Jumping Prevention

Dogs jump for several reasons. In order to understand how to prevent jumping, we must understand why dogs jump. One reason is to greet people, especially to smell their breath. Smelling breath tells a dog many things about you. The majority of dogs jump because people have inadvertently encouraged it with rough play, wrestling or unknowingly rewarding inappropriate greetings. The dog then generalizes all greetings and friendly times with jumping and wrestling. Often a dog is a bossy jumper. A bossy jumper jumps to tell you who is in control. He is vying for the higher social position. He is literally walking all over person he is jumping on. A bossy jumper often pushes hard and his jump feels bossy. Or, he can just stand quietly with his feet on you, almost pinning you and looking into your face.

To prevent jumping there are several things you can do. Avoid roughhousing with your dog. This will ensure he does not get a mixed message. This type of play can encourage jumping and will lead to a frustrated dog who jumps for attention. Avoid using physical or verbal punishment for jumping. Physcial punishment just teaches dogs to jump faster to avoid the punishment yet gain attention, even though it is negative. It is better instead to teach him that sitting is an appropriate way to get attention. Approach with your side to the dog while you are reminding the dog to sit. Often, it is the frontal positioning of people that causes dogs to jump. Ask others to do the same. If you see your dog is about ready to jump, ask him to sit before he jumps.

Dogs need to be taught that if they want attention, they need to sit for it. Try to tell the dog to sit just prior to his launch. Praise him quietly and briefly for sitting. If your dog jumps, move away slightly from him to give him the message of physical rejection. Avoid looking at him or talking to him or touching him. This will only serve to reward his inappropriate behavior. Be aware of what you and others do with your hands and eyes. If you pull your hands upward, your body language is telling your dog to jump. Keep your hands close to your body and at a normal level or fold your arms at your chest. If you look at your dog when he jumps, you are rewarding him with your attention. Avert your eyes. Instead, look elsewhere until the dog lands with all four feet on the ground. Then ask him to sit. When he does, look at him and praise. If your dog jumps on you while you are sitting in a chair, stand up and physically move away from him. Be sure to avert your eyes and reject him silently. Once he is back on the ground, you can sit back down. Teach your dog to sit and and stay when visitors come. He cannot jump and sit at the same time. Remind visitors not to look at him or talk to him unless he is sitting. Ask friends to come and visit to help you with this training. With a little patience and a great deal of persistence, jumping dogs can be taught to keep all four feet on the ground.

(c) 1994 S. Hall