Help! My Dog Won't Stop Jumping!

There are many training methods to stop a dog from jumping. This is one that works for me.

Jumping is an unwanted behavior that I help clients with a lot!  The calls I get are:

• My dogs are jumping on guests when they come over. 
• I can't get my groceries put away with out my dog jumping all over me.
•  Our dog jumps on our neighbor's children and it scares them.

Answer: It doesn't mean you have a bad dog when he jumps on everyone. Your dog is just saying hello!

Let me show you how to have your dog say hello with out jumping.

There are a few ways I disagree with: 

• Kneeing them in the chest. 
• Grabbing and pinching his feet. 
• Stepping on his feet. 
• Yelling. 

These methods are hurtful. Hurting your dog doesn't stop its behavior, and now I am getting a dog that doesn't trust me due to those methods.

So here is the method I use.  

Tools you'll need: 

• A Clicker--a plastic tool that makes a clicking sound when pressed, available at any pet store. When your dog hears a click he will know something good is about to happen. 
• A tasty treat. Turkey dogs: Cut up in small pieces. Dogs love them.
• Patience: You'll need lots!  

Example: You dog is in your yard. Open the door. When you dog comes in and jumps on you, turn your back. Because your dog can't see your face, this is a negative response. As soon as he has all four paws on the ground, click your clicker and give him a treat. Don't worry. He will come around to face you. You have yummy treats and he can smell them! Ask for a Sit, click, and give a treat. Let him outside again. Open door, and repeat. Do this exercise twice a day for 5 minutes. In a weeks time you'll notice jumping is going away. After a week, clicker and treats are replaced with a scratch under the chin! You'll be surprised how quickly your dog will catch on. 

Tip of the week: 

When I come to a client's house for a private lesson, I may meet a dog that is jumping all over me. It's just his way of saying hello. It's O.K. That's what I'm there for. 

But first, take your dog for a 20-minute walk or play ball in the yard for 15 minutes to run off some of your dog's excess energy. Then when I come by, or you start your own training using the advice I've given, your dog is calmer, and a calm dog is easier to train.

Sincerely,

Your dog trainer, Sandy.