Did you know that a dog jumping up on people is a sign of dominant dog behavior?  Dominance issues are one of the more serious dog behavior problems.  If a dominant canine is causing headaches for you, you need to stop dog jumping now.

Dominant Dog Behavior

Canines are pack animals.  Each pack has a leader who asserts his dominance over the other individuals in the group.  The leader will often do this by “jumping up” on another pack member and putting one or both front paws on the other’s shoulders.  Are you seeing any similarities here with your pup’s behavior?

Watch how two canines greet each other.  Each will stand quietly and allow the other pup to sniff him.  They don’t jump all over each other when they first meet.  This kind of behavior is very ill-mannered in the canine world, because, as mentioned above, putting front paws on another individual is a way of asserting dominance.  

In the pack, a subordinate individual would NEVER jump on the pack leader.  The leader will not tolerate this behavior if he wants to remain the leader, so he corrects the subordinate pup immediately.  

If you allow your pet to jump up on you, and you don’t correct him right away, you’re confirming to him that he’s the alpha dog in your household.  This is a sure recipe for dog behavior problems.

Controlling A Dominant Dog

It’s important that you don’t allow your pet to jump up and get his front paws on you.  If he attempts to jump up on you, turn to the side and block him with your hip.  If he manages to get his paws on you, turn your back on him and make a point of ignoring him.  Once all four feet are on the ground, tell him to “sit” and then pet him.  

Never reward him with attention for jumping up on you.  If he ambushes you and gets those front paws on you, don’t yell “no” or back away or push him off with your hands.  He’s liable to think you’re playing with him, which will make him jump even more.

A dominant dog will often demand your attention.  You must be the one who decides when he gets attention.  Ignore him when he demands that you pet him.  If he’s very insistent or pushy, use a water pistol to squirt him in the face.  When he gets down, tell him to “sit” and then pet him.  Never give in to his demands.

Make him earn your attention.  Have him sit-stay before you pet him.  Your dog needs your love and attention, but you need to give it to him on your terms, not his.

More Dog Obedience Tips

Consistency is extremely important to stop dog jumping.  You won’t be able to end any dog behavior problem if someone in your household is encouraging it.  

Spend ten minutes a day training your pup.  You’ll be amazed at what a difference even a few minutes a day will make in his behavior.

Your goal now is to look for a good dog training course so you can learn to control dominant dog behavior.  Try to find one that offers a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer, so you can avoid accidentally reinforcing problem behaviors.  With love and attention, you can stop a dominant dog jumping up on people.

German Shepherds make excellent pets because they are athletic, energetic and bond well with their owners. Many know the German Shepherd breed because of their high trainability as a search and rescue dog or a police dog. When selecting between German Shepherd puppies for sale you should consider some health and breed standards. Before you purchase any puppy you will want to have an initial meeting with the puppy you are thinking buying. Observe how the puppy reacts to both your voice and touch. The puppy should be affectionate and eager to make friends.

Later in life some German Shepherds can have a tendency towards aggression. If you don’t train your puppy early then you should at the very least choose one with a good temperament to start. You also want to inquire about any socialization training the dog has had. For German Shepherd’s early socializing is extremely important and any methods the former owners use is crucial. It is important for the puppy to interact with other dogs and humans every day and early.

Next you should request to see both parents of the puppy if you are buying from a breeder. Carefully observe how the parents react to you as a stranger, make sure there are no signs of unwarranted aggression. The litter will inherit the temperament of the parents. For health reasons you should also make sure the parents move easily and unencumbered. Make sure you view the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or OFA certification for the puppys’ parents.

German Shepherds are prone to hip dysphasia and it is a predisposition that can be passed on to litters. So when considering German Shepherd puppies for sale you want to find out the rating the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals maintains on all registered canines based off the X-rays of the dog’s bone structure. Any dog prone to hip dysphasia shouldn’t be bred and you shouldn’t purchase a dog from anyone who doesn’t have Orthopedic Foundation for Animals certification for their dogs.

Next carefully look over the puppy you are considering. The eyes should be clear and alert and the gums should be pink and healthy. There should be no foreign matter in the ears. Without being overly energetic the puppy should be playful. When considering German Shepherd puppies for sale you should carefully consider the puppy’s lineage. An American Kennel Club puppy from a breeder will have family charts that show not only the puppy’s parents but also the ancestors of the puppy for several generations on both sides of the family. A good breeder will be happy to show you this detailed family tree and even provide you a copy for your records.

After you have chosen and purchased you German Shepherd puppy you should have it evaluated by a veterinarian right away, they will need to be de-wormed and get all their shots. To socialize your puppy with other dogs and human beings you should take them on walks, set up play dates with dogs or friends and take them with you into pet stores when you shop if it is allowed.