Oh, how your little guy loves you! He gets so excited when you come home that he piddles on your feet and rips your clothes as he jumps up to show you just how happy he is to see you. You quickly get him outside just in time for him to finish his three little drips, and then he’s off and running… in the wrong direction! But then, he spots the bunny by the corner of the yard, and he just has to chase it—even though he probably won’t know what to do with it if he catches it!
After some ridiculously silly antics, you finally manage to get him back inside. After a few minutes of play, you start cooking dinner. A few minutes? Did you forget that he’s been waiting all day for you to return and play with him? You must have, so he’ll remind you by charging off so fast that his feet slip on the kitchen floor, knocking over the water dish, which he promptly splashes in and drinks from.
You’ve been home less than ten minutes, and the entire house is in an uproar just because you came home. You’re tired and hungry, and as much as you love the little devil, you’re just not into it today. What’s your first instinct? Probably to give him a good whack across the hindquarters or maybe even rub his face in something he did wrong.
That’s what our parents did, after all, and it seemed to work for them. But time and research have shown us that there are better ways to discipline your boisterous puppy than smacking and other forms of physical punishment. These methods take more patience, but they lead to better-behaved dogs—and really, that’s what you want from all this chaos.
Disciplining a Puppy
Let’s take a moment to learn a few new techniques to help tame the wild beast. First, understanding his behavior can help us teach him how to behave better. He’s jumping on you and leaving puddles on the floor because you’re his sunshine on a rainy day. He would gladly shove you out of the way of an oncoming train because you are his human, and that’s not going to change.
When children greet us at the door, clingy and trying to climb up on us, we typically don’t backhand them. While your puppy is a dog and not a child, his behavior is very similar. What he wants is your attention. It’s tough, but when he’s acting inappropriately to get your attention, don’t give it to him. At first, you might help him get down off of you by giving the “off” command, but don’t pet him. Tell him to sit, and he won’t get the good loving until he obeys. It may take a little time, but eventually, he’ll learn that greeting you is good—as long as he’s on all fours. Besides, do you really want to beat that joyful exuberance out of him? Not much in life is as excited to see you, no matter how you look, smell, or have been through.
If the problem is piddling, first and foremost, know that they often outgrow it. However, if it’s a huge challenge, the instant you come home, take him directly outside—even if that means picking him up to get him there. Charging him outside helps reinforce that no matter what, the pee goes outside. Tell him “outside” during the journey, and reward him when he does it right.
Now that he’s peed and torn apart your clothing, he’s run off in the wrong direction. He should be on a leash—for two reasons: First, it can help prevent incidents like this, and second, some dogs who haven’t been trained as puppies won’t do their business if they’re on a leash. Odd, but true. I know some of you can be stubborn and think it’s better to let them roam and teach them to come when called. You’ll be fighting an uphill battle, but if your puppy gets away from you, the best thing to do is lie down on the ground and act silly. They don’t know what to do with that and are likely to come over and investigate. Never chase your puppy, though, as they’ll quickly turn it into a game of tag, and they play that quite well. And of course, never punish the little guy when he finally gets to you. If you do, you’ll inadvertently teach him not to come. He won’t understand that you’re upset with how long it took; he’ll just see it as punishment for coming.
When playtime gets too rough, it’s time for a time-out. After all, you did forget how long he’s been waiting for you. It’s okay to create a corner, even calling it “time-out,” where he can be confined when he’s too wound up. A low tone of disappointment and the courage to wait him out (he’s not going to like it, but you’re extending the time he has to wait for play) can go a long way in getting him to settle. Every two or three minutes, a firm “settle” is all the interaction he needs. When he finally achieves this, praise him for settling when you release him so he starts to understand the command.
The title of this article might lead you to believe there are all kinds of punishment techniques, but you keep reading the word “reward.” I didn’t forget. For a puppy who wants nothing more than to be your best friend, withholding a reward is often the best punishment. A brief scolding and refusal to cave to his demands will show him that he can’t be so needy. Catching him doing good things is the fastest and most effective way to show him that good behavior gets him what he wants.
Occasionally, a puppy is just so wound up that he’s nipping and freaking out, and you just want to lock him in the basement until he’s a full-grown dog. In these moments, it’s perfectly okay to grab your wiggle worm and gently place him on his back, softly restraining him there until he calms down. This reinforces that you’re the boss and lets him know that his behavior is out of line. Try to use this method only for serious offenses so it doesn’t lose its impact.
Puppy school is something to consider. Here, the trainer will teach you how to relate to your dog. Essentially, puppy school is human school for learning dog communication. Your puppy will enjoy it, and you probably will too. By completing the homework assignments, you keep yourself accountable for his training. The social time is beneficial for both of you, and best of all, when he comes home, he’ll be so tuckered out that he’ll actually sleep all night.
