Training a Dog to Stop Jumping Up
When a puppy jumps up to greet you, it can feel welcoming and sweet. However, when your puppy grows into a large dog and continues to jump up, it can cause several issues. When large dogs jump up on their owners, it's often expected, and the owner can cope with their dog jumping up. Dogs allowed to jump up at home may also repeat this behaviour and jump up strangers on walks. When out for a walk, no one wants a muddy dog jumping up at them when they least expect it. Children or even adults can be knocked over by dogs jumping up, causing injuries and distress. You must teach your dog not to jump up to avoid issues in the future. This article has some tips to help you teach your dog this behaviour.
Dogs usually jump up on people to get their attention; it might be when you first come to the door or when you’re not paying enough attention to your dog. People unintentionally reward dogs for this behaviour by giving them what they want when they jump up. Stroking your dog or giving them a fuss teaches them that they get what they want when they jump up, reinforcing this unwanted behaviour.
When your dog jumps up on you, you should completely ignore them and turn your back on them instead of giving them the attention they want. When your dog is back on the floor, reward them for their good behaviour. Treats are a suitable reward as you can place them on the floor, which keeps your dog in the position you want to reward. If your dog isn’t interested in treats, you can give them a toy as a reward.
Training any dog is all about consistency; your dog needs to understand that this is the behaviour you want. Stopping your dog from jumping up can take time to perfect; your dog is unlikely to get it initially. You will need to continuously work on stopping your dog from jumping up by ignoring them and turning around every time they jump up. Eventually, your dog will learn and stop the unwanted behaviour.
When you’re out on walks, it can be challenging if your dog spots someone they want to greet in the distance. It is essential to teach your dog to come back using a dog whistle or a voice command to prevent this situation. You can use a long line during walks to perfect this skill and reward your dog with treats when they come back to you when called or when they hear the whistle.
If you have visitors to your home, you need to make them aware of the training you’re doing with your dog. If they allow your dog to jump up and they reward your dog for this behaviour, it can undo all of your hard work and consistency. Make sure you prep visitors before you allow your dog to greet them. You could also keep your dog on a lead when visitors arrive so you can quickly stop your dog from jumping up and reward them when all four paws remain on the ground. By keeping your dog on the lead, you can lessen the excitement of your visitors arriving and keep their attention on you. Another option when you have visitors is to allow them to sit down and get settled before bringing your dog into the room. Your dog will be less excited in this situation than greeting visitors at the door.
It is essential to teach your dog not to jump up when people come through your door or on walks when you’re out. A large dog that jumps up can cause someone to trip, leading to significant injuries or bruising. A top tip when your dog is learning this skill is to keep treats by the door so that you can reward your dog straight away for good behaviour. You can teach your dog this skill much more quickly if you associate a command with their feet on the ground, such as off or down. Be consistent with your training, and no matter how excited you are to see your dog, don’t reward them for jumping up.