Learn How To Stop Your Dog From Jumping
A Dog Jumping On You Or Your Guests is Disrespectful
There are few things more annoying than going over to a friend’s house with the hopes of enjoying a night full of fun and relaxation, only to find when you arrive at the door you are met by their dog jumping all over you. Even worse, they can’t get the dog to stop or they choose to overlook it.
This is one of the most common behavioral issues dogs develop, especially with puppies and smaller breed dogs. Often this behavior is dismissed as cute and harmless due to the dog’s size or “cute factor”, but it should not be dismissed in any case. Jumping should be discouraged from the first day that you bring home a new puppy or dog. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets knocked over and an injury occurs.
Does your dog?…
- Jump on you when you arrive home?
- Jump on your friends when they walk in the door?
- Jump on you when you’re sitting on the couch?
- Jump on you when you are eating dinner?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are dealing with the very same issues countless other dog owners are dealing with. The good news is that this issue is very easy to fix!
As will any training, you really want to ensure that you choose the proper training techniques and remain consistent when implementing them; if you are not consistent, your dog will become confused.
For instance, if you allow him to jump on you at the front door, yet you correct for jumping on you when you are sitting at the dinner table, the dog is not getting clear information.
Choose a command such as “off”, and stay consistent with that word. Be sure when choosing the word that you don’t choose words that may later conflict with commands such as “down”, which will be used in teaching your dog to lay down on command.
It’s pretty commonly known that dogs do not like the feeling of being off balance, which you can use to help teach them to keep four feet on the floor. The next time you come in the front door and your dog jumps on you, immediately take a step or two forward, and gently pull up on your dog’s collar. As you move forward, tell him/her “off” in a calm yet firm voice. This action will likely both surprise him as well as throw him off balance, resulting in him putting his feet on the floor. Petting and praise only occur when the dog is on solid ground.
Whenever you are petting and praising your dog, make sure not to get too enthusiastic. Your dog is jumping on you because he is excited, and it isn’t fair for you to throw more excitement into the mix when you are trying to calm him down. Calm petting is the best form of reward in this case. Also, do not give your dog tons of attention when you first get home. Excitement and anxiety about your return home not only leads to jumping, but also to more serious issues, like separation anxiety.
Make sure that you practice these steps every day when you come home, or in any situation that your dog may jump on you. Everyone in the household, as well as dog walkers and pet sitters, need to be on the same page in order to keep things consistent for the dog. Follow these steps, and jumping will be a thing of the past!