I think I promised my husband I would try not to use this phrase anymore, but... "I used to work at an animal welfare organization." And I learned A LOT from the trainers there. Here's my thoughts on this issue: 1. Management. Try to eliminate the situations in which bad behavior can occur until you can address the behavior with training. For example, in my house the kids only eat at the table, whether it's meals or snacks. It minimizes the possibility of stolen food. As someone else suggested, crating when guests arrive. As someone noted above, these bad behaviors are self-reinforcing (yum, food! It's fun to jump!) so each time they do it and succeed, it encourages them to do it again. Prevention is key until you can address the issue with training! 2. Obedience training. Fit it in. I know it's hard, but it will be time well spent and you will reap dividends in an improved bond with your dog and better behavior. Find a trainer that uses POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. Rewarding good behaviors through treats, praise, pets, etc and extinguishing the bad by preventing them from occurring and a combination of ignoring/not rewarding them when they occur. We often reward bad behaviors without realizing it. Putting your hands on a jumping dog to hold him down may seem like petting to the jumper, and he likes petting! Becoming aware of how you may be unconsciously rewarding bad behavior is a huge help. 3. Exercise. A tired dog is a good dog. 4. I (and the wonderful, gifted trainers I've worked with) do not like leash pops/choke collars/prong collars. I've used them. My dear old dog wore a prong collar for years until I started at the humane org and learned about positive reinforcement training and gentle leader head halters. Sure, you can keep your dog from doing things using pain and fear, but is that really the best method? Would you do it with kids? Think about the amazing things they can get a killer whale to do at Sea World. All positive reinforcement. They don't make choke collars that big! 5. Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog." Great book. 6. This may be hard to fit in as well, but practice. Schedule brief visits from a friend or two, where they know the objective is to work on jumping. Plan in advance what to -- turn your back, feed treats/pet and praise when all four paws hit the floor. 10 minutes twice a week. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Works well if you have dog-owner friends who need volunteer helpers as well. :-) I don't want to sound preachy. I am certainly not a perfect dog owner. I do not have as much time for training as I should. I do not have as much patience as I should. I do resort to punishment (though not physical). The association of pet dog trainers website linked below is a good place to find a trainer. Sorry this is so long... hope something in it is of help! Here is a link that might be useful: Assoc of Pet Dog Trainers website

For those who don't really have a cold: I had a runny nose and sneezing fits when it was cold and I did not open windows, but had the heat on more than usual. Today it was warm, I opened windows, got fresh air and walked, and no runny nose. The TV show The Doctors addressed winter allergies the other day. They say change your furnace filters. There may be dust, pet hair, mold circulating through the old filters. I haven't tried it yet but maybe I'll work on it if it gets cold again. A long time ago I heard vaseline was dangerous, you can inhale it into your lungs, which is not good. If you have an aloe vera plant, that gooey stuff in the leaves really helps soothe the nose and gets rid of the chapping. Hope you all feel better soon!

I made 4 double layer nuzzles with a filter pocket. They are a PIA. They fog up my glasses, hot, reduce breathing and muffled talking. So I made 2 out of a pkg of reusable wipes I had hanging around. Single layer, light, breathable and cooler. I probably will have to make two more cause sometimes I'm out several times a week. Unless visibly dirty I just rotate them.

They are doing so well......they are jumping off the stairs when running after their pink puffies....falling a single story...jumping up and running off. When on carpet....I guess it's a soft fall. Kittens! They are so full of energy....so HAPPY and feeling GOOD.....they're out-of-control! ☺ And cute as all get out! Annie.....does the brewers yeast strengthen their immune system?