You open the door to go outside and the dog bolts past you, knocking you into the door frame. When company visits, the dog is restless and unmanageable. These moderately bad habits are often attention-getting behaviors, but the kind of attention they attract brings little pleasure to you or your dog. Worse, such behaviors tend to undermine your confidence in your ability to manage the dog. Try the techniques in this section to regain control. Jumps on Family Members or Visitors One of a dog owner’s greatest pleasures at the end of a long, tiring day is to be greeted with loving enthusiasm by her dog. A dog’s exuberant delight in seeing us warms our heart, eases our tension, and puts life back into perspective. It’s unacceptable, however, for a dog to demonstrate his affection by jumping up on you and wildly pawing at you. It’s even worse when the dog displays this behavior indiscriminately to everyone who comes through the door—family members, friends, even strangers.
What do You think about Breaking Your Dog's Bad Habits?
