Feeding/trainining.

Question
We just got a 1 1/2 year old cockerspaniel, and he is just currently on Dry food, should he be on moist? also? or both, I keep getting mixed things from friends.
Also, He jumps up at people lets thme pet him then he growls and barks when they stop. How can we stop him from doing that, we have children and don't want that to happen with friends.

Thank you for your time  

Answer
You can find almost any sort of feeding regimens even some bordering on the bizarre. Many of what you read only has anecdotal evidence to back it up or may be coming from somebody with a financial interest in it.  I trust the dog guide school I volunteer for to both make use of the extensive data from thousands of dogs, and give straight answers to those caring for their dogs trained at great expense.  They have us feeding dry, Pro Plan adult, chicken and rice.  Other service dog schools feed similar diets.  The dry chows give the teeth and jaws the exercise they need, and the dry chow helps scrape off tartar leading to bad breath.  The concentrated chows also produce smaller, firmer, stools.  Ease of cleanup is very important if you are visually impaired or in a wheelchair.  If you are feeding a dry chow now, stick to it.  Most dogs will thrive on most commercial chows.  Stick with it unless you are seeing a definite problem.  Even then, work with the vet on any change.  Also ask the vet about the dog's weight.  Unlike type of food, how much is critical. More dogs suffer from too much food than a lack of quality.  Here is a link to a great guide, http://www.puppychow.com/products/popup_body_condition.aspx

Consistently is very important in correcting jumping and other problems.  Quickly correcting him each and every time he jumps on somebody is very important.  Something bad has to happen each time.  People are successful with a number of different things.  One of the most gentle is to grab his front paws and hold him up. The traditional knee to the chest or step on his paws work well too.  In each case apply ''Bad dog, its name off!'' in a firm, but not loud voice.  Go ahead with it even if he is too quick to add a physical correction.

The growling is a sign he doesn't understand who is top dog.  he key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/