This document discusses strategies for training puppies and addressing common problem behaviors. It focuses on preventing puppies from jumping on people by gently placing their paws on the floor and praising when they don't jump. It also emphasizes teaching puppies not to pull on leashes by changing directions when they pull and keeping slack in the leash. Consistency is important for training puppies not to engage in undesirable behaviors.

2. Dog training - Dealing with
problem puppy behaviors

3. Everyone who owns a puppy or dog will eventually have to deal with
and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their
companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be
nippedinthebud,including:

4. Jumpinguponpeople
This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently
encourageintheiranimals,sincejumpingup,wagginghistailandthe
like can be adorable in a young puppy. When that puppy is older,
larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be
cuteandbeginstobecomeannoyingandevendangerous.

5. Alarge,heavy dog jumpinguponpeople canbedangeroustoyoung
children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog
caneasilyknockdownachildorsmalladult.Sinceyouastheowner
areresponsibleforthebehaviorofyourdog,itisimportanttonipthis
problembehaviorinthebud.

6. Thebesttimetodothat,ofcourse,iswhenthepuppyisstillsmalland
easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else,
gentlyplacethepuppy’sfeetbackonthefloor.Whenthedogremains
standingthere,besuretopraiseitextensively.

7. It is also important to give the puppy an alternative to jumping up.
Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is
important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable
direction. Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of
jumpingup.

8. Whenteachingthepuppytonotjumpuponpeople,itisimportantto
be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and
all members of the family must understand that the puppy is not
permittedtojumponthem.

9. Pulling,chargingandtuggingonthelead
One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one. It is
important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now,
whenheisstillsmallandlightenoughtohandle.Teachingthislesson
to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same
lessontoa150pounddog.

10. Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help
whentrainingapuppynottopull,ortoretrainadogthathasalready
learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is
importanttoallowthepuppytowalkaroundwearingit,sothathecan
getusedtowearingit.

11. Thefirstthingyourpuppymustlearn,andthebasisofallsubsequent
training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to walk
quietlyatyoursideonalooseleadisthebasisofalldogtraining,and
untilyourpuppyhasmasteredthisvitalskillhewillbeunabletomove
ontomoreadvancedtraining.

12. Whenwalkingwithapuppyonaleash,itisimportanttoalwayskeep
slack in the leash. If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the
handler should quickly change directions. The puppy will then find
itself laggingbehindinsteadofforgingahead.Theleast will beloose
except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is
importantforthehandlertouse aquicktugoftheleash,followedby
animmediateloosening,whenteachingthislesson.

13. When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never
allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash.
Allowingthepuppytopullyouaroundwillteachhimexactlythewrong
lesson.

14. To LearnMoreAboutDogTraining,go to
http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/dog-training
http://howtohousetraindog.com/go/theonlinedogtrainer