dog training course.  Not only will it give your training some structure, but it helps everyone in the family to use the same commands and do the same things with him.  Consistency is the key.  It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to train a pup if someone in the household is encouraging the very behavior you’re trying to end.

You’ll want to look for a good dog training course today to end the problem of a fence jumping dog.

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Benefits of Dog Training Classes

Dog training is the way to go if you want to get the best out of your dog. You can build a lifelong bond between you and your dog through obedience training. A trained dog is more effective and enjoyable as a friend companion and playmate. Though a dog can be trained for different purposes such as hunting, law enforcement, dog sports etc what most dogs require is just basic obedience training.

Dogs are ‘pack’ animals. They live in families called packs where there is a dominant leader. This leader is followed by everybody in the pack. Your dog sees your family as his pack and will naturally follow the leader. If he sees no apparent leader, he will take up the leadership and start dictating the laws. This is the general picture of an untrained and unruly dog. Dog training will help you to assert your leadership so your dog can follow you.

Basic obedience training usually aims to condition your dog to the following six commands; stay, sit, down, come, close and heel. Your dog can be trained by different people. A friend can help or you can get a professional to train him for you. However the best person to train your dog is you. Personally training your dog helps you to create a special bond between the two of you. Understanding grows as you work and play with him and you create the best possible relationship with your dog.

Although you can train your dog at home, the best place to train him is a dog training class. He can get trained with little distraction. You will see experts in action and you will be able to watch, learn and practice. This will reduce the frustrations of training for you and your dog. You will learn how to use commands, teach them to your dog and give proper reward or praise. Your dog will also have the opportunity of socializing with other dogs. Dog training classes will motivate you by giving you help and support.

 

Formula For Dog Obedience Training Program

If your dog refused to eat during the early stages of training, stop the tenor and have a play turnout or still your dog until it is relaxed and begins to accept treats again. This process may necessitate 3 to 4 sessions but it is worth operation through indubitable to develop your dog’s positive attitude towards obedience. Conduct 3 training sessions a day, each meet surviving approximately 20 toilet paper while allowing at least 1 hour rest in-between sessions. Impact a 2-week period, there should be a total of 30 sessions.

Week 1 and Week 2

1) Teach your animal the “heel” skill. Repeat a plan of 3 to 5 circles again realize 5 series of 4-step “heels” per session.

2) Teach the “sit” and “release” skill. Command your loathsome to “sit”, let original stay reputation the sit position for a moment in consequence give the “release” command to passing over your grisly from the “sit”. Repeat this series 5 times per session.

3) For each session, vim on a aligning of 1 exercise and move to another exercise (i.e., work on one aligning of 4-step “heel”, so a distribution of “sit” again “break”, and climactically a series of 4-step “heels”’).

Although dogs need repetition to design a skill, you need a asymmetry of exercises to keep them interested as they stab easily.

Week 3 also Week 4

1) Reinforce the “heel” intelligence. Test the “heel” command from lessons learned from week 1 and week 2.

2) Reinforcing the “sit” and “release” command. Begin training your dog to hold the “sit” position pristine from 5 seconds further gradually enlargement the time to 10 seconds.

3) Begin teaching your dog the “down” command (use treats to lure your dog to annotate it the understanding). Repeat the series 2 times per session in spell 3 and 3 times per cattle call in week 4.

Week 5 and time 6

1) Uphold to reinforce and test the “heel”, “sit” also “release” commands. Enter upon to hold distractions when training “heel” and “sit” to train your dog to continue focusing on you even crack are distractions.

2) Extend the concept of holding position to build patience by extending the “sit” from 5 – 10 seconds to 30 seconds – 1 short before releasing the “sit” command.

When you test your dog, you should assert each ultimatum until it passes the objection 3 consecutive times.

3) Start to amplify the “down” command imprint week 5 by removing the treat besides bring help. During juncture 6, begin unfolding without any bodily assistance. You can reintroduce treats as the reward but do not tempt your dog. Personalized lagniappe you’re uninviting after it has successfully on ice the “down” command. Training sessions may become more stressful for both you and your dog for you progress from the impression miracle and number among pursuit the more prohibitive reinforcing advent. If you find a particular interrogation too paramount for both of you; annihilate the exercise and continue to entrench the skills individually, you can repeat that particular test a few days later. While the length and regularity of the sessions remain unchanged as the nonpareil week, the sessions are becoming less predictable and require varieties to enter upon them as interesting and effective as they can be.

Week 7 again year 8

1) While continuing to reinforce and interrogation the “heel”, “sit” and “release” commands, don’t evade reinforcing the “down” command as well. Esteem 1 of every 3 sessions; consist of distractions to your easily done commands. Improve “down from a stand” motion with the “down” command.

2) Forge ahead the time-span of the holding position and begin dogma the “stay” command.

3) Begin combining the different commands when exercise. Teach “sit” and “down” from your spectacle and testing motion “down” also motion “sit”.

4) Start teaching the “come” command. Put your dog on “sit/stay” position, extent walking backwards counselor the temperament holding skills. Body language plays an important role in teaching this command and sending the wrong signals sometimes causes your dog not to reckon on the position.

Week 9, Week 10 And After

1) Reinforce “stay” and “come” command. Always provide a succinct leash recall to reinforce the final dispatch bias. Repeat at least 10 times per sit-in. “Come” is the most important command but the early practiced of imperforate the other commands.

2) Siphon test and elevate all obedience commands. Land outright commands equally, working on each command seeing little whereas 1 or as numerous in that 5 repetitions per series though you should escape creating patterns. Make exercises targeted towards your practical obedience achievement. Include distraction training agency at least 1 peripheral of every 3 malleability practice sessions.

There many myths about what dog breeds can and cannot be taught dog tricks. Learn the truth about training different dog breeds withtips from a professional dog trainer in this free pet care video. Expert: Dustin Daniels Contact: www.DoggieStepsDogTraining.com Bio: Mark Siebel owns DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training, and teaches agility basics and dog tricks. Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

Sick Of Your Dog Jumping Up On You? Here’s How To Stop Dog Jumping

Are you sick and tired of your dog jumping up on you and others?  Are you worried that he’ll scare a child, or worse yet, knock someone down?  Does screaming “NO” at him and waving your arms around only make him jump around even more?  Don’t despair, you can stop dog jumping quickly and easily with these dog obedience tips.

How To Block Him From Jumping

You need to figure out why he’s jumping to solve the problem completely, but in the meantime, you need to get control of the behavior.  When he tries to jump on you, turn sideways to him.  Now you can either stick your leg in front of him to block him, or lean into him with you hip.  You want to prevent him from getting a single paw on you.  

If he’s managed to jump on you before you can stop him, turn away from him and ignore him.  This doesn’t mean go on with what you were doing and pretend he’s not there.  It means you turn away from him and actively ignore him.  He must know you’re ignoring him.  He needs to understand that if he jumps on you, you will completely withdraw your attention.  

Either way, once all four feet are on the ground, tell him to “sit.”  When he obeys, now you give him attention and maybe a reward.

Why Dogs Jump On People

Contrary to what you may think, your pup doesn’t jump on you when you get home because he’s happy to see you.  He’s overexcited and agitated, and jumping is a way of using up his excess energy.  Canines need lots of exercise and social stimulation.  They also need things to do.  If he’s left by himself all day long with nothing to do, he’ll get bored and restless.  A bored dog is a recipe for dog behavior problems.  

Take him for a long walk in the morning and again in the afternoon.  Provide him with toys to play with while you’re gone.  A toy you can stuff with food will keep him happily occupied for hours trying to get the food out of it.  If there’s a dog park in the area, take him there so he can run around and play with other pups.

Ignore him for fifteen minutes when you get home.  You don’t need to greet him and make a big scene upon your return.  It’s best to keep things quiet and low key.  If he tries to jump up on you when you come home, squirt him with a water pistol if ignoring him doesn’t work.  Tell him to “sit.”  Once he’s calmed down is when you should give him attention.

If he does manage to jump up on you, don’t yell “no” at him, jump away from him, or push him away with your hands.  He’ll think you’re playing with him.  All you’re doing is rewarding his behavior, which will make him jump even more.

Consistency Is Essential

All the dog obedience tips in the world won’t help if everyone in your household is not doing the same thing with your pup.  If one person is encouraging the behavior you’re trying to end, you will never be able to stop your dog jumping up on people.

A good dog training course is essential to ending this behavior.  If you spend ten minutes a day training him properly, you’ll be amazed at the change in his behavior.  

With some time and loving attention, you can stop dog jumping, and transform an unruly pup into a well-loved member of your family.

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What Every New Dog Owner Should Know About Professional Dog Training

If you’re a new dog owner, then grab a cup of coffee, find a comfy chair, and relax because you are going to want to read this article right away.

In the next few minutes, we’re going to look at some very important things that need to be considered if you are thinking about hiring a professional dog trainer. First, we’re going to discuss why professional dog trainers achieve success when the dog owner can’t. Next, we’re going to determine if you need to hire a professional dog trainer. Finally, we’re going to finish up with a few tips that will help you train your dog at home and avoid unneccessary expense.

First, let’s start with understanding why professional dog trainers are successful and dog owners aren’t.  The simple fact is that they have received training in this area, and have lots of relevant experience.  They know exactly what to do and when to do it.  They are unrelenting.  Meaning, they don’t let up until the dog understands what it did wrong and starts to behave correctly.  Most dog owners just don’t have the patience, or the heart, to keep on their dog.  They just give up.  The truth is that most times a professional isn’t necssary at all.  The owner just needs to acquire the proper knowledge, and a little patience. 

Still think you need a dog trainer?  In a small number of cases, they are necessary.  There are 3 typical behaviors that your dog will exhibit that should alert you that a professional may indeed be necessary.  That is, if you’ve tried everything and just can’t break these behaviors.  First, your dog will walk you.  If it’s a bigger dog, he’ll try to pull you around like a rag doll.  Next, he’ll totally ignore all of your commands.  He may not even look at you when you speak to him.  Lastly, he’s highly territorial.  You won’t even be able to get a seat on the couch next to him.  Wait a minute!  Why is he even on the couch?  See what I mean?  He’ll be totally out of control.

Finally, let’s talk about what you can do to ensure that you DON’T need to hire a professional. First and foremost, make the training occassion enjoyable.  If you are in a good mood, your dog will sense that.  If you approach the training session half-heartedly, so will your dog.  Keep the training sessions short.  Lots of ten to fifteen minute sessions are best.  Too many marathon sessions, and your dog will perceive training as punishment.  That brings me to my last tip.  Training sessions should NEVER involve punishment!  There should be no yelling, newspaper swatting, chain jerking, or electric shock.  As a matter of fact, these methods should never be used on your dog, even as punishment.  Always keep the training session positive. 

These are the three critical elements you MUST consider before you hire a professional dog trainer. Understand why professionals are successful, determine behaviors that require them, and employ the tips I discussed, and you will be able to make an informed decision when it comes to hiring a professional dog trainer.

Having obedience and training problems?  You can download a free 25-page dog training guide at: Dog Obedience And Training Guide

How to Train a Puppy or an Adult Dog to be Calm

Dog Training Tricks for Handling Hyperactive Puppies and Dogs

Puppies and adult dogs which are hyperactive and over-excitable are commonly encountered. In fact, this type of behavior is normal for a young, healthy dog or puppy. However, for dog owners, this type of behavior can be frustrating. Fortunately, these dogs and puppies are controllable using some basic dog obedience training and some simple time-tested training tips for the dog or puppy.

Exercise is Key to Calming a Dog or Puppy

Exercise helps to get rid of pent-up energy for young dogs and puppies and is healthy for all dogs. Without regular exercise, many dogs have no outlet for their energy and will become even more active and difficult to control. Methods of exercising a dog or puppy include:

walking

jogging

hiking

playing interactive games (fetch, frisbee, chase the ball, etc)

play sessions with other dogs

Obedience Training for Dogs and Puppies

Basic obedience training for a dog or puppy is essential to teach proper behavior and allow the dog owner to gain control over the dog or puppy’s activities. Regular obedience training sessions to teach such behaviors as sit, stay, lie down and come are recommended. Obedience training sessions should be short, frequent and fun for the dog or puppy.

One obedience training method which can be extremely effective in calming active dogs and puppies is teaching the dog or puppy to focus on the handler or owner. This is done by holding a treat at the level of the handler’s eyes and waiting until the dog or puppy is calm and focused intently on the handler’s face (and the treat) before rewarding the dog or puppy with the treat. The handler should start by holding the treat in front of the dog or puppy and then proceed to move the treat so that it is in front of the handler’s face, with the dog looking at his face.

If the dog or puppy grabs for the treat, simply move the treat out of its reach. In most cases, it does not take long for the dog or puppy to realize that the treat will not be given until it has calmed down and is quiet. By coupling this behavior with a command, such as “look at me”, a dog owner can train the dog or puppy to obediently calm down and remain quiet when asked.

Leave Interactive Toys for the Dog or Puppy When Away

For dogs and puppies who are too active or destructive when the owner is away from home, supplying the dog or puppy with interactive toys when away can be helpful. Interactive toys might include Kongs stuffed with food or treats or other food-filled toys which stimulate a dog’s mental activity and keep the dog or puppy occupied.

Stay Calm when Faced with an Hyperactive Dog or Puppy

One of the most important tips for the dog owner to remember is not to contribute to the behavior of the dog or puppy. The dog owner must stay calm and not yell at or scold the dog or puppy. Doing so will only reinforce the behavior. No attention, positive or negative, should be given to the dog or puppy until the dog or puppy is calm and relaxed. In many cases, especially early in the training process, this may mean that the owner needs to go to a separate room and close the door between himself and the dog until the dog has calmed and is quiet.

Even greeting a dog or puppy who is overexuberant on the owner’s return to the home can reinforce the dog’s overactive behavior and make the behavior more difficult to control. Dogs and puppies should be rewarded only for calm, relaxed behaviors. Overexuberant greetings should not be encouraged.

Being a Responsible Dog Owner

Before you Get a Dog

Are you allowed a dog where you live? This includes things like having landlord permission, as well as local by-laws restricting the number of dogs a person may have. Breaking the law may mean that you might have to surrender a dog at some point. A responsible owner would not put a pet at risk in this way.

Did you research the breed to make sure it is one suited to your lifestyle? Often people get puppies on a whim, only to find it grows into a dog that is too big, or too active for their liking. Researching the correct breed is very important to being a responsible dog owner.

Is your yard fully fenced, or do you have a means to contain the dog safely? A loose dog is a danger to itself, and most places have laws against allowing a dog to run loose. Chaining a dog often creates aggression. Although some situations do not require a fully fenced yard, some way of controlling a dog is important.

Is every one in the home accepting of their share of responsibility for the dog? Having a pet, any pet, when one or more people in the home do not want it is putting the pet at a disadvantage. Even if one person is the main care provider if anyone has allergies or a fear of dogs, there might be problems later on.

 

Getting the Dog

Where from? A responsible owner does not buy a pet from a pet store thereby contributing to the cruelty of puppy mills. A responsible owner selects a good breeder or adopts from a local shelter.

Got the Dog

Is it spayed or neutered? One of the most responsible things a dog owner needs to consider is having it spayed (females at 6 months) or neutered (males at 8-10 months). This not only reduces the risks of some health concerns, it lowers the pets likelihood of wandering or becoming aggressive. Ultimately the main reason people spay or neuter pets is to stop them from contributing to the over population of puppies. More than 2 million are euthanized in the USA alone every year because more are born than there are homes for. If a person owns a purebred, registered dog, and are taking it to shows to prove it is a quality breeding animal then it is acceptable for them to keep it intact, provided they do not allow it to breed until it has earned the right titles.

Do you clean up after the dog? Cleaning up after a dog is not only important for sanitation reasons in your yard, but also when out on walks. A good owner always takes two bags with them for cleaning up after their pet.

Does the dog wear proper identification?  A responsible owner has their dog identified with a tattoo, license, or microchip. 

Has the dog received any Obedience lessons? This is often overlooked, particularly by owners of small dogs. Obedience lessons do not just teach the dog to “sit and stay” they also cover basic socialization and are a crucial part of dog ownership.

Does the dog receive regular medical care? This includes vaccinations, deworming, and yearly check ups. A responsible owner has money in the bank for pet medical emergencies and does not neglect needed care.

Is the dog regularly groomed? This applies more to some breeds than others. A dog with long hair needs regular brushing or its coat will become matted and painful. Nails need to be trimmed or they will grow long and curl back into the foot.

 

Are the dogs mental needs being met? Sadly most dogs who are given up to shelters are given up because of owner error in this department. A dog whose mental needs are not being met will become bored and destructive. Smart breed dogs need lots of attention and “games” to stimulate their minds. It is unfair to blame the dog for becoming destructive if owner neglect created the problem.

Is the dog allowed to bark for periods of time? If your dog is left outside when you are at work, you might want to talk to your neighbors to make sure the dog is not barking all day long. This is unfair to them, and a sign your dog needs more mental stimulation (see above).

When the time comes, what will you do? People need to consider the time their pet will be old or in pain. A responsible owner does their best to see that a pet is comfortable and not suffering because they are unsure of an action to take. While it is okay to allow a pet to die on its own, it is not okay to abandon it when it is old and ailing.

Ivan Balabanov’s www.TrainPerView.com watch dog training videos online now

Puppy Socialization – Don’t Neglect This Important Part of Training Your Dog

Let’s face it, as a new dog owner, you probably haven’t thought too much about puppy socialization.  However, this is a very important part of dog training.  Many cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known how to socialize a puppy.  

Why Is It So Important To Socialize Your Dog?

When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.  

It’s better to start socializing your dog while he’s still a puppy.  You may not know that the best age to socialize a puppy is when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks.  A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people.  This helps to prevent aggressive dog behavior towards strangers when he gets older.

However, it’s never too late to socialize your dog.  It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.

What’s The Best Way To Socialize A Puppy?

Actually it’s not that difficult to socialize your dog, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool.  This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.  Usually there are about 10 puppies and their people, along with a couple of dog trainers.  During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.

But the obedience lessons aren’t the most important part of puppy preschool.  The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.  During the play sessions, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to play with each other.  Why is this important?

First, your puppy is learning how to get along with unfamiliar dogs.  

Second, since there are other dog owners and a couple of dog trainers present, this means lots of unfamiliar people, too.  This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.

Third, it’s a controlled environment.  The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.

Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon

Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized.  This mistaken idea can lead to problems later on.  

It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places.  Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons.  By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing canine aggression towards strangers.

Here’s some food for thought:  even though your puppy has learned basic skills during his first few months, it’s important to keep reinforcing puppy socialization lessons throughout your dog’s life.

Instinct Helper Dog Sammy, CD, CGC, completes his third and final leg in AKC Novice A obedience to earn his AKC CD Companion Dog title. Sammy earned two first place blue ribbons and one second place red ribbon to complete his title. Instinct Dog Training NYC offers formal obedience training and behavior modification, as well as AKC Rally and Obedience classes for NYC dogs. ( www.instinctdogtraining )

How You Can Quickly Get Your Dog To stop Jumping On People

If you’re like me, you don’t want your dog jumping up on people.  No matter if he’s small or large, getting your dog to stop jumping is essential for preventing dog behavior problems in the future.  Here are some dog obedience tips that will help to stop dog jumping.

How To Block A Jumping Dog

This is a quick way to teach your pet to stop jumping on you.  This is really only a stop-gap measure, as you need to figure out why he’s jumping, and deal with that issue to solve the problem for good.

As your canine starts to jump up, turn sideways.  You can lean in his direction and block him with your hip.  Or step in front of him to block him from jumping.  Once all his feet are on the floor, tell him to “sit” and then praise him.  

If he manages to jump on you before you can block him, don’t yell “no” or jump away.  He thinks you’re playing with him, and this only serves to reinforce the behavior.  Turn on your heel and walk away.  Give him no attention whatsoever until all four feet are on the floor.  Only then will you tell him to “sit” and then reward him.

Why Dogs Jump

Many people make the mistake of thinking their dog jumps on them because he’s happy to see them.  This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Dogs jump for three reasons: they’re overexcited, they’re challenging your dominance as pack leader, or you’ve accidentally encouraged them to do so.  

By far the most common reason for many dog behavior problems, including jumping, is a bored dog.  Canines are social animals who need lots of interaction with their pack.  They also need lots of exercise to burn off excess energy.  If your pet is left alone all day with nothing to do, your return at night is the high point of his day, and he releases his energy by getting overexcited.  If you make a big fuss when you come home, you’re encouraging him to get overexcited, and rewarding him for the jumping behavior.  

You can prevent this by taking him for a long walk in the morning, and again in the evening.  Take him to the dog park if you have one nearby so he can run and play with other canines.  It’s also important to keep it low-key when you leave and come home.  Ignore him for fifteen minutes when you come home.  If he jumps on you, turn around and walk away.  

A dog jumping up on people may be a dominance issue.  In the wild, a subordinate member of the pack would never jump on the alpha dog.  This is seen as challenging the leader, and the leader won’t tolerate it.  No matter if your pet is small or large, you shouldn’t tolerate it either.  

A good dog training course is worth its weight in gold when trying to teach your pup good habits.  You’ll be able to train your dog quickly and easily with a course that offers a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  

Don’t put up with dog behavior problems like a dog jumping up on people any longer.  Take steps now to stop dog jumping so that your pet will be a happy, obedient addition to your family.

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