Does your dog greet you with a jump for attention? It’s his natural way of saying hello, but it can become a problem, especially if you have a large dog.

Training him out of this behavior is possible and easy, with consistency and the right rewards. Read on for a few tips.

Negative attention can be a reward
Jumping is a common behavior issue that is often reinforced, inadvertently, by the pet owner. What you may not realize is that any attention you give you dog after he jumps on you, even if it’s to say ‘no,’ can be positive reinforcement. Your goal then is to offer no reward for jumping or to ignore him. This will help him learn that only dogs with their paws on the ground will get your praise.

Consistency is key
Does your dog get the same response from you and others? Think of it from his point of view. If he has a 50/50 chance of getting the attention he wants, he’ll continue to jump for it. This brings up the issue of consistency. It’s one of the key ingredients for success when training Fido. If your dog is sometimes rewarded and sometimes punished for the same action, he won’t learn to change his behavior.

Training tips

• Use the same response when your dog jumps to greet you. Ignore him, turn your back or walk away and wait for him to get down. As soon as he does, you can turn and reward him with praise or a treat.
• Does he respond to the ‘sit’ command? Teach him to sit before you will give him your attention.
• When he jumps, do not punish him by pushing him aside or yelling at him. Your dog may see this as a reward or reinforcement.
• When you do praise your dog, do it calmly so he doesn’t get excited and lose control again.
• If the jumping often happens at the front door, try a short training session. Walk in and if he jumps, ignore him (keep your hands to your sides or at your chest) and walk out again. Close the door or leave it open a little and tell him to sit. Enter and if he jumps again, walk out again. Repeat this until he stops jumping and you can reward him.
• Ask some friends or relatives to help you as well. Explain the process of walking out if your dog jumps. When they arrive, go to the door with your dog and ask him to sit before opening it. If he jumps, your visitor should leave and repeat the steps.

There’s nothing wrong with a little canine excitement at your arrival! But with these tips, greetings from your dog can be a safe pleasure for everyone.

Is exercise on your list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2013? Man’s best friend can be your best exercise partner.

With your dog as your workout companion, you’ll get a loyal and eager exercise partner in return. Research has shown that you’re more likely to stick to your fitness program if you exercise with your furry friend.

Here are a few tips for exercising with your dog:

Walk or jog your way to fitness
Ready to turn your dog walks into short exercise routines? It’s the easiest way to start and a brisk walk can be great exercise for both you and your doggie. Start slowly (10 to 15 minutes) and work your way up to longer walks or jogs. Up to 20 or 30 minutes should be OK for most dogs, depending on their breed and health.

Beyond the walk
While walking and jogging can be great activities, why stop there? Add more variety with dog-friendly activities like…

• Swimming – Water dogs like Labradors, Retrievers and Poodles enjoy swimming, especially during hot weather. Keep it short, fun and safe.
• Obstacle course – Set up a homemade obstacle course in your backyard or visit a dog park with a course. While your dog runs the course, sprint with him to get your own exercise.
• Fetch or tag – Take the average game of fetch or tag even further. Throw a ball or toy and race him to it or play tag where you’re “it.”
• Canine dancing – Choreographed dancing with your dog is a sport called musical freestyle. Create a dance routine to upbeat music and burn some calories! Here’s an example on video.
• Dog frisbee – This fun outdoor game can turn into a competitive sport for you and your pet. Keep it casual or join a “Disc Dog” club for more motivation.
• Doggie soccer – Can your pooch kick it like a canine Beckham? Find out if he can push a large dog ball with his nose or paws for a game of soccer. It’s OK to use a soccer ball too, just avoid kicking it at his nose or body.

Check with the vet (and your doctor) first
Make a vet visit your first priority. During the vet check, learn of any breed-specific limitations that could affect Fido’s workout. You should get checked by your own doctor as well, before any new exercise routine is started.

Make the workout work for your dog
You may push your own limits in a workout, but don’t do the same with your dog. A Chihuahua, for example, can’t do a mile-long run, but he may be up for a brisk 20- to 30-minute walk. Be careful with smaller breeds in general and be extra careful with short-nosed breeds (pugs, boxers, chow chows, mastiffs, etc.). They can have problems breathing and cooling down effectively.

Mind the signs of health and safety
In his eagerness to keep up, your dog may overdo it, so it’s up to you to watch for signs of exhaustion or overheating. Heavy panting, pale gums, walking unevenly or lagging behind you are all signs that it’s time to stop. To stay safe, exercise in the mornings or evenings when there’s less heat and take a water bottle for you and him on long sessions.

Best of luck and we wish you and your pets a happy and healthy 2013!

There are six to eight million pets in shelters each year, according to the Humane Society. We know that many of our customers adopt shelter pets, care for them responsibly and provide them with great lives.

But did you know you can do more? Besides offering a donation, you can also offer your time as a volunteer. Here are a few things you can do to help pets in your area:

Volunteer at a shelter

Shelters are in desperate need of volunteers to help care for animals at their facilities. Just one or two hours a week of your time is enough to make a difference in the lives of shelter animals who need feeding, bathing, petting and socializing. You can also ask about providing administrative support work from home.

• Visit the Humane Society to learn about local volunteer needs.
• See the ASPCA’s Top Ten Ways to Help Your Shelter.
• Visit VolunteerMatch.org. Enter “animals” and your zip code for opportunities in your area.

Help an animal rescue group

Rescue groups are small, independent organizations working to rescue a particular type of animal or breed. Your help as a pet foster parent is needed for those pets who are waiting for adoption. Donations of food and supplies are helpful as well.

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• Use the ASPCA’s tool to find a rescue group or shelter in your area.

Join an animal disaster response team

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy highlights the need for volunteers who are ready to respond after natural disasters or emergencies. Animals are often lost, abandoned or hurt during these events and need special care. As a team member, you could be called into action to rescue these pets. Learn about the Humane Society’s animal rescue training program in your area.

Support animal rights with online activism

If you can’t volunteer time at a shelter, you can still do your part from home. Email lawmakers to support animal-friendly legislation or help spread the word online to raise awareness about animal rights.

• Visit the ASPCA’s Advocacy Center for more information.
• Learn about the Humane Society’s advocacy efforts in your state.

Ready to take action? There are many things you can do from home or at shelters to support animals! Pet Supermarket works with many rescue groups to provide pet adoption events in our stores. Stop by to see these adoptable pets or to speak with the organizations about volunteering.