One of the most common complaints people have about their dogs is jumping up on people to greet. Unfortunately, people often unknowingly reinforce this behavior from a young age. When puppies are 8 weeks old, they naturally run up to family members and jump on them to greet them. It’s common for people to bend over and pet or pick up the puppy, inadvertently rewarding the jumping behavior. However, as the puppy grows, they’re reprimanded for the same behavior they were once rewarded for. This inconsistency isn’t fair to the pup!

To prevent this behavior, when your pup jumps up on you to greet, immediately turn your back and move away. Avoid petting, pushing down, or kneeing the pup; simply turn away. Once the pup stops jumping and has all four feet on the floor, you can greet them. Consistency is key, so ensure everyone in your household follows this rule. With consistent reinforcement, your pup will learn not to jump up in just a day or two.

You can also teach your pup to sit to greet. When the pup runs to greet, have a treat ready and lure them into a sitting position by placing the treat in front of their nose and raising your hand up until they sit. Once they sit, say “yes” and release the treat. Practice this until the puppy understands that they must sit to greet. 

This is another common issue that people inadvertently encourage. Puppies naturally explore their environment with their mouths; it’s part of their innate curiosity. Prevention is key to curbing this behavior and preventing it from becoming a habit. Creating a puppy-safe environment by removing potential hazards and providing safe toys for chewing and playing can help redirect their chewing instincts.

But what if your puppy grabs something they shouldn’t have? Instead of chasing them, which can turn into an exciting game for the pup, try a different approach. Get your pup’s attention and move in the opposite direction, away from them. Then, grab a high-value treat or toy, call your pup in a cheerful tone, and move backward. Once your pup comes to you, offer the treat or toy in exchange for the item they have. This teaches your pup that bringing items to you results in a reward, rather than engaging in a chase game. 

Puppies naturally use their mouths to explore and play, but it’s important to teach them to be gentle with human skin. If your puppy bites you during play, respond by yelling “ouch” in a high-pitched tone and immediately withdraw from the interaction. This abrupt response will startle your puppy and make them pause. By removing yourself from the play, you communicate to your puppy that biting results in the end of the fun.

After giving your puppy a few minutes to calm down, you can engage with them again. Repeat this process consistently each time your puppy bites, and most pups learn quickly that biting leads to the end of playtime. It’s crucial to start teaching this lesson as soon as you bring your puppy home. 

Puppies have a natural inclination to chew as part of their teething process, which is essential for their development and relaxation. However, it’s crucial to teach them what is and isn’t acceptable to chew on. Ensure you have plenty of age-appropriate chew toys available and easily accessible for your puppy.

When you’re unable to supervise your puppy, confine them to a crate, kennel, or x-pen to prevent access to items they shouldn’t chew on. Leaving a puppy unattended with access to furniture may result in unwanted chewing behavior. By establishing clear boundaries and providing appropriate chew toys, you can help prevent the habit of chewing on furniture from forming.

When you catch your puppy chewing on anything other than their chew toys, interrupt the behavior with a firm “Leave it” command, and then redirect their attention to one of their appropriate chew toys. Consistency is key in reinforcing this behavior and preventing future chewing issues.