Keep Your Pooch's Paws Grounded

The saying often goes that there's no such thing as bad dogs, just bad owners. But when provoked, canines might respond aggressively to those antagonizing them. Such was the case in Bethany, Oklahoma, where a local judge filed an unprecedented ruling against man's best friend.

Over the weekend, two American bulldogs - 14-month-old Brutus and 8-month-old Athena - in Bethany got into their neighbor's backyard, KOCO reported. Unbeknownst to them, the home next door was owned by the local police chief. His wife claimed that the canines jumped on her, scratching and frightening her. The incident brought both the chief and the dog owners to court.

The chief's wife believed that the canines were dangerous and had to be put down, while the parents argued that while the pooches did jump and bruise her, they would never bite anyone. In a rare ruling, the judge declared that Brutus and Athena were banned from the city of Bethany and aren't allowed to return under any circumstances. If the owners bring them back, they face fines and would be found in contempt of court.

Despite the swift decision, many of the issues could have been solved with proper canine training.

Stopping your jumping dog
From their early puppy years to adolescence, pooches jump on people when they greet them - but why? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals explained that canines leap on us because dogs sniff each other's faces when they meet. Our height makes this difficult, so they jump up to get a better whiff of our scent.

But many people don't enjoy having a big pooch leap onto their chests, let alone be covered in hair from the close contact. According to the ASPCA, stopping your jumping dog requires you to train him that you'll only greet him if their paws are on the floor. The next time you come home, it's important to remember to keep your attention and hands away from Fido unless his front feet are grounded, but immediately acknowledge him the instant his paws hit the floor.

Don't tell him to stop or push him away - simply ignore your jumping dog until he's got all four paws on the ground. Once he's down, give him all of your love, but if he jumps again you have to pull your hands away. While it takes patience, you'll be glad you took the time to train Fido to not jump.

Owners should sign up for a PetPlus membership and gain access to hundreds of discounted items that make training easy.