Globalpaw.com Dog Forum » General Dog Concerns & Questions » Puppy Forum

[JackAshton]

Hey,
I just got my first puppy ever. He really is a beautiful dog he has just had a lot of problems lately! He has been jumping like no other on people. Every time that someone comes over and tries to pet him he jumps and gets really really excited. It kinda gets really really annoying. If anybody has some dog whisperer skills I would love to hear them.
His first week he had some problems with chewing on shoes but after finding some petsmart coupons everything worked out. So that hasn't been a big problem.

Please help me!

Jack

[DarknessDivine]

Well first off you need to start working on basic commands so the pup understands what you want from him. Have you considered obedience classes? They are relatively inexpensive and sometimes your local humane society offers them at a discounted rate as well.

All of your problems can be solved with basic obedience and lots of commitment on your part. Consistency is key here.

[Cassiepeia]

To solve the jumping up, make sure you ignore him completely when he does that. That is....He jumps up, you (or who ever he's jumping on) turns away from him and ignores him. No speaking to him, no touching him, nothing. When he's on all fours, turn back around and give him lots of attention, if he jumps up again, turn around and repeat ignoring him. It will take time, and you need EVERYONE to do it (helps if you get some friends to come over to help you train him), but he'll learn that Jumping up = being ignored....staying on all fours = lots of attention.

Very basic rule of thumb is....Ignore the bad, reward the good.

I agree that obedience is needed. Training isn't an optional extra with dogs, it's necessary. You're like a parent in that you have to teach him the rules.

Cass.

[JJstardust]

I agree with Cassie. You should turn away from the pup to show that you don't want him jumping on you, and it is a bad thing. When Jesse james was a Pup, he started jumping up at people, especially when I got home from school. We started the turn away thing and he soon learned that we dont want him jumping up. Now at a big year old he knows now not to jump unless doing a trick. Also try simple commands like NO, and DOWN.

[Labman]

There are no quick easy, ''dog whisperer'' solutions to problems such as jumping up. Stepping backwards is about as effective as anything. The hardest part is keeping people from petting the dog when it jumps up. As long as it gets attention once in a while when it jumps up, it will jump up. Keeping others from petting it is a difficult people problem.

It would be best to have him on leash when he meets people and ask them to let you sit him before they give him any attention. If he learns he never gets any attention until he sits, he eventually should quit jumping.

[Tommy]

I would give him a bunch of toys to play with and make sure you catch him chewing on bad stuff and present him with one of his toys. As far as the jumping, the only thing that helped me was the no jump harness. It worked within a few weeks and after that we no longer needed to use it. He is now a well behaved, non jumping dog!

[Puzelle]

Tommy,

what's a "no-jump Harness"?

*******

I have a beginning problem with my newly acquired pup: He chews my pants. The only thing that has made her stop temporarily, was when I locked her into a room (so she couldn't get to me. - She's been with me for only 4 1/2 days and is 8 1/2 weeks old, so she still follows me around everywhere I go. I simply haven't had the time to really start training her to be alone for short periods). - I know my voice and tone and body posture are right when I command her to "STOP!, NO!", but for some reason she has no sense of how to interpret this.
I think it has to do with her age; she's very young.

And as usual I have the feeling that the problem isn't a problem with my pup, as much as a problem with me not having the ability or money to rearrange things so it would be easier for her to adjust to her new living-circumstances and the rules here.

Still, a tip or a good idea would mean tons! :-)

*******

Jack,

I don't think I can add much to what the others have said. I think they give sensible advice.
And it's true: Patience is so very central when it comes to teach a puppy to behave differently. - I understand your frustration! Geez, I've gone through such things myself and have several issues as I write. But with some things one just can't do anything "better" or "different" that makes the puppy understand faster.

By the way, how old is your pup? - That might have some saying on how to best go ahead with the training.

Also: I think training Classes is one of the absolute greatest things any dog (or pup) owner can participate in! If it's possible, I would warmly recommend that you take your pup through such a class!

Good luck with him! ^L^,

[Carrie]

http://www.globalpaw.com/forum/puppy...puppy-now.html (Prevention is the best medicine: Get started with your puppy now.)

Be sure to read the sticky threads, browse the forum and see what you can find. I don't know for sure what you mean by dog whisperer skills. If you're referring to "The dog whisperer," Cesar Milan, IMO, I'd stay away from that kind of dog handling and stick with more sophisticated methods, which you'll find in that link I just posted.

Instead of focusing on what you don't want your puppy to do, emphasise what you do want him to do. Teach him something that is incompatible with what you don't want him to do. For example, jumping up to greet: Teach him to sit in order to get attention. Instead of telling him "No" about chewing on your pant leg, show him what he CAN chew instead and make it more rewarding to him than chewing on your pant leg. Ignoring behavior that you don't like ONLY works when it's a behavior that is reinforced by your attention. Ignoring all unwanted behavior doesn't work if it's a behavior which is rewarding to the dog in and of itself OR if he's being rewarded or reinforced by something else in the environment. So, ignoring all behavior you don't like is not quite accurate. If I ignored my dog for getting into the garbage, he'd continue getting into the garbage because garbage is good stuff. But if I ignore my dog for whining or pawing at me because he wants my attention, then he will find that it doesn't work to whine and paw at me and that will extinguish. Anytime you discourage a behavior, always, always re-direct to an alternative for him. Offer him something else he CAN do which is incompatible with what you don't want him to do. So, if you ignore the jumping up....turn your back, cross your arms, don't speak or look at him and he falls back down on all fours, THAT's the time to turn quickly and praise him and even give him a little treat. Or wait until he sits and then reinforce him...whatever you prefer. In other words, you're showing him right then and there that jumping doesn't work, but sitting nicely does. If he chews on your pant leg, redirect him to something more fun to chew on. Prevent him from chewing on your pant leg. Wear shorts. LOL.

Prevention goes a long, long way in keeping unwanted behaviors from developing, so rather than waiting for him to jump up to try and do something about it, try to prevent it in the first place. When you see him thinking about it, tensing up his muscles, preparing to jump, do something about it quickly. Ask for a sit, which you will be training and practicing at other times. And reinforce. You must reinforce with something VERY worthwhile to him each time he gives a correct response and do it quickly. That's in the beginning....until he has it down pat. Then you don't have to treat him each and every time....but sometimes.

Anyhow, do some reading and learning and you'll have a much easier time.

[Vickytoria3112]

When you, your friends, and family come over tell them all to ignore the dog. Once the dog calms down then they can pet him. It worked for my hyperactive jack Russell terrier mix. And she's a jumper by nature. It took my dog 2 weeks to finally understand that when she acts hyper and crazy no one pays any attention to her. When she's calm and looking cute, that's when we all pet her. But don't make high pitched baby sounds while doing it. It may trigger hyperness again. You can be quiet while petting maybe even offering a treat or say "good boy" in a firm voice. I have 3 dogs now and this worked wonders. Especially with children I didn't want them jumping and accidentally scratching their eyes out. I even got the kids involved in this simple training. If my 3 disabled kids could do this I'm absolutely sure you can. Try some simple training as well. Don't knock yourself out. It only takes 10-15 minutes a day to teach the dog to sit. In 4-6 days the dog should get it. Offer treats to keep the dog's attention if needed. I never used treats for my dogs. Their reward is swimming in the pool. But you can offer a yummy rawhide type of bone to chew on for 10 minutes then take it away and give it back after the next day's session. You'll feel like a pro in no time. I even taught one of my cat's to sit and the other cat uses the toilet. Patience is the most important thing to accomplish results. Hope this helps.