Does your dog greet everyone with an enthusiastic leap? While it might seem cute when they're small, jumping on people can quickly become a frustrating, frightening or even dangerous behaviour, especially for larger and heavier breeds, when they have muddy paws, or for people who are nervous around dogs. Whether your dog is jumping out of excitement or seeking attention, this behaviour can be addressed with consistent training and positive reinforcement.
In this article, we'll explore why dogs jump, how to stop the behaviour, and give you practical steps to teach calm greetings.
Why do dogs jump up?
Before addressing how to stop jumping, it’s important to understand why dogs do it in the first place. Dogs often jump up at people as a way of greeting them. They are eager to get to our faces - the place we communicate from - and the quickest way is to jump up, especially when they’re eager to get your attention. Dogs also tend to jump because it works—many people instinctively respond to jumping with petting or attention, reinforcing the behavior.
Jumping can also be a symptom of anxiety or overstimulation. If your dog tends to jump when they are nervous, it’s essential to address the root cause of that anxiety while training them not to jump.
Is punishment the answer?
When your dog jumps, it might be tempting to tell them off or push them down. However, these methods rarely solve the problem and can even make things worse. Physically pushing your dog off could unintentionally turn into a game, where the dog enjoys the rough and tumble. This can result in even more jumping up as they try to initiate a wrestling match! In addition, it is easy to accidentally frighten or injure your dog when attempting to physically correct a behaviour.
Telling your dog off for jumping up, or telling them to get down, can also be counterproductive. As jumping up is generally driven by our dog wanting attention or to greet someone, telling them to get down or telling them off can accidentally reinforce the behaviour - they'd rather we were talking to them (even if we're saying "get down!") than ignoring them. Telling your dog off also runs the risk of frightening them, confusing them, and increasing their levels of anxiety as well as damaging the trust between you. It is very difficult to effectively convey a message via punishment - there's no guarantee that the dog understands what the punishment relates to.
Instead of using punishment, focus on rewarding the behaviors you want to see. Positive reinforcement—rewarding your dog for behaving well—is far more effective in shaping long-term habits.
Instead: Teach an alternative behaviour
One of the best ways to stop your dog from jumping is to teach them an alternative behaviour, such as sitting when they greet people. By giving them a new behavior to focus on, you can break the cycle of jumping. Here's how you can teach your dog to sit instead of jump:
Step-by-Step Guide:
Anticipate the Jump: When your dog approaches you or someone else, get ready before they jump.
Give the Cue: Ask your dog to “sit.”
Reward Immediately: As soon as your dog sits, reward them with praise, treats, attention, affection or toys. Make sure they understand that sitting leads to positive attention.
Practice in Different Settings: Once your dog is consistently sitting for you, practice in other scenarios. Have friends or family members approach, and repeat the process.
Gradually Increase Distractions: Over time, work in more distractions to help your dog learn to sit calmly, even when excited.
The key is repetition. The more consistently you ask your dog to sit instead of jumping, the more they will learn that sitting is the best way to get your attention.
What if they do jump up?
If you aren't able to cue your dog to sit before they jump, the best course of action is as follows:
Pay no attention to your dog when they do not have all four paws on the floor. By not reacting to the jumping, you're teaching your dog that this behaviour won’t get them what they want—your attention. Gently step away from your dog so they return to the floor. As soon as they have all four paws down, cue the "sit". Once they sit, reward with praise, affection and/or treats. It may take multiple tries, but consistently ignoring jumping and rewarding calm behaviour will help your dog understand.
Consistency is Key
Training your dog to stop jumping won’t happen overnight. It requires patience and, most importantly, consistency. Everyone in your household needs to follow the same rules—if some people allow the dog to jump while others don’t, your dog will become confused and the behaviour will persist.
It's equally important to manage guests’ expectations. If you're having people over, let them know you're training your dog not to jump. Ask them to ignore your dog if they jump up and only pay them attention when they have sat. This way, your dog gets the same message from everyone they meet.
If your dog gets very excited when people arrive at your house or you think your guests might not be able to ignore them jumping up, it might be helpful to use a lead during early training sessions. By keeping your dog on a lead and standing on it, you can prevent them from jumping up and rehearsing the behaviour you do not want. You can still ask them to sit in the same way before giving them attention. As your dog improves, you can take off the lead.
Conclusion
Stopping your dog from jumping on people is all about consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. By understanding why dogs jump up and cueing an alternative behaviour, you can teach your dog to greet guests and keep all four paws on the floor! Remember to stay calm, be patient, and celebrate small victories along the way.
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