We all know how embarrassing it can be to have a disobedient dog assaulting our guests by jumping all over them. It looks like we have no control over the situation (because we usually don’t) and it makes our guests hesitant to return (especially if you have a large dog). Whether your dog is small or large or you think it’s the cutest thing in the world, it is not ok to let them jump on anyone! Dogs who greet you or your guests by jumping are usually displaying signs of dominance. This is their house and they want the visitor to know it. And while you may think it is cute when little Muffin does it, it’s considered rude, especially for people who don’t have dogs. But it isn’t too late to fix this bad habit, and there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to have guests over, whenever you like. After all, it’s your house….isn’t it?
If you are serious about correcting your dog’s bad habits, now is the time to start because it takes time and consistency to crack this one.
Keep in mind, not every dog responds the same to training techniques. Lucky for you there are a few different ideas out there to get your dog to stop jumping. One technique is to teach your dog to jump on command. The idea is that he will only jump when given the command instead of every time he greets you. Another technique is the ol’ knee routine. Many people have only had to put their knee out once to stop a jumping dog and then have a guest use their knee once to get the idea across. Of course, that technique doesn’t work on little dogs and it doesn’t teach the dog how politely greet anyone. So today we will be focusing on positive reinforcement training to teach a dog not to jump but to politely greet you and your guests.
Training your dog not to jump starts with training yourself (and everyone in the household):
· Keep your attention and your hands away from your dog unless her front feet are on the floor.
· Immediately give your dog attention the instant her front feet land on the floor.
· Do not greet your dog excitedly, ignore her until she is calm
· Do not yell or push your dog when she is jumping, it will only make her more excited
· Do not withhold praise or attention once your dog has all four paws on the floor. Even if you are irritated, she needs instant positive reinforcement to make the connection.
· When praising your dog for her good behavior, do so in a calm voice and simple touch. If you get excited she will get excited again.
“Your attention and your touch are the words that you can use to let your dog know how she needs to act to get your attention….She has to be able to make the connection that front feet on the floor magically result in attention and affection from people.” -ASPCA
Exercise 1: Ignore the jump
· When your dog starts to jump up, stand still, look straight ahead (not at your dog), and pull your hands and arms up to your chest.
· Calmly wait for your dog to stop jumping. When her front paws touch the floor, immediately look at her and calmly stroke her.
· If she gets excited and jumps up again, straighten back up and repeat the sequence.
Try this exercise for a few days every time you see your pup throughout the day. Tune back in later this week for the second edition of this article for three more exercises to practice with your pup. Remember, consistency is key.
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