Does your dog jump on you or your guests? Do you wish it would stop? Have you tried giving a firm "No" or pushing them off, only for them to continue jumping? Jumping is a behavioral issue, much like potty training, and it will take some work. However, once your dog understands the correct way to get your attention, the jumping will quickly fade away.

Understanding why your dog jumps is key to addressing the issue. Jumping, especially in puppies, is one of the ways they seek our attention. Their excitement starts with a tail wag, progresses to a full-body wiggle, and eventually, they are so revved up they can't keep their paws on the ground.

When we come home, we are excited to see our dogs, and they are delighted to see us. If we greet them in an excited state, we reinforce this amped-up behavior. Even if it's not our intention, the dog feels rewarded for their excitement. If your dog jumps on you during this interaction and you don't correct or ignore it, you are reinforcing the behavior.

Teaching your dog to stop jumping can be straightforward with persistence and patience. Start with a basic obedience command. You can use any word, but "off" or "down" are common choices. When your pup starts jumping, walk into them using your command word. As they naturally back up and land "all four on the floor," use positive reinforcement through affection and/or treats. Repeat this process until your dog responds to the command word alone. A clicker can help speed up this learning process. As soon as your pup has "all four on the floor," click and then reward.

The second aspect is behavioral. Done correctly, this will teach your dog not to jump without even giving a command. This method takes the most time and effort. Ignore the bad behavior and remove yourself from your pup when they are jumping. They are trying to get your attention, so by removing your attention, you teach them that you don't like that behavior. If necessary, leave the room to get them to stop. Once your pup stops jumping, reward them with the attention they seek. Use treats and/or affection to reinforce this good behavior. Personally, I want my dog to sit and be calm before they get their reward. If they get overly excited again, I immediately remove my attention and wait for calm behavior before re-engaging. Notice that I haven't given any commands during this part of the training. We reward the behavior we want and ignore or remove ourselves from the behavior we don't want.

Using these two methods together should help stop the jumping fairly quickly. This approach is the LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) method and is the best way to start. If your pup does not respond, you can explore more aversive methods, but I encourage you to consult a local dog trainer or behaviorist before trying these options. Perfect Pup Dog Training in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is here to help. Give us a call or schedule a training session, and we can help eliminate the jumping behavior for good.