Puppy Behavior Problems – Prevent Jumping and Walking Problems

Soon after getting a new dog, the novelty of having a cute little puppy can easily wear off especially if you start experiencing a barrage of different puppy behavior problems, such as jumping up on people. While a puppy is still small and cute, a lot of people find jumping to be quite tolerable and even adorable but as your puppy grows bigger, this behavior can quickly turn into a major problem.

Just imagine how cute it would be when your fully-grown puppy jumps up at you every single time you go in through the door when your hands are full of groceries or when you are dressed for an important business interview. Not that appealing, is it? Such puppy behavior problems can even become dangerous at times, like when a large dog tries to jump up on a toddler or an elderly person. In order to avoid such mishaps, it is crucial that you teach your puppy how to sit and greet people in a more dignified manner right from the beginning.

You can start by telling your puppy to sit whenever it looks like it is about to jump up on you. If he does not pay attention, ignore him. If he obeys, give him a treat and some quiet words of praise. Soon enough, the puppy will figure out that he needs to sit still instead of jump wildly if he wants to get attention.

Walking on a Leash

The first time you take your puppy for a walk, he will probably want to run off in every direction, eager to explore the world. You can easily correct such puppy behavior problems by using treats and toys to keep the dog at your side during the entire walk.

According to Amy Harmon, a renowned dog trainer and dog obedience school owner from California, it would speed up the training process if you refrain from pulling on the leash too often while walking.

Instead of forcing the dog to stay by your side by putting pressure on the leash, Harmon says it is better if you entice the dog to keep in position by holding a treat or favorite toy near the dog’s nose as you walk.

An important thing to keep in mind is that it is always better to teach a dog good behavior right from the start rather than to correct puppy behavior problems when the dog has already gotten used to them.