Stop Your Dog From Jumping Up

FIVE METHODS TO STOP YOUR DOG FROM JUMPING ON YOU

By: LukEli K-9, Dog Training and Behavior Modification Professionals

 

Does your dog jump on you, your family, and your visitors?

Dogs jumping up on people is at best an embarrassing, annoying habit and at worst a danger for all involved. What starts out as a cute habit in young puppies often escalates into a big problem that can be very difficult to correct. Any small child or elderly person (or anyone, really, depending on the size of your dog) who crosses paths with your dog could be in danger of being knocked off their feet or injured.

Here are five methods to put your dog’s jumping behavior on the path to extinction:

THE IGNORE METHOD

When the dog's feet first leave the ground, quickly turn your back on the dog. (note: this may encourage jumping in certain dogs). During this process don't make any eye contact with your dog and don't say a thing. Ignore your dog and make it clear to him that when he jumps he gets nothing from you. If your dog circles around in front of you and jumps up again, turn your back again. Continue doing this until the dog chooses a more desirable behavior, such as sitting, standing still, or even turning to leave. The instant this happens, immediately turn your attention to the dog and praise and pet them. You are reinforcing the preferred behavior of keeping all four feet on the ground. If the attention causes your dog to stop the desirable behavior and begin jumping again, immediately withdraw your attention and turn your back again If you are consistent and persistent with this method, your dog will soon learn that staying with all four paws on the ground is a much better alternative!

SIT METHOD

In situations where your dog is excitable and prone to jumping up, give him something else to do (called a replacement or incompatible alternative behavior). Teach your dog to sit if you haven't already. This will give your dog a replacement behavior for greeting you. When you are leaving or returning to your house (or whenever it is that your dog normally jumps on you), give the "sit" command before your dog starts to jump.

•   If your dog sits, praise him. Give him lots of praise and tell him how good he is.

•   If your dog ignores you and still jumps on you, work more on the “sit” cue or use one of the other methods mentioned

Once you have stopped your dog from jumping on you, repeat the "sit" command if necessary. Praise your dog when he sits. Keep doing this every time your dog starts to jump on you. Gradually, your dog will learn that he should sit if he wants you to greet him. Giving your dog an incompatible alternative behavior works well for unruly dogs who like to jump on visitors as well.

LEASH METHOD

Keep a leash attached to your dog’s collar while undergoing this training. Step on the leash so that there is some slack in the leash but not enough to allow your dog to jump up. Praise your dog for staying down (you set them up for success by making sure they couldn’t jump in the first place). Eventually they will get the idea that staying on the floor will get them what they want, while jumping does not.

STOP METHOD

When the dog starts to jump up, hold out your open hand and when they jump up push your open hand downward against their nose/face, while at the same time pushing them down towards the ground and saying "OFF". Dog's noses are sensitive and after repeating this method several times, they will not want to get pushed back down by their nose/face with your open hand. This method can be successful if you consistently do this every time they jump up.

TRAINING COLLARS/HARNESSES

There are many types of training collars and harnesses, some designed specifically to curb jumping behavior in dogs. Harnesses can be harmful if used incorrectly so be sure to understand their proper use before using them as a training tool for your dog. Training collars such as prong or pinch collars can be an effective tool but should only be used after being instructed as to their correct use and whether they are the best option available in your case by a canine training professional. I don’t ever recommend the use of choke collars as they are easily put on incorrectly which renders them ineffective. They have a design flaw that prevents them from doing what they were designed to do in the first place. They are also an unnecessarily harsh tool for physical corrections.

General Tips For Correcting Jumping Up Behavior

•   Always keep in mind that your dog doesn't understand that the jumping up behavior is "inappropriate". It's up to you to clearly communicate this to your dog.

•   Start as early as you can. It's much easier to prevent behavior problems such as dogs jumping on people, than to correct ingrained, existing habits.

•   Punishing or hitting a dog for jumping up just doesn't make sense and will never work. Your goal, and your best chance of stopping your dog from jumping up, is to clearly communicate that jumping up is always an unacceptable behavior.

•   Never reward a dog that jumps up on people by giving them the attention they are seeking. Rewarded behavior is reinforced behavior, meaning it will become more common.

•   You have to send a consistent message to your dog in all circumstances. Make it simple for your dog and eliminate any confusion. This means that everybody who comes into contact with your dog has to reinforce the same message. It's pointless and unfair if you give your dog a pat and attention when he jumps up on you, but then yell at him when he jumps up on a delivery man.

•   Never hit your dog or use other abusive behavior to make him stop jumping on you. Remember that your dog is most likely jumping up to greet you because he is glad to see you. Hitting or yelling at your dog will make him afraid of you or more aggressive.

By the way, kneeing your dog in the chest is only minimally effective and I have heard of dogs dying after being only moderately kneed in the chest for jumping. I don’t recommend you use kneeing as a training tool.

The good thing about jumping up problems in dogs is that they are usually an easy fix. As long as you are determined to correct the problem and follow the above training techniques consistently you should be well on your way. Contact a trainer at LukEli K-9 Training to get you headed on the right track to reach your training and behavior modification goals.