puppy & dog health

Action Versus Reaction

You need to anticipate your dog's behavior and act accordingly. Your puppy is predictable. You know that, right now he will be a puppy: Jumping on guests, pulling you out the door and stealing the cat food. This is not news.

That being the case, prepare yourself! Set up the situation, leave the leash on the dog, and give him something else to do just as he thinks about doing the unwanted thing. As your guest enters, work on "Sit" and reward him for sitting. Work at a distance if you need to or crate him then bring him in when everyone has settled. As you reach for the doorknob, have him "Wait". If he pulls forward, use your leash. Back up and bring him back inside calmly but immediately.

Try again. Praise him when he gets it right! If he turns his head toward the cat food, issue a no-nonsense "Leave it" then PRAISE and give him a treat for responding. He learns then that good thing come to those who leave the cat food alone. (That said, put the cat food out of reach; that is just too much of a temptation for most puppies.) Always praise/reward lavishly when he obeys. Focus on building what you want instead of getting frustrated by him doing what a puppy does. Your puppy will learn quickly if you take this approach!