Does your dog jump all over you at the slightest provocation? Does he push his head rudely under your hand or lean his butt heavily against you demanding scratches or bark insistently when you're too slow with dinner? It's time to teach your pup a new game. “Say Please”.
The Behavior
I like to teach dogs to say please by sitting. Once your dog has learned this game, he will sit nicely and look up at you expectantly when he wants something, rather than any number of other less desirable behaviors. Yes, he is still technically begging, but he's quiet and not on top of you.
How To Get It
Begin with something your dog wants, whether it's a scratch, a toy, to a walk, or his dinner. Let him see it and ignore him as he goes through his usual rigamarole. (You may want to warn the neighbors ahead of time if you live in an apartment.) If he knows the “sit” trick, you can give him a hint by saying “sit” ONE TIME ONLY and then ignore him completely till he complies.
Chances are whatever his previous annoying attention getting behavior was, it will get worse as he tries everything he can think of to get you to do what he wants. Eventually he will plop his butt down in exasperation. This is your moment to sweep in, provide him with whatever it is he was after and tell him what a super awesome dog he is.
It's that simple.
Be Consistent
Whatever it is your dog wants or you think he may want, he must sit first to get it. Forever. If you're sitting on the couch and your dog hops up to cuddle, push him back off and hold him back until he sits nicely, then invite him up. If you're going for a walk and your dog is jumping around like a madman in his excitement, stand there next to the door holding the leash until he calms down and sits so you can put it on him. Don't struggle with him. If he wants the walk bad enough he'll settle down long enough to put the leash on.
Be Patient
Things will get worse before they get better. In psychology this is called an “extinction burst”. Be patient and wait it out. Once your dog realizes that only sitting nicely will get him what he wants, he'll be sitting nicely at every opportunity.
What a good dog!!
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