Fresh Start Pet Coaching

Not long after I adopted Rusty I injured my back. I was on bed rest for a month and I was on strict orders not to do any bending. This meant that in order to pet my dog he had to jump up on my legs. Well that was ok when Rusty was 3 months old, but now that he’s 6 months old and 40 pounds it’s become a bit of a problem. Really I don’t mind him jumping up most of the time but I don’t want him jumping up on other people and it can be a problem if I’m wearing nice clothes or if my hands are full

So, there is a new rule in our house for all the dogs. No jumping allowed. With dogs, consistency is essential. Rusty and Torchy don’t understand that jumping up is ok… except for strangers, or if mom is wearing nice clothes, or if grandma and grandpa have come to visit. Dogs don’t understand exceptions.

This is why I suggest to all my clients that they create a list of house rules for their dogs to follow.

This list should include rules that the whole family has agreed on and is willing to follow through with. It won’t work to have a rule of no feeding you dog from the table if your children sneak him food from their plates. These rules need to be all or nothing.

When I was growing up there was a rule that the dogs were not allowed on the furniture. Eventually this rule went out the window, but for Princess and Tiffany, the two dogs with whom this rule was followed consistently, the rule stuck. I still remember Tiffany would never get on the furniture when there was a person present. When my very own childhood dog Rocky came along this rule was changed. Rocky was allowed on the furniture and by that time, so was Tiffany, but she wouldn’t do it. At least not when we were home. She would get up on my dad’s recliner when no one was home. We knew because we would come home and Tiffany would be on the floor and dad’s chair would be rocking back and forth because Tiffany had just jumped off of it.

Anyway, the point is that these rules have to be followed 100% of the time for your dog to be able to learn them. No jumping up means no jumping period. If your bringing home a new dog or trying to change the behavior of a dog that you already have, I suggest that you have a family meeting to sit down and establish what rules you want your dog to follow. If everyone is involved in making the rules than the whole family is more likely to follow them. Also, make sure that visitors to your home are aware of the rules as well. Just because your best friend is happy to have your dog jump up on her excitedly in greeting, doesn’t mean your mother will appreciate the gesture. Furthermore, rules while very from house to house. Just because we allow our dogs on our furniture doesn’t mean that you should. It just depends on what your comfortable with.

Here is an example of some house rules that we have established for our own dogs:

1. No jumping up on people.

2. No barking inside.

3. No feeding the dogs from the table.

4. Dog teeth do not touch people’s skin.

5. No chasing the cats.

I think those cover the main house rules that we have established for our dogs. I hope that establishing your own rules will help you have a well bahaved dog at home.