"When puppies jump, we often reward them with attention, pets, and baby talk. But as dogs grow larger and stronger, that sweet jumping becomes dangerous. I learned this the hard way when a friend's "friendly" golden retriever knocked over her elderly neighbor, resulting in a broken wrist. Jumping is self-reinforcing behavior. Every time someone gives the dog attention for jumping, even negative attention like pushing them down, it reinforces the behavior."
"2) Following you everywhere (even to the bathroom) Having a furry shadow trailing your every move might make you feel loved and needed, but extreme following behavior can indicate separation anxiety developing. Dogs that can't handle being alone for even a few seconds often escalate to destructive behaviors when left alone for longer periods. They might destroy furniture, bark incessantly, or even hurt themselves trying to escape."
Seemingly harmless puppy behaviors can mask developing behavioral problems that worsen if reinforced. Jumping to greet people becomes dangerous as dogs grow larger because attention — even negative attention — reinforces the behavior. A friendly golden retriever knocked over an elderly neighbor, breaking a wrist. The recommended response is to ignore jumping and only give attention when all four paws are on the ground. Persistent following behavior, including trailing owners into bathrooms, can indicate emerging separation anxiety. Dogs that cannot tolerate even brief separations may escalate to destructive actions, excessive barking, or self-injury when left alone. Early, consistent training and professional guidance can prevent escalation.
Read at Silicon Canals
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