“My dog jumps up on everyone – she loves people so much. What can I do?” is a question I’m asked several times every month.
Dogs like to jump up when greeting people in order to reach their faces. They learn this behaviour as puppies, jumping to lick their mother’s face and mouth to get food, so by the time they come to live with us it’s already a strong behaviour.
Teaching your dog to keep all four paws on the floor instead of jumping up can be a challenge. You may encourage jumping up by allowing it sometimes, such as when you come home, or when you want a doggy cuddle.
It’s generally better not to encourage it — but if you want to allow it sometimes, train your dog to jump up only when you give them permission, by saying “up” or whatever.
Some people like to teach a “sit” to greet. This can work well with some dogs, but others just see a sit as a great position to launch upwards from…
Either shutting your dog away while visitors enter and get settled, or keeping her on a lead while visitors come in can help, as you can move your dog away if they try to jump up.
Teaching your dog it’s more worthwhile to keep their paws on the floor is the best way to stop jumping up:
Today’s Training Tip is: Four Paws on the Floor
Make sure you always bend or crouch down to greet and fuss your pooch. Take your greetings away from the front door – greet your dog in your kitchen or living room instead.
Here are two methods to teach your dog it’s not worth jumping up and better things happen if all four paws stay on the floor:
Method 1: Ignore your pooch if she jumps up by turning away, looking away and folding your arms as her paws lift off the ground. Watch carefully out of the corner of your eye and wait to feel her paws lifting off you. The millisecond she has all four paws on the floor, praise her, bend down, give her a fuss, and give her 2-3 treats, one at a time, dropped on the floor. Repeat as necessary.
Method 2: As your pooch approaches, before she even starts to jump, crouch down and praise her while dropping 2-3 small treats on the floor in front of her. As she eats them, give her a fuss while dropping further treats, one after the other.
Ask us if you’re struggling.
Keep training,
Carol
PS If you want our help with training your pooch, check out the options under the training tab on our website.