One of the most common unwanted behaviors in dogs is jumping up. While your dog's only doing this because he's excited, curious and happy to see you, this behavior can turn into a real problem. Large breeds can even be so enthusiastic that they knock people over. Here are 8 tips on how train a dog not to jump on people.
1. Start the training by putting the dog on a leash.
While your dog's probably not on a leash when it jumps, having a handle during the training stage is important. Take a few seconds between the time someone arrives at your door and when they come inside to put the leash on. If you're coming home, reach in and snap the leash onto your dog's collar before entering entirely.
2. Place your foot on the leash.
When your dog tries to jump, it'll be restrained by the collar. Leave it slack enough for your dog to be able to bounce a few inches, but not to jump up. Every time your dog's paws leave the floor, say “off,” calmly and firmly.
3. As long as your dog is trying to jump, don't touch it or give eye contact.
As soon as your dog rocks backward into a sitting position, reward this behavior. Pet the dog, offer a treat, and praise it. Click here for more information.
4.Train your dog in different situations.
Examples of varying situation are when you come home, when someone visits, and when you're out in public. Your dog will soon realize that sitting is the correct response to meeting a new person. Eventually, you can stop using the leash as a restraint, and merely correct your dog by saying “off,” whenever it tries to jump up.
5. Train your dog around a variety of different types of people.
Invite neighborhood kids, strangers, and friends to approach your dog. This will give your dog exposure to many different situations which will further reinforce the sitting response.
6. Always be consistent.
Once you've started the process of training a dog not to jump on people, you have to respond exactly the same way every time. If you're inconsistent, your dog will be confused, and the training won't stick. Click here for more information.
7. Avoid negative training techniques.
Loudly shouting “NO,” may confuse or excite your dog. Knocking them over, such as some books recommend, can injure your dog, or cause it to fear you. A dog that's rewarded and praised for good behavior, however, will learn its training much more quickly than one that's just punished for bad behavior.
8. Always demonstrate the correct behavior when you try to stop an incorrect one.
If you don’t demonstrate the good behavior, your dog may not be able to figure out what to do instead of jumping on people. Gentle correction, saying “off” followed by a tug on the collar and lots of praises can be an effective way to show your dog that sitting is the desired behavior.
With firm, consistent training based on positive reinforcement techniques, your dog will soon learn that jumping on people is inappropriate. Remember that a well trained dog is a happy and enjoyable dog to be around.
by Tom Zinovia
