How to Stop a Dog From Jumping

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By Katelyn Thomas
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Impress Guests With Your Well Mannered Pet by Teaching Him to Stop Jumping.

When a little dog jumps up, it can be a little frustrating. However, a big dog that jumps up can actually endanger the health of young children or elderly friends and family members. Luckily, you can teach your dog not to jump.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Clicker and treats
Consistency

Step 1

Begin by thinking about why and when your dog is jumping up. Are you encouraging your Old English Sheepdog to put his paws on your shoulders to greet you when you come home from work and then getting upset when he jumps on your dressy party clothes? Is your Yorkie jumping up because you aren't getting down on her level to greet her?
Step 2

Next, change your behavior to stop reinforcing your dog's jumping behavior. If you've been encouraging him or her to jump up for any reason, you'll need to stop. Otherwise, your dog will continue to jump when you don't want him to because you are sending mixed signals.
Step 3

Now, it is time to teach your dog the behavior you want instead of jumping. For example, you could give the "shake hands" command when you come in the door to encourage your big dog to give you a paw instead of standing up and putting his paws on your shoulders.
Step 4

Once your dog knows what to do, reinforce the proper behavior with clicker training or a quick, "Good dog!" as soon as your dog exhibits it. Remember to continue to avoid rewarding bad behavior. It may take a few days for your dog to figure it out, but pretty soon, he'll realize that you step back or push him away with a gentle nudge of your knee when he tries to jump up and you praise him and give him a ton of attention when he offers his paw.