Labrador Forums - Advice on 'Jumping Up'

There are many behaviours that while cute in puppy hood become not only dangerous but down right annoying in the adult dog. Jumping up is one of these behaviours that is quickly learnt as a young cuddly puppy and one of the hardest habits to break in older dogs.

Puppies jump to say hello, they like you, want to get close to your face to lick you but the secret of breaking this habit is not to let it start in the first place. If it is already happening then you need to look at things from your puppies point of view. They want attention and they don't mind how they get it. An owner pushing a puppy down is reward enough, as are the words 'down' and 'off.' As is smacking and shouting. It's all attention that the puppy finds rewarding.

To avoid jumping up, when your puppy starts, stand still and turn your body language away from your puppy. It is important that you don't make eye contact with your puppy as some find this reward enough to keep on going. Your puppy will soon tire and sit and look at you - quickly praise and reward your puppy for having all feet on the floor. This is the behaviour you want. This will take some time if the behaviour is already becoming established as it has a reward history. It is important to stick with it as no behaviour changes over night but within a week or two and if everyone is consistent and the jumping is not rewarded in any way then the habit should diminish.

If jumping is an already established habit

First teach your puppy to sit on every cue that you give. He must be consistent with this. Your puppy cannot jump and sit at the same time. When you enter the house and your puppy jumps on you to say hello, ask him to sit then praise and reward. It is useful in these cases if you can set up the scenario, and get friends and family to help you. Your puppy will learn a great deal quicker if you can enlist the help of some willing volunteers.

Have your puppy on a lead when you know visitors are due to call - ask your puppy to sit while you let your visitor in and praise and reward when your puppy sits. If your dog is not very food motivated then have a toy in your pocket and give it to your visitor to play a quick game when your puppy offers the right behaviour.

There will always be one person who calls at your home who states that 'it doesn't matter - I just love dogs.' BE FIRM - IT DOES MATTER. A WELL TRAINED DOG IS A STRESS FREE, HAPPY DOG.

Taken from the APDT Website - http://www.apdt.co.uk/advice.htm