Stop Dogs Jumping Up on You

Posted by Puppy Trainer on May 30th, 2009 filed in Dogs

Dogs jumping up is a common problem for dog owners. Often, dog owners will unknowingly encourage jumping when they respond with excitement to a puppy that jumps up at them.

The puppy learns very quickly that jumping up results in him getting plenty of hugs and kisses. Dogs can’t possibly understand the difference between a small puppy and a large adult dog jumping up.

Your dog will see no good reason to stop jumping just because he’s somewhat older. It will be necessary for you to teach your dog that it is no longer acceptable for him to jump up.

So when is jumping inappropriate?

Some owners of small dogs see jumping as an indication of affection and enthusiasm. Thankfully, it is unlikely that the rambunctious antics of these dogs would knock anyone over, plus they are so small that the only person likely to be intimidated by them would be a child. However, it is rare for someone to welcome strange dogs jumping up on them, no matter how small they are. In a nutshell, you should teach your dog the “off” command in case you aren’t close enough to stop the jumping behavior.

The “no jump” or “off” command is vital for owners of large dogs. When a large dog stands on his hind legs, he will often be taller than a human – just imagine how frightening that would be for a small child! Also, they are often heavy enough to knock over a smaller adult. It’s bad enough when your own dog inflicts scratches and bruises on you, but it’s far worse when he does it to someone else. Responsible dog owners will make sure their dog is equipped with a recall to the “off” command.

Why do dogs jump?

The reason for most dogs jumping is sheer excitement and enthusiasm. Often dogs will only jump up when their master comes home after being away the entire day. If your dog jumps up on you at that time, he is simply jumping for joy. Some dogs jump up to show their dominance over the person which is a serious issue.

If your dog only jumps up when he’s excited to see you or during playtime, he is clearly just showing his enthusiastic and happy state of mind. If the jumping occurs under a variety of circumstances, it is probable that your dog is displaying dominance behavior, which is indicative of a communication or attitude problem. Essentially, major changes will need to take place in your rapport with your dog, which will include making it clear to your dog that you are the alpha.

Tip: Secrets to Dog Training has some excellent resources to help you deal with  dominant dog behavior. To stop your dog’s jumping behavior, visit Dogs Jumping.

Your reaction to dogs jumping up on you is key to whether the behavior is repeated or not. In order to stop dogs from jumping, consistent training will be required. He will need to be taught that jumping up is always unacceptable. Your dog can’t be permitted to jump sometimes, and forbidden other times. Play and work clothes look the same to a dog so, if he’s permitted to jump up on you sometimes, he’ll try to jump up whenever he’s in the mood.

How to put an end to your dog’s jumping behavior

The majority of trainers believe that the methods used to stop unacceptable behaviors such as jumping can often be the least difficult. If he jumps up, you need to walk away. Your dog should be given no attention whatsoever, which includes negative attention like pushing, correcting and yelling.

Here’s how this training method works: when your dog jumps up on you, immediately turn your back on him, fold your arms, turn your face away, and don’t make eye contact with him. Dogs are able to interpret your body language so your posture will make it clear to him that jumping is inappropriate.

All too often, people make the mistake of ignoring the dog’s bad behavior rather than ignoring the dog. Rather than pretending that your dog’s jumping behavior isn’t happening, you should be ignoring your dog. The cold shoulder treatment is a highly effective method to let dogs know you are unhappy with them. When your attention and reaction are removed, your dog will quickly calm down.

The right time to praise

Once all of your dog’s feet are firmly back on the ground, you can heap praise on him. Once your dog’s paws have touched the floor, you may give him attention even if you were ignoring him a moment earlier.

For more information on how to stop dog jumping, visit Dog Jumping Up.