OK, so here's a training question for someone...

When my kids come home from school, Callie (Puggle puppy only 15 weeks old) jumps all over them and licks/nips at them. How can I teach her not to jump on them and not to lick? She will lick everyone if given the chance. I have her on a drag line, and sit on the floor next to the kids and hold her down, but she pulls so hard she coughs and nips at my hands that are holding her.

It takes about 5 minutes before she calms down enough, and even then, my kids (ages 8 & 10) can't pet her because she licks their hands before they even get to her. I don't really want her licking/nipping/jumping. We have taught her the "down" command (it's hit and miss sometimes), and then she will sit, but jumps up if you reach down to pet her.

I usually have them sit on the floor to pet her, is that a bad idea? Should they be standing?

Any suggestions??

I am not a trainer, this is my opinion on pet dogs, which you clearly have here.

The dog is a baby, and is naturaly very oral at this age. Puppies lick, but you should redirect nipping in a pet. I would teach it to sit, then when it sits, it can be pet as a reward. I wouldn't worry if it takes 5 minutes, she needs to learn in a calm and consistant way that the way to get attention is to sit and wait for it. It is going to take a a while for her to learn this, and to be calmer. If she sits, then jumps up to lick or nip the hand as it comes down to pet her, gently repeat the sit, and then pet when she is calmer. I think it is better to reward the sit then punish the jump, personally.

I never let young kids sit on the floor with a dog, somehow I think it makes a pup think the kids are puppies to be chewed on. Even if I am on the ground, I am much more likely to be nibbled. Once I fell in the mud in the park, and my dog nibbled on my ear, thinking I was playing some new game with him. Also, obviously, the dog needs an outlet for her energy. Maybe the kids can play fetching or scent games with her.

 Quote: polly gregor

I am not a trainer, this is my opinion on pet dogs, which you clearly have here.

The dog is a baby, and is naturaly very oral at this age. Puppies lick, but you should redirect nipping in a pet. I would teach it to sit, then when it sits, it can be pet as a reward. I wouldn't worry if it takes 5 minutes, she needs to learn in a calm and consistant way that the way to get attention is to sit and wait for it. It is going to take a a while for her to learn this, and to be calmer. If she sits, then jumps up to lick or nip the hand as it comes down to pet her, gently repeat the sit, and then pet when she is calmer. I think it is better to reward the sit then punish the jump, personally.

I never let young kids sit on the floor with a dog, somehow I think it makes a pup think the kids are puppies to be chewed on. Even if I am on the ground, I am much more likely to be nibbled. Once I fell in the mud in the park, and my dog nibbled on my ear, thinking I was playing some new game with him. Also, obviously, the dog needs an outlet for her energy. Maybe the kids can play fetching or scent games with her.

Ditto all the way.

Good point about the floor thing, too. I have one dog who gets all excited and paw-y if I sit on the floor to pet any of them. He tries to lick my face, put his forepaws on me, and other similar stuff that he NEVER does unless I'm on the floor.

So while it's probably not all dogs (and in fact, it's only one in my house), it seems like an excellent thing to teach kids NOT to do.... especially with this pup who is learning to tone down the excitement.

P.S. This: "I think it is better to reward the sit then punish the jump, personally" is a long-held opinion of mine, too. I would rather teach and reward a positive command than constantly say "no." So, for example, the doorbell can have a positive command associated with it (sit, "place," whatever you want to teach) instead of a constant fight to drag the dog back, yell "no" as the dog jumps up, and otherwise pour excited attention onto an excited situation.