Category: Puppy Stuff, Common Problems ¤
  Author: Sue Ailsby ¤
   Title: Or, Teach Them a Trick Instead ¤

" teaching the dog to do a *trick*, in place of jumping on someone."

I TAUGHT Scuba to jump on people as a puppy because she developed a small
submissive urinating problem.  When SHE jumped on THEM, it didn't happen.
When she was old enough not to feel the need any more, I needed to get rid
of the jumping up trick.  This got a huge boost at a dog show where they
were selling delicious fries and there were a lot of kids.  I'd go to
ringside (conformation of course), plant Scuba in a sit near a family with
fries, and then start asking her "her" questions - "Which leg is white?"
(the answer to that is her right front, which she holds boldly forth for
all to see), "Are you hungry?  Did you wash your hands?" (the answer to
this is to sit up and put her front paws over her head and hold them there
so I can see that the pads are "clean"), and "Are you going to be a big
dog?  Soooooo big!" (same trick as washed hands, but standing up on back
legs).  All of this quickly resulted in plates of fries, and before the
weekend was out, Scuba was initiating the scenario by approaching kids and
showing them her clean hands and white leg, both of which need to be done
from a sitting position.  Problem solved!

Sue eh?