A dog will typically jump up in an effort to get our attention. When we respond to a dog jumping up, we might unintentionally be encouraging them to continue.
When your dog is a puppy, they typically learn how to jump. When your dog is young, it may be tempting to reward the behavior, but once your dog is fully grown, it can become a serious issue. Even though your dog may just be being friendly, some people may find it quite intimidating when they see them jump up.
When teaching your dog not to jump up, timing, consistency, and persistence are crucial. Your dog might jump more when you first start. This is due to the fact that jumping up has previously been rewarded, so your dog may believe that they only need to work harder to get your attention. This is normal, so persevere and keep at it.
See our step-by-step tutorial to stop your dog from jumping up. Teaching your dog that jumping up is a bad way to get your attention is tricky.
How to Train an Alternative Greeting Behavior
Theoretically, if you ignore your dog when they jump, they should eventually stop doing it. After all, it’s no longer being rewarded. However, not everyone you come into contact with in your home or on the street will be aware of those rules. And even worse, that’s incredibly frustrating for your dog. They need to be taught what to do instead.
It’s up to you how you want your dog to welcome guests. Your dog may need to sit or lie down, or you may just want all four paws on the ground. But bear in mind that you must instruct them on how to act, not just how not to act. One simpler rule is to sit when greeting someone rather than to jump.
How to Stop a Dog From Jumping
Simply put, jumping up is rude. Nobody wants a dog jumping all over them, leaving paw prints on their clothing, scratching their legs, or worse, ripping open their chests and arms. When friends visit, a jumping dog can hurt young children, rip clothing, and generally be a nuisance. Luckily, this embarrassing behavior isn’t hard to fix. But in order to stop dog jumping, we must comprehend the behavior, and in order to comprehend the behavior, we must consider the reasons why it occurs.
Jumping up is a natural greeting behavior for dogs. Two dogs will run up to each other and stand up on their front legs as they excitely paw and collide when they meet again after being apart. You must teach your dog how to greet people and you in a way that is more fitting for the human species.
The most frequent occasions for dog jumping are those that are exciting and emotionally charged, like returning from work or school. Imagine how excited this must be for your dog (and let’s be honest, one reason why we all own dogs is precisely this unabashed and unconditional joy and excitement) as they have been waiting at home, probably bored, and all of a sudden, the car pulls in and you arrive, provider of toys and treats and love and fun.
The only way your dog knows how to greet you because he is overjoyed is by jumping all over you The first step in getting a dog to stop jumping is to take the emotion out of these kinds of situations. Avoid using loud voices, high pitched voices, or excited tones when speaking to avoid sending your dog’s limbic system into overdrive.
At this point, it’s crucial to refrain from touching your dog. That’s right; your dog finds it amusing when you push him off of you while yelling “No! Down! Bad dog!” Your dog perceives this as a game. Specifically if you have a dog that is sensitive to touch (retrievers and many toy dogs are), any physical contact is rewarding for your dog. He is seeking emotional and physical contact. Raising your voice to chastise him only serves to reinforce this jumping behavior because it attracts attention, even unfavorable attention. Loud noises and exciting movements are fun for dogs. Instead, adhere to the “Four on the Floor” rule and completely ignore your dog.
When you get home, ignore your dog until he is calm and has his four paws planted firmly on the ground. Then, and only then, say hi and touch him. Dogs repeat behaviors that feel good or that accomplish goals. The Four on the Floor Rule teaches him that by remaining calm and staying put on the ground, he can achieve his goal of greeting you, and you will then praise him for his good behavior by petting him.
Training a behavior that is mutually exclusive with the dog jumping is the second crucial strategy. This means that whenever your dog is likely to jump, you should ask him to sit instead because sitting is an action that is incompatible with jumping. The majority of dogs can sit, and it is impossible to sit while jumping.
The best way to prevent a dog from jumping up on people while out for a walk is to use the sit command. This behavior most likely began when your dog was still a puppy and would naturally jump up on people to greet them (“Oh, I don’t mind, he’s so cute!”). Since your puppy has grown up, it isn’t quite as adorable. The best way to change this behavior is to train the visitors rather than the dog.
Step 2 – Everyone your dog meets can help them stop jumping up
You must be consistent with the rule yourself and make sure that everyone who interacts with your dog does the same. Your dog should not be punished for jumping up. Everyone in the home, even strangers your dog encounters while out and about, should be mindful of this because you don’t want all your hard work to be in vain. Use a longline (10m long lead) to prevent your dog from getting to practice jumping up at strangers in public spaces like the park. If you notice people in the distance, attach the longline to your dog’s harness and pick up the line to call your dog back to you. In this manner, your dog will be under control and be more likely to concentrate on what you are asking of them (i e. a sit) Reward your dog when they exhibit polite, appropriate behavior.
FAQ
How do I get my dog to stop jumping?
Ignoring the behavior and only rewarding your dog when they sit or stay down is a good way to get them to stop jumping. Turn your back and cross your arms over your chest as soon as your dog begins to jump so they know you’re not going to pet them.
Will my dog grow out of jumping up?
For most dogs, jumping begins early in life. Puppies who are well-socialized with adult dogs tend to outgrow this behavior quickly, and by the time they are 4-6 months old, they only jump on other dogs when they are playing. Of course, puppies don’t just jump on other dogs.