Menu:
When Your Dog Jumps Up
Jumping up is common canine habit. When young puppies want to reach their mothers, they have to jump up. Similarly, when puppies want to attract the attention of their human parents, they jump up. It is cute to see a puppy jump. However, when the puppy grows into a 90-pound dog, it is not so cute anymore, and can even be frightening to those who do not know his temperament or are not as comfortable with pets. Your dog might even knock down and hurt children. It therefore becomes necessary to train your dog not to jump. So how do you do it?
Send out a consistent message:
The first thing to do is to train your dog to not jump on furniture or you. It will be unproductive if you stop your dog from jumping on guests and allow him to jump on you. Be firm with your dog: when he jumps on you, turn around and don’t touch him till he sits down. When he stops jumping, hand out a reward or heap generous praise on him. Another very effective method is to make your friends practice with your dog. Have your friends reward your dog if it does not jump on them. When he jumps on you, ask him to “sit”. If you have not yet mastered the “sit” command, ask him to go and find his toy. This will provide sufficient distraction to your dog and stop him from jumping.
Start soon:
Make your pet keep off the furniture and command him not jump on it. These instructions are best passed on early on in the relationship. Again, consistency is the key. You cannot encourage him to jump on your furniture today and reprimand him for doing so tomorrow. Don’t leave food lying around on the table as your dog is not likely to be able to resist such a temptation. But if such the behavior persists, you may need to consult a pet adviser.
Try a multi-pronged approach:
The jumping instinct is strong, and you may need to employ a variety of strategies to ensure he behaves well in the long run. Here are a handful of techniques you could try:
- When your dog jumps on you, hold his ears and press them down.
- Spray perfume or cologne on the front of your chest, which will discourage your dog from pouncing.
- Using choke chains could help with some pets.
- Anticipate potential jumping situations and prevent your dog from doing so.
- Praise your dog when he or she does not jump.
Remember, good habits need to be inculcated from childhood. If you stick to these rules when your companion is a baby, you will have a well-behaved animal that will be safe around everyone.