Help! My Dog Jumps Up!

Dogs like to greet each other nose-to-nose. When they see a familiar human, jumping up to reach their face is a very natural reaction. Some view this jumping up as an attempt to overpower or dominate people while the opposite is more likely to be true – puppies tend to greet their mothers with face-face contact and licking their lips. Jumping up to reach your face is frequently a sign of appeasement and not a threat.

This desire to say hello, along with mixed signals from humans makes jumping up a very difficult behavior to eliminate. Fortunately, with a bit of time, a lot of patience, and most important, consistency, you can address this problem. They key is to give your dog an alternative to jumping up, such as politely sitting and waiting to be greeted.

Jumping up to greet strangers while walking in parks or on the street is a common complaint, and can also be one of the most embarrassing things a dog can do. But like the songs says, you can get by with a little help from your friends.

Jumping up on the street

Recruit two or three helpers for a 10-minute training session. It’s important to work for short periods of time – never more than 15 minutes, and to make sure you quit on a high note. Don’t keep training until everyone is tired and you are doing nothing more than practicing mistakes!

Walk your furry friend (let’s call him Buddy) clockwise around the block, while your helpers walk counter-clockwise, separate from each other. When Buddy meets the first helper and commences his hearty greeting, the helper should act like she’s completely offended and appalled – gasping and moving away. Give the sit cue and reward Buddy with a treat when he sits. Have your helper approach again, and if Buddy remains seated, have your helper greet him calmly, without encouraging him to jump up. If Buddy jumps, repeat. Repeat with the various helpers until Buddy catches on and sits automatically each time a helper approaches.

But remember! Never train for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time! Lassie didn’t pass her first audition either.

Chaos At The Front Door

Another common time for a dog to jump up is when you arrive home, simply because they are so thrilled by your return. Try the following exercise when you come home.

Start by being mentally and physically prepared to be jumped on. For the first few exercises, don’t wear nice clothes when you are practicing, and be ready to spend some extra time. When you are returning from somewhere such as work, have treats prepared at the door or in the car too. If you are concerned about your clothes, consider stashing a smock or long coat in the care too.

When you are entering the door, don’t have valuables or groceries in your arms; wait until the dog is under control before trying to bring them in. When you open the door, if Buddy jumps up, step back and close the door (making sure everyone is on the proper side of the door). Repeat this until Buddy sits without jumping and without the “sit” cue. Be prepared to repeat this many times the first time you try, but remember never more than 10 to 15 minutes. Also, if buddy sits, reward him – even if it is only for a few seconds. Once you get that pause, quit the first session and try to get a slightly longer pause next time.

When you are training your dog to stop jumping up, never raise your voice, push your dog away, or try to “knee” him. These actions will tend to make Buddy more excited, and only make things worse.

While your are training your dog for any behavior try to keep these things in mind: Keep sessions short Keep sessions happy. Never lose your temper. If you feel your patience starting to slip, take a break or call it quits. You and your dog should enjoy training. Always end a session with success. Always leave – and enter – on a high note. Good luck and most of all, have fun!

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