Jumping up on people This is one of those behaviors that many
owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping
up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young
puppy. When that puppy is older, larger and heavier, however,
this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become
annoying and even dangerous.

A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to
young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound
plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult. Since you
as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is
important to nip this problem behavior in the bud.

The best time to do that, of course, is when the puppy is still
small and easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or
someone else, gently place the puppy's feet back on the floor.
When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it
extensively.

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 jumping up.

When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is
important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any
training program, and all members of the family must understand
that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them.

Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead 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, when
he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this
lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the
same lesson to a 150 pound dog.

Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big
help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that
has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a
harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around
wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it. The first
thing your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent
training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to
walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all
dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill
he will be unable to move onto more advanced training. When
walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep
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 lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The
least will be loose except for the split second it takes to
change directions. It is important for the handler to use a
quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when
teaching this lesson. 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. Allowing the puppy to pull you
around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.

About the author:
Tony Robinson is an international author and dog lover. His
website http://www.dogtraining4u.com contains valuable insights
into the life of our canine friends.