Jumping Dog: Expert Advice on How to End This Dog Behaviour (Easily!)

Jumping up on people

Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the dog gets older, larger, and heavier.

A very heavy dog can easily knock a child or even a small adult off his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.

The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious – they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways.

Many well-meaning owners, family members, and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper dog training, and in order for the dog to be trained not to jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the training.

If one member of the family allows the dog to jump up while other family members do not, the dog will understandably become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind, and consistent in order to be effective.

One way to redirect the dog’s happiness and excited ness from jumping are to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you.

This “shaking hands” posture is an acceptable way for the dog to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their dogs to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on people.

Escaping and Roaming the Neighborhood

A responsible dog owner would never dream of allowing his or her dog to roam the neighborhood freely.

Allowing a dog to roam on its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the dog and the neighborhood), and probably even illegal.

Most towns have ordinances that prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood unattended.

Of course, sometimes that wandering dog is not the owner’s idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their own.

The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats, and other dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose dog, so let’s talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution. A bored dog is much more likely to spend his day plotting the great escape.

A dog that is surrounded by everything he or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a dog with lots of pent-up, unused energy is likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play sessions with your dog into your daily routine.

Make one of those play sessions right before you leave. If your dog has a chance to work of his or her energy, chances are he or she will sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course, dealing with the dog is only half the problem. It is also important to make the property as escape-proof as possible, through proper fencing and other measures.

For dogs that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few feet.

For dogs that jump, it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the dog to the house when you are not at home.

Click Here to Learn How to Deal with the Dog Jumping Behavior and Other Dog Training Issues 

⇑ Go to the Table of Contents – Stop a Jumping Dog Behavior⇑

Easy Steps to Stop a Jumping Dog

Do you hate your dog jumping up on you all the time? Jumping on the sofa, jumping on the bed, jumping on your guests? Are you at your wits end? These simple steps will gently and lovingly stop that jumping behavior once and for all.

When you bring home that adorable puppy her dog behavior is so cute. She puts her feet up on you to get your attention, jumps in your lap, jumps up and down on her hind legs begging to be picked up.

And what do you do? You reinforce all those dog behaviors. Give her attention, pick her up, make sure she’s comfortable on your lap. Then, lo and behold, she grows from 15 pounds to 75 pounds and is still jumping on you.

That cute puppy behavior is now bad dog behavior. In fact, it’s downright maddening and you can’t get it to stop.

Humans often give dogs mixed signals— telling them to do one thing, but reinforcing very different dog behavior. Or expecting dogs to read our minds — is it ok to jump up sometimes but not others? Which is which? Dogs can’t figure that out.

You probably don’t even know you’re sending mixed signals.

Situations change throughout the day- you love that your dog jumps up on the bed to wake you with sloppy, wet kisses; it is endearing to have your dog greet your return with the big stretch to reach up so you will pick them up or love on them; it is helpful when the dog jumps up on a chair to help you put the leash on the collar.

It becomes a problem when guests come over and the dog jumps on them; when you are dressed up and now dirty feet have ruined your outfit; or when it is just simply not convenient.

Steps To Stop The Jumping Dog

As humans, it’s our job to teach dogs how we want them to behave. Here are some easy tips to change that unwanted dog behavior:

1. BE CONSISTENT TO END A JUMPING DOG BEHAVIOR

Figure out what you want and then be consistent with what you desire. Do you want your dog to jump or not? Dogs don’t understand “sometimes”.

If the answer to the question is, I want the jumping to stop, then take a look at your situation and ask yourself these questions:

• When does it happen?
  What are your various responses?
  When are you consistent?
  When are you not consistent?
  How can you be gentle and clear with your responses?

2. DO NOT REINFORCE THE JUMPING DOG BEHAVIOR

This seems obvious. But oftentimes it’s not. You have to change your behavior before you can expect Fluffy to change hers.

3. GIVE AN INCOMPATIBLE BEHAVIOR COMMAND

The very easiest way to correct this behavior is to give an incompatible behavior. For example, Sit is a great choice. Most dogs know it and it is easy to put a dog into a sit if needed.

4. GO STIFF

When your dog begins jumping, stop your body movement and go stiff. Turn your back slightly. Give the new command “Rover, sit”. Help Rover sit if needed.

Let this become your new response to Rover’s jumping. PRAISE the sit. If Rover pops up out of the sit and jumps up, start over. Go stiff, give the command (Rover, sit), help with the sit if needed. PRAISE (and treat if handy) the sit.

As you are consistent, your dog will comply with your new desires. PRAISE each time your dog sits. This is the new polite way of getting your attention. PRAISE whenever your dog comes and sits in front of you. This is the signal “please” for attention, outside, treat, etc.

Super-exciting times to a dog will probably result in the old jumping but be consistent and patient, and as you do this, you gain leadership respect from your dog.

CONCLUSION

Dog behavior modification can be done very quickly and your relationship will get better and better. Be patient, kind, loving, and consistent. Your dog wants to make you happy. Use these few simple steps to STOP THE JUMPING!