Keep Jumping from Your Dog to a Minimum
Many dog owners are faced with the common problem of their dogs jumping. Although a undesired behavior, it is frequently uncorrected since many people see it as cute when the dog is little. Eventually, you won’t be able to control the behavior because it becomes so normal to the dog as they age, and they could hurt someone else in the process.
It is vital that your training of your dog, including teaching it not to jump, begin as soon as you bring your pet home. Puppies are undoubtedly easier to train and that is why it is ideal to start early, however a patient and consistent owner can train any dog of any age. The key is that you should start the training as soon as the dog enters your home, regardless of the dog’s age at that time, this early action will firmly establish to your dog that you are the alpha and the boss, and will help to deter him from creating undesirable habits to begin with.
Getting your Dog to Learn How to Not Jump
Step #1 – Have a Command that Means “Off”
Making a specific off command is one of the first things you should handle. If your dog jumps on anyone, including you, use this command immediately. It can be any word of your choosing, as long as it is short, to the point and easy for you to remember. At every instance of the dog jumping on you, forcefully use the off command. You ought to advise all who enter your home to use this specific command should the dog jump on them and the dog should quickly associate that jumping is not allowed.
Step #2 – Teaching Sit
Sit is a basic obedience command that most dogs will learn, and is very useful when you are teaching a dog not to jump. As the dog nears, issue the sit command at once. As the training proceeds, you will soon have your dog sitting when he greets you, rather than jumping on you and ruining your clothing or knocking you over.
Step #3 – Eye Level is Best
Get down at your dog’s level when you say hello to him or her. Your dog will be less likely to jump up onto you because you will be at eye level with them already, making them very happy. Your dog will have no need to jump if you bend down to see him. Use the off command once you stand up, only if your dog still jumps up onto you to gain more of your attention, so that they know that you don’t approve of their jumping behavior.
Step #4 – Giving Your Dog a Time Out
Should you have difficulty with your dog responding to either the off or the sit command, going into a time out period may be necessary. When the dog jumps up and does not adhere to your commands, put them in their crate or kennel. Your dog desires your attention wholeheartedly, and by placing him in the kennel, you are letting him know that if he does not follow the rules he will be placed away from you and your attention.
Observing these steps with consistency should result in your dog’s learning quickly that jumping is not allowed. You will find that every dog learns at a different rate. The important thing is to continue with the Off Command you have decided on, and the other steps listed here and follow them all consistently until your dog finally learns the lesson. You can always ask a professional dog trainer to help you if you feel that your dog isn’t gaining anything from the way that you are training, as they may help you to improve your methods.
Links
- The Importance of Dog Obedience Training
- What are dog obedience classes like?
- Dog Obedience Train » Blog Archive » Dog Training – 2 Lifesaving Commands
