I hadn't thought about the jumping, I have a thing that dogs are not allowed to put their feet on me, either. That's because they don't understand that their feet may be dirty one day or I may be wearing something nice another day, I don't expect them to tell the difference.

My Ridgie is so good about the mouth that I will play with her and put my hand in her mouth and she pulls her lips over her teeth and never shuts her jaws. She's gotten quite good about it. Now if only I could teach her to stop with that whip of a tail. Only way I know of to stop the wagging is to cut it off.

I, too, disapprove of human forms of negative reinforcement, no hitting or yelling. They just want to please us most of the time, and they need to know where we stand and where they stand. Once they understand that they're much happier and so are we.

Now... if only we could convince the kids of how to work with their new little terrier (terror is more like it). Smart as a whip and he needs direction, good dog, but again, he needs direction. And his balls cut, he's begun marking in the house.

__________________