Most owners see jumping
as a problem, and rightfully so. The unwanted behavior goes back to puppyhood
when the puppy's "people"tolerated and possibly even encouraged
jumping. Jumping is usually not discouraged because most owners feel their
puppy is simply showing them playful affection and her weight and strength
are not yet offensive.
Once the puppy
grows and becomes more active, however, the jumping becomes a legitimate
concern. That cute little pup has grown into a 70-pound brute. Now the
owners feel she is a nuisance, unruly and out-of-control. The dog is confused;
she doesn't understand what is expected of her.
Jumping is a natural
behavior for dogs. In the wild, when the adult female wolf returns from
the hunt, her pups jump up to lick her lips in order to encourage their
mother to regurgitate food. Also, if a young cub is disciplined by an
elder, the cub will jump up to lick the elder's lips in a show of apology.
Later in life, dogs will jump as part of play and to establish dominance
by placing their front paws on the shoulders of their litter mates.
Rather than punish
your dog for this social behavior, you must learn to control it by counter-conditioning
your over-exuberant and loving pet. You must teach her to do what you
want her to do in place of the jumping. Remember, greetings by jumping
in the past have always resulted in the owner or guests placing their
hands on her body. The dog deems this as act of attention or play--just
what she wanted. In fact, the humans were attempting to push her off!
Merely attempting to correct the problem without teaching an alternate
behavior in its place might result in your dog becoming wary of visitors
since the punishment will be associated with people, not the act of jumping.
The best approach
to deter your dog from jumping up at visitors is to teach your dog to
SIT. It is physically impossible for your dog to jump and sit at
the same time! But in order for this counter-conditioning to work, your
dog must be capable of responding to the SIT command under any and all
circumstances. Practice sitting in a variety of situations before moving
on to the exercise that actually addresses jumping.
Once your dog
is sitting reliably under all conditions, apply the command at the front
door or where visitors frequently enter. Ring the doorbell and command
your dog to SIT. If she does not sit, wait by the door until she
responds. As soon as she sits, reward her for sitting. Once she is sitting
easily at the sound of the bell, you can begin to open the door. The more
you work on this exercise without anyone at the door, the easier it will
be once a person is there. You are trying to desensitize your dog to the
sound of the bell and calm her first.
Once your dog
can remain calm at the door, ask family members to ring the bell and enter.
All family members should enter the house with a treat and ask your dog
to SIT. As soon as she sits, reward her with the treat, give her a quick
pat on the head and leave again. Do not give her a chance to jump up.
If she begins to jump, the person should cross his arms, back away and
leave. Do not give the dog any kind of attention. Keep practicing this
exercise until your dog is reliable.
Remember not to
give your dog any attention by pushing her off. Make sure the person totally
ignores the dog and turns his back when the dog jumps. This will take
some practice, but your dog will eventually learn that she only receives
attention when she is sitting.
If your dog jumps
up on you when you enter the house, show no excitement. Enter matter-of-factly.
If she begins to jump, turn your back, tell her OFF! and leave
through the same door. Keep turning your back on the dog until she realizes
you will not touch her until she has all four feet on the floor. During
the learning process, I usually recommend that the owner enter with a
treat and reward the dog each time she welcomes you by sitting. Once she
sits when you enter, begin to randomly reward her with a treat and calm
petting.
Keep in mind that
dogs are not fashion conscious! Do not allow your dog to jump up on you're
when your dressed in jeans, only to reprimand her for jumping on you when
returning home from the office. Consistency is very important when teaching
your dog anything new.
Lastly, do not
expect your dog to master the art of staying on all fours overnight. Keep
in mind the length of time that she has been jumping and be consistent
and persistent! Oftentimes, unwanted behaviors become worse right before
they are extinguished, so don't give up. If you remain calm, your dog
will begin to pick up your cues and follow in stride.
For more
information about obedience classes at St. Hubert's Dog Training School,
or to speak with one of our trainers, call 201-377-0116.
