Doggie NO More Jump

As Pawed by Ursa one of Bark Buckle UP's Paw Bloggers and of course with a little help from Camille Adams founder of Mission: P.E.T.S. So you’ve got this adorable dog, and he is just wonderful! You love him with all your heart, but, he’s got this one problem... he jumps on you, and visitors, all the time!
If he’s a small dog, you may not be too concerned. On the other hand, maybe your dog is pushing 100 lbs. Jumping up to say hello and score a lick of your face may not be so cute anymore now that he’s all grown up. Don’t fret, your dog is normal... and you can break the habit.

Before you try to correct the behavior, it’s best to understand why he is jumping. Despite what some may think, dogs don’t just jump “out of nowhere” for “no reason.” Jumping up is normal behavior for a dog, as is mouthing. If you ever have the chance to watch a litter of puppies interacting, you’ll notice they jump all over each other and on their parents, as well. These are instinctual ways to play, and to learn how to assert dominance over one another. Another reason your dog may be jumping is because he may have been rewarded, at one time, for jumping up to say hello to someone. If your friend pet and loved Fido for jumping up to say hello, he thinks he did something good! And he wants more pets and love from everyone!

You can try to determine why your dog is jumping. Is he jumping up on guests because he is excited and wants to play? Is he jumping up to let them know he is the man of the house? Also, pay close attention to whether or not you are encouraging the behavior. Some people let their dogs jump up when “they feel like it.” You may like to get “hugs” from Fido when you come home, but when he jumps up on a child he can easily knock her over. Your dog doesn’t know how to distinguish when it’s acceptable or not. Consistency, as with most training techniques, will be key in correcting the behavior.

What NOT to do

When your dog jumps, yelling out phrases like “NO!” or “GET DOWN!” may not make sense to Fido, especially if “down” means to lay down (as in most training classes). Yelling and punishing your dog with anger and frustration can actually raise your dog’s excitement level even more. It’s not the words you use that will stop Fido from jumping, but it is your approach and demeanor.

And, most importantly, do not encourage him to jump by petting him when he does so. This will only confuse him, as you are telling him “jumping is acceptable.”

What TO DO

In many professional training classes, the first tool utilized is the “body block.” It’s like an introductory step to the rest of the techniques we will be discussing. When Fido jumps at you, block your body and twist away from him, sideways, so his paws have nothing to lean on, and he’ll end up back on all fours. Make sure to have all guests who enter your home follow the same routine as you are “in training” with Fido. Do not let him get his paws on you!

If he jumped too quickly, and you were unable to turn away from him, just turn and walk away. By pushing him away, or getting excitable/frustrated, he may think, “Yay! They’re playing with me!” Just ignore him, you need not say anything.
In both scenarios, once Fido has all fours on the ground, tell him to “sit.” When he sits, immediately reward him with lots of love and pets. You can squat down to his level, and let him lick your face there! Fido will soon learn that sitting means attention and affection. And by teaching him an alternative behavior, the one you want to encourage him to do, he will soon be encouraged not to jump.

In addition to teaching him to “sit” for affection, many trainers also suggest other alternatives to jumping. There are many ways to implement positive reinforcement to eliminate jumping up.

As mentioned earlier, always remain calm and confident. Training your dog will prove to be much more of a pleasant experience, and will be far more effective, quicker, if you refrain from frustration and anger.

When you come home from being out, do not go crazy over seeing Fido. Walk in calmly, and ignore him for a few moments. This will teach him that someone entering the home does not equal excitement (and jumping). When he is sitting, say hello and pet him. Again, encouraging the sitting behavior and letting him know that greetings are done at this level, they are not done by jumping up to reach the person’s level.

Another useful tool is the “off” command. This can be used for other behaviors aside from jumping, also. You can tell the dog “off” when he jumps up on the counter, the couch, and so forth. You can add this in while blocking your body and turning away from him. Just say it once, in a firm but calm manner. As soon as Fido gets “off” and sits, reward him with lots of praise or a treat. Again, make sure that everyone entering your house practices the same commands or techniques as you do to ensure consistency.

Other trainers promote “sitting” instead of jumping by offering rewards at the dog’s level when people enter the home (or in any situation where you know Fido loves to jump up). Ding Dong! The doorbell rings, and Fido comes a-running. He is excited, tail-wagging. Now imagine, as soon as the door opened, some one held out a treat at his eye level. Would Fido still jump? Doubtful. He’d probably be busy enjoying his yummy snack. If you would like to practice this training tool, keep a treat closed in your hand, with your hand at your side all the way down to Fido’s level. At first, let him take the treat right away. Once he gets the hang of it, and stops jumping up to greet people (because now, the good stuffs on his level!) you can begin closing your fist so he cannot get the treat. Eventually he will learn to sit down, or back away because he cannot get it out of your hand. Once he sits, reward him with the treat immediately and praise him. This is another way to encourage him to sit down instead of jumping up.

Whichever technique you choose, remember to be consistent and allow several weeks to decide if the behavior is improving. A jumping dog can be scary for children and even for people who may be fearful of dogs. You can be an advocate for dogs by showing everyone how well-trained and lovable they can be!

As with all training, each dog is an individual and may require more or less training, and the use of different techniques. If you are still experiencing jumping after several weeks of consistent training, seek out a professional trainer in your area. The hands-on training may be just what you need to curb Fido’s jumping.

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