Eliminating problem dog behaviors – jumping and roaming

Every dog owner must eventually deal with some unwanted
behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of
the most frequently encountered training problems with puppies
and dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those
amazing feats of escape.

Jumping up on people Jumping up on people can be a cute trick
for puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the
dog gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy dog can easily
knock a child or even a small adult of his or her feet, so
jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an
annoying one.

The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious -
they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are
reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is
important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways.
Many well meaning owners, family members and friends
inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the
puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper dog training,
and in order for the dog to be trained not to jump, every member
of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the
training. If one member of the family allows the dog to jump up
while other family members do not, the dog will understandably
become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind
and consistent in order to be effective.

One way to redirect the dog’s happiness and excited ness from
jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This
“shaking hands” posture is an acceptable way for the dog to show
his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their dogs
to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on
people.

Escaping and roaming the neighborhood A responsible dog owner
would never dream of allowing his or her dog to roam the
neighborhood freely. Allowing a dog to roam on its own is
irresponsible, dangerous (to the dog and the neighborhood), and
probably even illegal. Most towns have ordinances which prohibit
dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in
legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood
unattended.

Of course sometimes that wandering dog is not the owner’s idea,
and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their
own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including
passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is
much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose dog, so
let’s talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can
take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution.
A bored dog is much more likely to spend his day plotting the
great escape. A dog that is surrounded by everything he or she
needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean,
water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly
sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a dog with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely
to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play
sessions with your dog into your daily routine. Make one of
those play sessions right before you leave. If your dog has a
chance to work of his or her energy, chances are he or she will
sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course dealing with the dog is only half the problem. It is
also important to make the property as escape proof as possible,
through proper fencing and other measures. For dogs that dig, it
may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing
metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For dogs that jump,
it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of
these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the dog to
the house when you are not at home.