Training Your Dog Not To Jump

When good behavior is consistently rewarded and jumping is ignored, dogs can quickly learn that keeping four feet on the ground is a preferable.

No Rewards Allowed
Training books and videos offer a number of methods for teaching a dog not to jump. However, many dog owners continue to be subjected to this often unwelcome advance. The biggest reason for this is in the way that dogs learn.

Any behavior that results in a reward will be repeated. Rewards may be obvious or may be subtle. When dogs are excited, they naturally jump up onto their target. Over the course of time they are met with hands petting them or pushing them away – with voices sometimes warm, at other times stern or surprised. All of these responses can be considered by the dog to be rewarding and, therefore, all of them may reinforce jumping up behavior. When such rewards are scarce and intermittent – they are even more powerful reinforcers.

Even if the family is working hard to ignore jumping up, the occasional reward supplied by a long-lost, third cousin can undo all the good work.

Take Action
What can be done to plant those four feet firmly on the ground? First, inform all family members and visitors that, from this day forward, jumping of any kind is banned. Peoples' only reaction to jumping should be no reaction. Everyone should remain utterly silent, averting their gaze and adopting an indifferent posture.

Enlist the help of a neighbor or friend who can knock and enter repeatedly. Leash your dog and arm yourself with small food treats. Tell your dog to sit before he jumps up, while he's still calm enough to comply. Reward non-jumping behavior with food treats and a "good boy" or "good girl".

Persistent attempts to jump can be corrected by saying, "OFF," walking your dog briskly in a circle, then telling him to sit (followed by a reward). Repeat the exercise as needed. Unlike pushing, petting or begging your dog to "get down," this exercise is unambiguous and rewards an alternative behavior – sitting. Your chance of success will be greater if you work with others who can "provoke" your dog by entering the house or passing you on the street, time and time again.

At each pass, tell your dog to sit and reward this preferred behavior. In time, shift the control from yourself to the "visitor," who supplies attention only when your dog sits. Before you know it your dog will earn your heartfelt praise by sitting calmly instead of jumping up.

A properly fitted head halter, such as the Gentle Leader, can be an invaluable tool for facilitating this type of retraining. All that is required is to pull forward and up to position the dog in a "sit" position. Then immediately release tension on the lead and praise the dog lavishly for sitting.

Selecting a Leash for your Dog

Like collars, leashes are available in many colors and designs from charming to chic. They are made of a variety of materials ranging from leather and nylon to hemp and metal.

Size matters
And as with collars, size is important. Make sure the leash is the proper size for your dog and for his collar. A thin, lightweight leash designed for a toy breed such as a Yorkshire terrier may not be strong enough to control a rambunctious Labrador retriever. The clip on the end of such a small leash also might break from the pressure of the metal ring on a large dog’s collar, allowing your dog to get away from you.

Several styles of leashes are available. Some are made for convenience, and some have special purposes.

Basic leash
Retractable leash
Bungee leash
Long line
Slip lead

Basic leash
Your basic flat leash is 6 feet long. A basic leash is quite versatile. Not only can you use it to walk your dog, in an emergency, you can use it as a slip lead or even make a muzzle out of it.

Retractable leash
A retractable leash consists of a thin cord wound onto a spring-loaded device inside a plastic handle. As your dog walks away from you, the cord unwinds. When he walks toward you, the cord retracts. A button on the handle allows you to control how much of the cord can be extended.

People like retractable leashes because they give dogs more freedom to explore their surroundings on a walk, but these leashes have many drawbacks and can even be dangerous.

Drawbacks to a retractable leash:
You have minimal control over your dog. Even if you pay close attention to your dog, he may still get far enough away from you on a retractable leash to run into traffic where he may be injured or killed, or rudely jump on people or other animals.
The cord can break. If you have a strong dog who suddenly takes off running at full speed, the cord can snap. If that happens, your dog will escape, or you may be injured by the cord as it whips back toward the leash handle. You and/or your dog could become entangled in the leash, resulting in cuts, burns, and possibly even amputation.
Retractable leases could also cause your dog's body posture to send the wrong signal to other dogs. His pulling at the end of the retractable leash may appear to approaching dogs as a sign of aggression, leading to a confrontation between the dogs.
The handle of a retractable leash is bulky. Your dog could easily pull the handle out of your hands and escape. He also might be scared if the handle hits his body as it falls or bounces on the ground behind him.

Tip: If you walk your dog at night, stay safe. Wear reflective clothing and get a leash and collar made of reflective material so you and your dog will be more visible.

Bungee leash
Bungee leashes stretch. They may be made of rubber tubing or may just have an elastic section. Bungee leashes are marketed as a way to help control a dog who pulls on a leash.
These leashes are designed to minimize the risk of injury to your dog's neck as he pulls. However, the best way to get your dog to not pull is to train him to walk politely on a loose leash.

Long line
A long line is a very long leash. It may be a thin cord made of nylon or plastic, or it may be flat and made of leather, nylon, or cotton like a basic flat leash.
Long lines vary from 10 to 60 feet in length. They are typically used for training your dog. You can be some distance from your dog and still have control over him so he can't run away. For example, as your dog learns the "come" command, you'll want to call him from greater distances—perhaps from across the yard instead of across the living room. Be sure to limit the use of a long line to safe areas like a field, not near a busy city street.

Slip lead
A slip lead looks like a regular flat leash except it has a metal ring on one end instead of a clip. You pass the handle end of the leash through the metal ring to form a loop. Then you put the loop over your dog's head. Pulling on the handle tightens the loop around your dog's neck. A slip lead allows you to walk your dog on leash when he's not wearing his collar.

Caution! Only use a slip lead when a regular collar and leash aren't available. Because you can't control the tightness of a slip lead, don't use it as your regular leash. You don't want to risk damaging your dog's windpipe or neck, or even strangling him.

Article originally posted March 2, 2010 on the Humane Society of the United States web site http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/leashes.html

Spaying Your Dog

You recently brought home a wonderful female puppy, and now you need to bring her to a veterinarian for spay surgery. What will happen during the procedure? How long will your puppy be gone? And most importantly, will she feel pain?

We've enlisted several animal welfare organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Association to answer all the questions you may have about this important procedure. For additional information, please talk to your veterinarian.


When should I spay my female dog?
Before her first heat cycle at 4 to 6 months of age, however dogs of any age can be surgically altered. Some veterinarians perform juvenile or early-age spay between 8 to 16 weeks of age.

What are the benefits of spaying my dog?
Helps prevent unwanted litters.
Decreases your dog's chance of developing mammary cancer, which is fatal in 50 percent of cases.
Eliminates the chances of other reproductive cancers and deadly uterine infections.
Eliminates messy heat cycles and associated negative behaviors such as yowling, anxiety and urination in unacceptable places.

What happens during the surgery?
Your veterinarian sedates your dog and puts her under general anesthesia.
The attending staff monitors your dog's breathing and heart rate.
The surgeon makes a small incision in your dog's belly area and removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.
The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures.

Is the surgery painful?
Your dog feels no pain while under general anesthesia during and immediately following the procedure.
Talk to your veterinarian about pain medication for post-operative discomfort.

Are there any risks associated with spay surgery?
While spay surgery can be considered major surgery because it involves entering the abdomen, veterinarians consider the procedure very safe and even routine.
Your veterinarian takes many precautions to ensure your dog's safety during the procedure.
Pre-anesthesia blood work assesses your dog's liver and kidney function because these organs break down and remove anesthesia from the body after surgery.

Is it expensive?
Many veterinarians offer spay services as part of a puppy vaccination package.
Some offer a spay day with reduced fees for those who demonstrate need.
Many shelters and humane organizations provide spay vouchers or other funding to those in need.

When can my dog come home?
Many vets will keep dogs for an overnight stay but some may go home the same day.
If you need to work and can't stay with your dog when she gets home, ask your veterinarian about an extended stay for observation.

How can I help my dog once she comes home?
Keep her quiet and restrict unnecessary activity.
Prevent excessive licking of the incision.
Monitor food and water intake according to your veterinarian's instructions.

What symptoms should prompt me to call my veterinarian?
A reopened incision.
Abnormal swelling of the incision area (some swelling is normal).
Dark red or purple discoloration.
Bloody or thick discharge from the incision.
Foul odors from the incision area, which could indicate an infection.
Continued lethargy or if your dog doesn't seem to get better after a few days.

When can my dog resume normal activity?
Most dogs are awake and alert soon after surgery.
Some will eat the same day as surgery.
Most resume normal activity within 3 days.

Spay surgery is an important part of responsible pet ownership, and an investment in your dogs long-term health. Have additional questions? Talk to your veterinarian today.

Neutering Your Male Dog

You recently brought home a wonderful male puppy, and now you need to bring him to a veterinarian for neuter surgery. What will happen during the procedure? How long will your puppy be gone? And most importantly, will he feel pain?

Several animal welfare organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Associationto answer all the questions you may have about this important procedure. For additional information, please talk to your veterinarian.

When should I neuter my dog:
Between 4 and 6 months of age; however, veterinarians can alter an animal of any age.

Some shelters and veterinarians perform juvenile or early-age neuter at 8 to 16 weeks of age.

What are the benefits of neutering my dog?
Helps prevent unwanted litters
Decreases your dogs chance of developing testicular cancer, prostate disease and infections
Decreases your dogs chance of escaping while in search of a mate
Decreases the incidence of negative behaviors such howling, inappropriate urination, territoriality and aggression .

What happens during neuter surgery?
Your veterinarian sedates your dog and puts him under general anesthesia.
The attending staff monitors his breathing and heart rate.
The surgeon makes a small incision in the front (toward your dogs head) of the scrotum.
Each testicle is removed and the blood supply and vas deferens (spermatic cord) are tied off.
The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures.

Is the surgery painful?
Your dog feels no pain while under general anesthesia, during and immediately following the procedure.
Talk to your veterinarian about pain medication for post-operative discomfort.

Are there any risks associated with the surgery?
Neuter surgery is not invasive; however, some risk accompanies any procedure that involves anesthesia. Your veterinarian takes many precautions to ensure your dogs safety during the procedure. Pre-anesthesia blood work assesses your dogs liver and kidney function, because these organs break down and remove anesthesia from the body after surgery.

Is it expensive?
Many veterinarians offer neuter services as part of a puppy vaccination package.
Some offer a spay and neuter day, with reduced fees for those who demonstrate need.
Many shelters and humane organizations provide neuter vouchers or other funding to those in need.

When can my dog come home?
Most dogs go home the same day.
If you need to work and can't stay with your dog when he gets home, ask your veterinarian about an extended stay for observation.

How can I help my dog once he comes home?
Keep him quiet and restrict unnecessary activity for at least 1 day following the procedure.
Prevent excessive licking of the incision.
•Monitor food and water intake according to your veterinarians instructions.

What symptoms should prompt me to call my veterinarian?
A reopened incision
Abnormal swelling of the incision area (some swelling is normal)
Dark red or purple discoloration
Bloody or thick discharge from the incision
Foul odors from the incision area, which could indicate an infection
Continued lethargy, or if your dog doesn't seem to get better after a few days

When can my dog resume normal activity?
Most dogs are awake and alert soon after surgery.
Some will eat the same day as surgery.
Most resume normal activity the next day.
Neuter surgery is an important part of responsible pet ownership, and an investment in your dogs long-term health. Have additional questions? Talk to your veterinarian today.