The Pouncing Puppy...or "Down boy, down!"

When I talk to people who are thinking about getting a dog, puppy or not, one of the first topics I like to cover is obedience. Right from the start, you need to show your dog who is boss. Dogs are essentially pack animals, and they will look for an alpha leader. If they have a really territorial personality, they may decide that they're the alpha, and you can go whistle for the dog next door.

A frequent complaint of new dog owners is "I can't get him off me", or "He won't stop jumping!" There are a number of ways of coping with this problem, depending on the size and age of the dog.

With puppies you need firmness and consistency. I recommend the word "Off!" in a very firm, no nonsense tone, pushing them off your knee, away from your legs, or whatever the situation calls for. Be consistent with the word, so they learn what to associate it with. "Down" is not a good choice, as that is used in most obedience classes for the "lay down" exercise. "Off" covers a lot of things: jumping on people, furniture, trying to grab something off the cupboard, and other unacceptable habits.

At one time, stepping on the back toes of the dog as they jumped, was a favourite training manoeuvre. Unfortunately, you have to be pretty darn fast, and it just isn't practical with small dogs. The "shaker" can, is a much better tool, and saves you being raked by the front paws as they slobber their affection.

This is an empty pop tin, containing 10 pennies, with tape over the opening. It's held at your side, or even behind your back, and shaken once, just as the dog's feet leave the floor. Wait till you see the look on their faces! Once or twice with this, is often enough to solve the problem. Never shake the can, as repeating the noise over and over, accustoms them to it, and you lose the effectiveness. Also never shake it in their face, which is a confrontational type move, and may startle a nervous dog into snapping, when he really is not the aggressive type.

If the dog is jumping as people come in the door (family or visitors), it helps to keep a can just outside that they can carry in with them and give a shake to reinforce what the dog has been taught already. But only if they attempt the jump. Sniffing or just approaching should not warrant a rattle. Your family and visitors should also enter the house and ignore the dog, until they are ready to give it attention. NOT when the dog demands it. By doing this, you reinforce the idea that they must wait for you. When you do acknowledge the dog, even after a long day away, make it calm and straightforward. A high-pitched tone and baby talk is just going to set off his booster rockets!

Dogs who pilfer off the table or cupboards, may benefit from the chain reaction of several shaker cans tied together, and then tied to some "bait". Make sure the cans are set higher than the object that the dog will go for, to increase the shock value of the fall and noise.

You can also keep a can on the coffee or end table, to help reinforce the "off" command for the furniture.

While these techniques work on most canines, occasionally you get the dog who is super stubborn, and supremely insensitive to noise or commands. Those are the ones who really do need obedience classes. If they are the furniture or cupboard jumping kind, there are "scat mats" available through pet suppliers, which deliver a small electrical charge when they are touched or walked on. (They are popular around Christmas trees!) Some people have also used a blanket on the couch, with partially inflated balloons underneath. Same principle as the shaker can, but you don't need to be in the room, and the bang can be quite effective.

A little effort, and you can have your Pop-up Pup down on the floor where he belongs!