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Many of you know me from your Puppy Manners class and others know me from Reading with Rover! Of course, everyone knows that I’m the hardest working dog at the ranch yet! Recently, I had hip replacement surgery and I’ve had some more “down” time than usual. When I went to the blog to see what’s new, I was shocked when I didn’t find my own Feature! So I’ve hijacked the blog and I’m gonna share a BIG Training Tip with you today!

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of pups (young and old) jumping on their moms and dads and even worse, jumping on the friends of their moms and dads! I’ll be honest and say I used to be that pup just a few years ago! But after lots of hard work and practice, I totally know what I’m supposed to do! So how can you teach your puppies to be like me?

First off—Don’t let your puppy be a “door greeter” for now. Did you know that even Wal-Mart greeters go to greeter school for two weeks before they can greet any customers? Greeting is an art form and you have to practice to get good! Being a proper greeter takes time, maturity, patience, and most of all, consistency. The doorway is a “happy zone” in a family’s house as people come in with high pitched voices and we dogs think it’s ALL about us and how much you adore and love us! We don’t really “get it” when people hug, laugh, and get happy when inviting guests to come in. Seriously, we just think you’re happy to see US, the DOGS! So give us a little break… When the door bell rings or someone knocks, quietly and calmly take your puppy to their designated rug, crate, or gated area until all the guests are inside the house and excitement levels have gone down a notch. When everyone is seated, feel free to let your puppy back into the room but keep the leash on and let your guests greet in a more controlled area of the house. Things will be SO much easier for your puppy if you simply avoid, for now, letting them be a door greeter. But believe me, it’s not forever! It’s just until your puppy improves with practice!

Also consider tethering your puppy, allowing your guests to go to him/her on their own terms. Let your guests tell your puppy to “sit” or “down” and AFTER the puppy has complied, your guests should reward with the treat and proper pets! If the puppy jumps, guests simply need to walk away and the tether will keep your puppy in control. This helps your guests to be better trainers (instead of the “anti-trainer” they usually are!) and it sets your puppy up for success! “Will work for food!” is never more true to your puppy until something like this!

Trust me when I say that there is HOPE for your puppy! I used to be a terrible jumper and I loved nipping at hands. I pulled at sleeves and clothing and all my bad habits went away when I stopped being First at the door! Before Mom would answer the door, she would grab my leash and place me on my rug, give me a bone to chew on and then she’d tether me before any guests came in. As I got older and more mature, I was given more privilege and was even allowed to greet people when they first came through the door! Privilege is like getting your driver’s license! It’s not a right, its a privilege you earn and your puppy has to earn their way to front door.

As you all know, I’m a great dog (and humble, too)! You may not think that I see your adoring stares in class, the envy in your puppy’s eyes, the compliments… But you have to know that I’ve come a long way. My mom and dad always tell people about how I was the last pick of the litter and as much as it pains me to hear, I really was the last one to go. Boy, did I get lucky and I’m forever grateful to those families that turned me down because I really was meant to be a Bishop.

Remember, you don’t always get the dog you want, but you always get the dog you need. The challenges you face with your puppy are just opportunities to learn about yourself and grow as individuals! Embrace it, learn from it, and move forward!

Enjoy this clip from our recent Star-Barks 101 class where Mom talks about proper door manners and shows how your guests can use their body language to stop dogs from jumping on them or other unwanted behavior.

Have a great weekend! And stay tuned for more tips like these in the future! Email questions and Training Tip suggestions to info@puppymanners.com!

*Photos provided by Carly Chaney.