Books/websites for dog obedience advice?

[blondeatlast]

We've enrolled in a class starting in November, but in the meantime she is just too exuberant for my mom (she wasn't at all that way when we got her from the pound). I know there is wisdom out there!

FWIW, her biggest issue is jumping on people when they come through the door; especially ME!

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. Happy, loved dogs jump on people. pet them.

Explain to your mom that the pupdog was neither loved nor happy in the pound, but now has a home and wants to show affection and gratitude.

[burrowowl]

2. A good book

The Monks of New Skete: How to be your dog's best friend

www.dogsbestfriend.com

[glitch]

9. I was going to recommend that one!

It helped me turn a cat-aggressive 5 year old from PAWS into a cat-loving sweetheart.

[trof]

10. THAT'S THE ONE!

Best book (and website) on dogs, ever.
After reading the book, I got so enthused that I visited the monastery several years ago.
German Shepherd heaven.

[DBoon]

3. Dogperfect

by Sarah Hodgson, Howell Book House/Macmillan, isbn 0-87605-534-x

Full of useful fun advice:

"Feet before paws -leaders lead"

"He's not a person, he's a dog - and so are you"

Also any book by Stanley Coren, who has made it his life's work to understand dogs, especially:

"How to Speak Dog" The Free Press, isbn 0-684-86534-3

[ewagner]

4. Try this

<http://www.wpr.org/pets/>

Tricia McConnel is an Animal Behaviorialist at UW Madison...also has a weekly show...call her or e-mail...she's quite good.

[radwriter0555]

5. FIRST teach the pooch to sit. Reinforce that completely. Then when the dog

jumps up on you, use your knee to block the jump, gently of course, while telling the animal to sit.

Replace the bad behavior with the good, praiseable behavior of "sit".

So instead of yelling about the jumping, you're asking the animal to engage in another behavior for which it gets a positive reward.

[Girlfriday]

6. My pound puppy jumped on people too

He was 10 months old when we adopted him, and he was soooo happy. He jumped up on us and visitors as soon as we entered the house; we broke him by lifting our knee into his chest as soon as he jumped. It doesn't hurt them and they soon learn what you want from them. As soon as he sits though, make sure you get down to his level, pet and praise him. :)

[DuctapeFatwa]

8. You can also put honey on your knees

This teaches him to express love by licking your knees instead of jumping, in case you have a very big dog and some very small family members.

[Southsideirish]

7. A good dog is a tired dog.

We had a problem with our Maltese and 'called a pet shrink. He said this is very common with young dogs - even his own - and he found that if he went out and got some good long hard exercise and brought the dog with him - they both profited and would be pooped when they got home. I'm talking brisk walking for a couple of miles - if both parties are up to it. If not, start slowly and maybe repeat a couple of shorter walks per day working up to longer ones.

[Madrone]

11. I agree with the Monks of Skete reccomendations...

They have 2 books, and they are quite good.

Their suggestion for JUMPING, however never worked for me. They suggest you calmly grab the dogs front paws and just stand there, holding them up like that. Eventually the dog will squirm, keep holding. Finally, let them go. Do this each time the dog jumps, and it will eventually stop because it does not LIKE to be held up like that and it will learn.

I've heard it does work - but my dog is not very submissive, and he's VERY orally fixated so he'd just keep biting my hands.

I used to say DOWN to him when he'd jump, but it was confusing him because DOWN to him means lie down - I finally trained myself to say OFF instead - which means all four feet on the FLOOR. Off works for jumping, getting on the couch, etc...

[burrowowl]

13. Yes

Finally OFF worked with my joyous leaping jungefrau.
Fortunately it was mostly me she jumped up on. A 92 lb. 28" at the whithers German Shepard is a big girl.
But the Sit then praise at head level works well with most dogs.

PS, JLJ never liked doing down much. The cat, her buddy doesn't do down either but does sit for liver treat.

[TrogL]

12. Get a cat