Taming the Jumping Dog

How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping: A Guide for Pet Owners

Jumping up on people can be one of the most annoying behaviors a dog can have, especially if it's a large dog. No one wants to come home to their dog jumping all over them or their invited guests. Understanding why and how this behavior starts is crucial in addressing it.

Why Do Dogs Jump?

Most of the time, we as dog owners unintentionally encourage this behavior. Who doesn’t love their tiny puppy being excited to greet them at the door? When dogs are small, they don't push you around much, so owners often give the little pup attention when they jump up. This is usually how the behavior begins.

Later, when the dog is larger, owners try to correct this by pushing the dog away, not realizing that to a dog, who often plays with their paws, this can be perceived as positive attention by the dog. Sometimes, owners may yell “down!” but this can also be confusing and still feels like attention to the dog.

How to Stop the Jumping Behavior

To reverse this behavior, it's essential to stop rewarding the jumping with attention. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Ignore the Jumping

When you come home, fold your arms, turn your back, and look away from the dog. This is no fun for the dog, as they seek your attention. Ignoring the behavior is step one.

2. Manage the Situation

The dog is excited when you come home, so have treats ready. As you enter, toss treats around the floor and continue ignoring the dog. This will redirect their focus to sniffing out the treats, which is a calming behavior. By the time they find the treats, they should be calm enough to greet you properly.

3. Practice "Four on the Floor"

Only treat the dog when all four paws are on the ground. This can be practiced when you come home, during recall training, or anytime you're treating the dog. Consistent practice should help diminish the jumping behavior.

The Importance of Consistency

Remember, these behaviors are often inadvertently taught by us encouraging the behavior. Consistency is key! We cannot expect the dog to learn if it doesn’t understand what we want. We must use the dog's “language,” so to speak.

I will share more information on how we sometimes confuse our dogs with repetitive cues and commands in future posts. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Now, go be consistent for your pup!