Dogs jump up on strangers, friends and family to get attention or to say how happy they are to see you/them.  They are communicating, but there is a better way.

 

WHEN ENTERING THE HOUSE TECHNIQUE

  • Don’t give your dog any attention until your dog puts all four paws on the ground.
    • If your dog then jumps up again, ignore him/her.
    • If your dog gets down and all four paws are on the ground, reward and give some attention.
      • Over time your dog will learn that he/she gets more rewards and attention when sitting or standing. Make sure that when your dog does not jump up, that he/she is rewarded for doing the behaviour you want your dog to do.  This way your dog will continue to repeat this behaviour more.

 

SOMETHING TO CARRY TECHNIQUE

  • Before allowing your dog to greet someone get him/her to sit calmly, and give your dog a toy to hold in his/her mouth.
    • This can take some practice and time, however after a while your dog should be more satisfied with carrying a toy than jumping up on the person.
      • If your dog drops the toy and still jumps up – don’t give up, keep trying the technique.  Practice it with a friend or family member going in and out of rooms (opening and closing doors and entering through the doorway)

 

FETCH TECHNIQUE

  • Distract your dog by throwing a ball or toy in the opposite direction away from the approaching person whom your dog would jump up on.
    • If indoors, throw the toy away from the doorway and then open the door and let the person in.  Keep moving and give no attention at all until the dog has lost interest in the visiting person. (best to make the people visiting aware, in advance)

 

THE OUTSIDE APPROACH TECHNIQUE

  • This technique involves two people.
  • One of you must have the dog on the lead, and be able to handle the dog.
  • The other person must be out of reach for a short while, preferably standing still at least 10 metres distance facing the dogs approach.
  • The handler must get the dog to sit.
  • Once the dog has remained for 5 seconds then proceed to walk forward to the other person, controlling the dog.
  • Once the dog goes to jump up on the other person, that person must turn their back to the dog and walk a few steps from the dogs reach, and turn around to face the dog.  Make sure to remain quite when this happens.
  • The handler needs to keep control of the dog, making sure the dog does not follow.  The handler also needs to use the ‘sit’ command.
  • Once the dog sits, count to five seconds.
  • The other person now needs to approach once again.
    • If the dog remains seated, give the dog a lot of attention and reward for doing exactly what you wanted him/her to do.
    • If the dog tries to jump up again, then repeat over from walking a few steps out of the dogs reach.

 

SEATED JUMP TECHNIQUE

  • When you are sitting and your dog jumps up on you, do not push your dog away.  You can try ‘down’ command.  But if this does not work, then don’t say anything.
  • Stand up and ignore the dog.  Point to the floor.
    • If your dog gets down with all four paws on the ground then reward and praise.
    • If your dog does not get down, then encourage and direct your dog out of the room, and close the door behind them.  2 minute time out.
  • Repeat the technique until your dog understands that he/she cannot jump up on you when you are sitting.

 

First Time Dog Owner book by Lee Richards