How to Teach Your Dog to Jump into Your Arms

A good dog trick wows just about everyone. We've all seen dogs beg or play dead. But one you don't see very often is to teach a dog to jump up into your arms. Yet it's remarkably easy to teach. And except for very big or very small dogs, it's a very practical skill. For instance, I will often have my dog jump into my arms at the end of an agility run or when he's about to get into mischief.

The key to teaching this trick is to do it in steps and to be safe (because if you drop your dog or miss him when he initially jumps than he may be traumatized).

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• treats (the size of a pea)
• a chair
• flooring that is padded (grass, carpet)

1. Start with a handful of treats and a low chair. If you have a small dog, than you might want to sit on the floor. Use your arms to form a big vertical circle in your lap. This is a target and a visual signal to your dog plus makes it easier for you to catch him when he jumps. Start by luring your dog into your lap with a treat. When your dog jumps into your lap and through the circle made by your arms, reward and praise. After a couple of iterations, start to give this action a command. I use "arms" because I use the commands of "up" or "jump" for other tricks with my dog.

2. Move to a bigger chair (if you were in a low one) or lean against the wall with your thighs parallel to the ground. Repeat the same process (but this time using your command of "arms" or "lap" or "jump"). Because you'll be further off the ground, it's critical that you catch your dog and secure him. You don't want to teach him to jump into your lap and then jump out.

3. Move to a standing position in which you bend at the knees (so your dog not only has less of a distance to jump but also can use your thighs as a jumping/leverage point if necessary). Repeat the same process of holding your arms in a vertical circle, giving the command, treating and rewarding when your dog jumps into your arms. Depending upon the leaping ability of your dog, you may need to extend one leg a few inches toward your dog so he can use your thigh as a stepladder.

4. Try it from a distance. It's really dramatic (but ironically much easier) to do this trick with your dog 30-40 feet away. Use a high value treat (for my dog it's string cheese) and he'll take off like a bullet and begin his jump into your arms 5-8 feet away from you. People who haven't seen this trick before will be amazed and stunned. Not only will it be new to them but it be one that makes the two of you look like superathletes.

Tips & Warnings

• When you do this standing, try it on carpet or grass. No-one intends to drop their dog but until you've done an accurate catch a few times, it's better to be safe instead of risking injury.
• Don't try this trick if your dog is badly overweight or obese.

[spongie84]

on 7/20/2009 Great article 5*