THERE'S A REASON WHY PUPPIES are so cute. If they weren't, few owners would put up with the things they do. Actually, that's part of the problem. If you allow your shepherd puppy to do “cute” things when she's little, you may be stuck with those no-longer-so-cute antics later, when she weighs sixty pounds (and still thinks she's a puppy).

One strategy is to apply the rules you set for your children to your puppy as well. Ask yourself this: Would you allow your daughter to hit you if she didn't want her fingernails trimmed? Would you let your son push you out of the way to charge through the door? How about letting your nephews jump out of the car and run into traffic? The answer, of course, is no. So why would you let your shepherd puppy get away with this kind of behavior?