All Puppy Bulletin

Date: 9/21/04 (Rev 9/18/06)

Subject: Distractions and Concerns

Why is my puppy pulling, lunging, jumping, barking & sniffing?

Puppies react to things in many different ways. If your puppy is out of focus, it is normally due to lack of maturity, boredom, distraction or concern. These all lead to a hard to manage puppy. The following guide will help you to handle these situations. Be sure to have treats and your comfort toy with you at all times.

Loss of focus due to Distraction

§ Touch Game

§ Come & Sit

§ Wait for puppy to self-correct - ‘Yes’ & treat

If the puppy does not settle using the above techniques, do something the puppy can handle successfully, i.e. touch game, praise the puppy and leave the area. The exposure is too much for the puppy at this time.

Loss of focus due to Concern

• Allow the puppy to investigate
• Position yourself between the object of concern and the puppy.
• Touch the object, allow the puppy to sniff your hand, pet the puppy. If the puppy is on leash, keep the leash loose. Continue this process until the puppy approaches the object.
• Use encouragement, but do not coddle the puppy.
• Repeat until comfortable.

Praise for overcoming the concern but do not overemphasize.