Jen
Jumping up usually comes naturally to most dogs. Whether they do it to catch your attention or simply because they wish to warn you about something, the action of jumping up is an issue all dog owners will come upon at some point. Thankfully, there are several steps to help you teach your dog to stop jumping.
Stop reacting to your dog’s jumping
In order to make your dog realize that he will not grab your attention by jumping around, a great start is to stop reacting when this happens. Instead, remain calm and quietly wait for him to stop.
A good advice is to avoid eye contact, as well. As soon as your dog stops jumping, you can give him full attention or even reward him.
Gradually, your dog will realize that he will be more successful at getting your attention by standing on the floor, instead of jumping.
Try to be persistent and consistent
At some point, it may feel frustrating to keep avoiding your dog while he is jumping around. However, it is really important to remember that consistency is the key to success.
In fact, at first, your dog may not only stop jumping, but on the contrary, keep itensifying his efforts to catch your attention through this particular behavior.
However, over time, he will understand that jumping is not the best option and he will try to find other ways to achieve what he is up to. This is where dog owners should introduce alternative ways of communication with their furry companions.
Reward your dog for proper behavior
Dogs, just like humans, like to feel praised and rewarding your dog when he changes a bad habit can boost his confidence and make him stick to his new better ways.
Even if you feel a bit irritated at your dog’s behavior, it is vital that you reward him immediately when he shows signs of improvement.
However, avoid grabbing your dog or pushing him away. That may lead to opposite results, since your dog will probably consider it as a type of response or he can even misinterpret it as the initiation of a playtime.
Stop your dog from jumping on guests
Apart from dog owners, other family members, friends or even strangers at the park may accidentaly reinforce a dog’s jumping habit. To avoid all your hard work going to waste, it is important to tell everyone interacting with your dog to follow your lead and avoid giving him any attention while jumping.
Moreover, you can use a long dog lead once you see people in the distance approaching to make sure your dog remains under control. You can also, have some of his favorite treats ready to reward your dog when they stay calm and avoid jumping at others.
Training your dog to stop jumping may seem difficult at first, but the key to success lies in consistency, timing and patience.
The trick is to make your dog understand that jumping up will not get your attention. Instead, keeping his paws on the ground is the only way to ensure he gets your attention and is rewarded for that.
