3 Ways to Stop Your Dog from Jumping

One of the most common problems that people tell me about in my Puppy and Family Dog 1 classes is that their dogs are constantly jumping up on people. It frequently happens when they are out for walks, when people come home from school or work, and when visitors are at the front door. Not only can it be dangerous (if you have a large dog, that is…), but it’s super embarrassing. When our dogs misbehave, it reflects poorly on us. Let’s take a look at why jumping up is a problem and then I’ll share three simple strategies to fix it.

Why do Dogs Jump Up?

There is nothing quite like the excitement a dog feels when his family comes home. In fact, it’s probably so thrilling that it’s nearly impossible to keep all four paws on the floor!  Jumping can happen when a pooch can’t contain his enthusiasm – either for seeing someone or to get a closer look at her food bowl as you carry it through the kitchen.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Jumping?

Well, let’s start with what not to do when your dog is jumping. Shouting, yelling and generally carrying on is not helpful. If anything, it might get your dog even more excited, which is something we need to avoid. Instead of saying “NO!” we need to tell our dogs what we DO want. It’s much easier to teach a task than to teach the absence of a behavior.

3 Strategies to Prevent Your Dog from Jumping

 1. Park It

Park It is almost too simple to believe, and it doesn’t even require any treats. All you need is a leash and your dog.  I love to use Park It when I stop to talk to someone when I’m walking my dog, or when I am at the checkout counter at the pet food store. You simply step on the leash, preventing the dog from jumping up.  In this video, we demonstrate several different contexts in which Park It might be helpful.

I want to point out a few notes about using this strategy. It’s a great “Bandaid” strategy for certain circumstances. BUT it’s not TRAINING….It’s management. I also won’t use this strategy if there is any risk that someone will reach out to touch my dog. I always want dogs to be able to give consent to being handled or approached.

2. Tricks

Your dog can’t jump on people if he is busy doing something else. Instead of saying “off” to your dog, ask for a trick instead. Does your dog know how to sit, down, spin, touch or play find it?  By giving your dog an alternative behavior, she can be successful and will be too busy to jump on someone.

3. Four Feet On the Floor

By rewarding your dog when all four paws are on the floor, they have an incentive to stop jumping. This is one of my favorite videos from Domesticated Manners. I like to use this strategy when there are lots of kids trying to approach my puppy. Because she is more in love with food than she is with people, she’s a champ at this jumping prevention method.

I’d love to hear what strategies you use to prevent your dog from jumping. If you are brave, tell us about a time when your dog jumped on someone and how you handled the situation. I can’t wait to see what you have to say. Perhaps you’ll give us all some new strategies to try!

P.S. If you live in Marin County and want some hands-on support to manage your dog’s jumping or other behavior problems, I’d love to come meet your family. If you live farther away, I can still help! By using FaceTime or Skype, I can do video consults, no matter where you live.