Advice on Pets, Life, Love

Dear Dog Lady,

I recently adopted a puppy, Biscuit, from a local rescue organization. She is seven-months-old and sweet as can be. I have had no real issues with her, except for the jumping! She jumps on me when I come home from work and jumps on guests when they visit. I consulted a trainer who told me to ignore her when she jumps and praise her when she sits calmly. This pup may be young but she is already 65-pounds and I can't quite ignore that-especially when she is jumping and knocking over my guests. I'm not sure what to do. How do I get her to stop jumping?

Lauren

Dear Lauren,

You must literally stand up to her. Hold out your hand (not in a threatening way) and in a calm voice order her to "sit." If she doesn't know this command, gently press her butt to the floor, telling her to sit. When she does the right thing, give her a treat. Hold out your hand again, like a traffic cop at an intersection. Keep your hand extended as you walk backwards, telling her to "stay." When she stays, dole out another goody. Biscuit must be motivated by the desire to please you-as well as the taste of a treat.

Instead of yelling at her and creating chaos around guests, you can put her in another room and bring her out to greet company calmly on a leash. If she tries to make a jump for it, go into the "sit and stay" routine. Always keep treats in your pocket to reward her during these puppy years for anything she does well. You want to constantly reinforce good behavior.

The best way for you to be around your jumping dog is thoughtful. Use every opportunity as a teachable moment. The calmer you are, the calmer she will be. People who yell at their dogs have crazy dogs for a good reason.

Dear Dog Lady,

I was disappointed you were not tougher with the woman who rescued the Jack Russell terrier and whose boyfriend objected to the dog. The boyfriend was a guest in the woman's home. If he doesn't like dog hair on his clothes, he should move out. No dog deserves to be locked in the bathroom as this guy does when the dog bothers him. If the woman doesn't get rid of this guy, he will one day treat her like he treats the dog. Shame on her and on you for not being firm with her.

Eudice

Dear Eudice,

In all her years of giving advice to the doggedly perplexed, Dog Lady realizes it's complicated. Most people already know what they must do long before they ask "Ask Dog Lady." Oh sure, people need advice. But more often than not they need validation. They write to seek encouragement for a decision. Or they seek a scolding when they know they messed up.

In this case, the woman who wrote about her Jack Russell and her bothered boyfriend presented such a slanted story that Dog Lady sensed the questioner had already made up her mind about throwing out the boyfriend. And, when advising about matters of the heart, it is pointless to club someone over the head. This questioner obviously loved the dog much more than the guy. So why make her feel any guiltier than she already must feel? Most people realize they're in a toxic relationship without a finger-wagging Dog Lady telling them so.

Write: askdoglady@gmail.com