Stop Your Dog From Jumping With These Four Tips
One way for a person to know if a dog is happy or excited is to note when a dog starts jumping. This is a form of greeting for a dog, especially when they meet their other dog friends.
You will see them jumping around excitedly as if to say, “I’m so happy that you are finally here!”. Unfortunately, this is also the same situation when a dog greets people – you will see the dog jumping around and jumping on that person excitedly.
While it is still a sign of affection, it is not exactly polite. Some people don’t even appreciate it. If your dog is the kind who has a jumping habit, you will do well to know these four tips that will help redirect that excitement into something more appropriate. He can still greet all of his human friends with the same level of love and affection, but it does not have to include a jumping motion!
Tip 1: Do not engage or interact a dog that is jumping.
When your do starts jumping around or jumping on you when you arrive, dog trainers recommend not responding. There are three different and important types of communication and rewards which dogs look for, and these are physical, visual, and verbal.
When you deny him these communication forms or rewards, it will be a sign for him that his action at the moment (which is all the jumping that he is doing) is unacceptable behavior.
The only moment that you can finally turn your attention to your dog is when he finally stops jumping (usually when he sees that he is not getting the results that he wants because of it). Take caution, though: when you finally respond to your dog and shower him with too much attention, there is a risk that he will get overly excited and start jumping again.
Tip 2: Teach your dog how to perform a new trick or skill.
When you see your dog jumping, you may feel the urge to correct that kind of behavior. However, you need to refrain from doing so. Dog trainers recommend that the better thing to do is to teach him something new instead.
When the dog starts jumping, teach the dog how to ‘back up’ – a command that you can execute when the undesirable behavior begins to show. When he follows, then that is the only time that you can pet him.
Teaching the dog how to back up goes like this: get his leash and drape it in front of a dog, and then put your foot onto the leash, taking care to show some slack. Stand up straight, and then in a cheerful voice say “back up” to your dog, stepping closer to your dog as you do so and sliding your foot as well as the leash forward.
Also put out one hand like it is a stop sign while you move into your dog’s space and he begins to move back. This is a very useful trick because when the dog starts to jump at any time during the “back up” process, your foot stepping on the leash will prevent him from jumping as high as he wants.
Follow up on this action by saying “watch” or by giving a “sit” command, and then pet him when he performs this. The “back up” command is also very useful when you find yourself in a situation wherein there is a possibility that he might jump, allowing you to prevent it.
You may also use praise or even treats to reward your dog for following your command and demonstrating acceptable behavior.
Tip 3: Do not push on or lean over the jumping dog.
There might be the desire on your part to physically prevent a dog from jumping by leaning over it or pushing him, but you are probably going to send the wrong message when you do this. Instead of communicating your disapproval for the inappropriate jumping behavior, the dog might even understand it as something that you like to do because you touched him.
Touch is usually something that a dog takes as a sign of approval, and you might find him leaning against you as a result instead of stopping because he might think that you want to play or wrestle.
Tip 4: Stand as if you were a tree.
If your dog is really the excitable kind and still goes on jumping even after you have implemented the first three tips, the last thing you should do is to stand very straight and tall like a tree. Cross your arms, then tilt your head up to look at the sky or the ceiling, and stop moving. Keep doing that until the dog has finally stopped jumping. When he stops, make one step forward.
If your dog begins the jumping behavior again, assume the tree stance again until he stops. Keep doing this until your dog realizes that if he wants to interact with you or if he wants you to finally acknowledge him, then he should stop the jumping behavior. Over time he will get this and you will begin to see the behavior that you want.
Some dogs are easily trainable and will learn not to jump within a few days of trying out these four tips. Other dogs are more stubborn, and it will take a very long while before they finally understand that you do not approve of all the jumping.
The key is to maintain consistency that every time he begins to demonstrate these jumping behaviors you will only practice any one tip from the four mentioned.
If you give in at one time, you are actually undoing all the progress that you have done so far, and might find yourself starting out at step 1 all over again. Be firm but loving, and never use a harsh voice when teaching your dog and for sure that he will finally be able to get it that you do not want to see that jumping behavior again.
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Leave a comment below if you enjoyed this article or have any questions!
These tips are how people get hurt. No one is going to just stand where when a 70 pound dog almost takes them down.
Your safety is the most important. If you feel your safety is being compromised, you shouldn’t implement the tips. I would recommend consulting a professional to solve your dog behavioral problems instead. Hope it helps.