Problem – Jumping on people: An excited dog often pounces with joy when someone walks in the door. Besides being obnoxious, the dog could easily hurt a child or an elderly person. Solution : Positive reinforcement. Ignore the dog if he jumps. When he has all four feet on the floor, reward him with a treat and praise it profusely using its name – “Good Fido”. Or use a command such as “sit”, which gives the dog a specific action to maintain. Start by using a leash to practice with family several times each day, and then introduce visitors until the pet sits automatically for everyone.
Problem – Not coming: Dogs ignore you when frightened or distracted by something (such as a squirrel) that competes for their attention. They can get lost, or worse, injured by cars or other animals. Solution: A short leash. Keep your dog on a short leash and say “Fido, come!” Each time your pet listens, praise and reward him. Advance to a longer leash with intermittent treats, and then drop the treats and leash altogether. Try to say “come” every time your dog comes voluntarily – for food, walks, car rides – so the command is associated with all the great things in life.
Problem – Begging: Dogs love food and are likely to whine, jump, and look at you longingly whenever it’s present. This behavior disrupts meals, and paws can knock over dinnerware and spread germs. Solution: Discipline. This is one of the hardest things to do! Never feed your dog from your plate, and ignore begging. Combine this with teaching the dog a “go to place” command when you eat. Assign a spot, such as a dog bed and move the dog there each time he approaches. Then reward him! You can also feed him when you eat or put the dog in another room until dinner is over.