Accentuate the Positive: Do’s and Don’ts of Discipline

Let’s see if this sounds familiar. Your friend comes over to meet your new puppy. Your puppy is so excited to meet your friend that they jump all over them. A lot. You say “Stop jumping!” a bunch of times, which does nothing, and your friend keeps petting them because let’s face it, they are too cute not to. 

But unfortunately, your puppy is going to get bigger and jumping behavior is not going to be cute anymore. Even a small dog pouncing at your guests will get annoying, so the behavior needs to be stopped early on.

But what’s the best way to discipline your dog so they learn? Even the word “discipline” sounds harsh! What does it even mean to discipline a puppy? Luckily, there are a few simple steps to take (and some to avoid) to discipline with purpose and heart.

Some Do’s

• Do start teaching your dog right from wrong from day one. If you take every opportunity to work with them now, they won’t develop problems that stick around.
• Do be patient and consistent. Teaching your puppy in a calm manner, and letting them learn through repetition, will yield positive results.
• Do use food as a motivator. Training with treats is a great way to enforce good behavior; the myth that your pup will then only perform for food is simply not true.
• Do actively ignore unwanted behavior. When your puppy is jumping, nipping or whining, limit their space by moving into them. When they figure out that their actions don’t result in eye contact, being spoken to, or being picked up, the behavior will go away on its own.

Some Don’ts

• Don’t use your dog’s crate for punishment. Their crate is a safe, quiet space they can go to when they are tired or stressed. Creating a negative association with it will undermine that.
• Don’t mistake your dog’s body language for guilt. What you’re actually seeing is mirroring! Dogs learn to read our body language, so when they sense something’s wrong, they respond with body language intended to appease us. 
• Don’t assume your puppy will outgrow annoying or unacceptable behavior. Unless those behaviors are addressed, they will continue; and the longer they are permitted, the stronger they may become. 

By actively and consistently guiding your puppy, you can be sure to reinforce good behavior and eliminate unwanted behavior, all without using any kind of harshness. 

And as always, if you feel you need support, our trainers are here to help with a Manners or eManners consultation to see what your particular challenges are and to suggest a plan of action.