How to Stop Dog Jumping

Puppy jumping may be cute when your new pup is little, but it will become one of many dog behavior problems as he gets older and bigger. Even small canines are a nuisance when they jump on people. Stop dog jumping now with these dog obedience tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water pistol
• Empty pop can
• Pennies
• Tape
• Leash and collar

1. Teach him the "off" command. When your puppy jumps up on you, say "off!" right away. Give him a silent snarl. Show him your teeth, and look him in the eye. This is how adult dogs tell puppies to calm down, and he'll instinctively understand what you're telling him. When he gets down, say "sit" and reward him when he does.

2. Stop him from jumping on you by turning sideways to him and blocking him with your hip. Or step forward and block him with your leg. Either way, you want to prevent him from getting even one paw on you.

3. If he manages to ambush you and jump up on you anyway, turn and walk away. Don't pay him any attention whatsoever until all four feet are on the floor. Then say "sit" and reward him when he does.

4. If he's overexcited when you come home, ignore him for at least 15 minutes. If he's being a nuisance by jumping up on you or barking, squirt him in the face with a water pistol. Wait for him to quiet down before you give him any attention at all.

5. You can make a noisemaker by putting some pennies in an empty soda can and taping it shut. When he jumps up on you, rattle the can at him. It'll startle him, and you'll have his attention so you can tell him to "sit." Once he's quiet, you can give him attention.

6. If guests are coming, put on his collar, and attach a leash. Let it drag behind him. When he starts to jump up on somebody, step on the leash quickly while saying "off!" The leash will stop him from jumping, and will pull on his collar, which serves to correct him. Say "sit" and reward him when he does.

Tips & Warnings

• When your dog jumps up on you, don't yell at him, or move away from him, or push him away from you. He'll think you're playing with him, which will reinforce the jumping behavior.
• Consistency is the key. Everyone in your household must be in agreement that you don't want your dog jumping on people. If one person thinks he's cute and encourages the behavior, it's impossible to stop the dog jumping up on people.
• Find a good dog training course and spend ten or fifteen minutes a day training him. You'll be amazed at what a difference even a few minutes a day will make in his behavior.
• Lots of exercise is needed to burn up his excess energy and prevent him from becoming overexcited when you get home. He needs a long walk in the morning, and another one at night.
• Don't make a fuss when you leave or when you come home. Keep things low-key.
• In the wild, dogs challenge the pack leader's dominance by jumping on him. The leader doesn't tolerate this behavior, and neither should you. A dog who jumps on you is challenging your leadership, not welcoming you home.
• Don't allow him to jump on anyone. Guests especially might think you're being too hard on him, but you're not. Establishing good behavior habits when he's young will prevent many dog behavior problems later on in life.

Resources

• Secrets to Dog Training

[livingwell4u]

on 10/17/2009 Excellent article- you are in control and the dog knows it. Works every time.