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.:: My Dog Jumps Up On People ::.

T his is a relatively easy behavior to stop given some practice and consistency. As always, you will use the basics of positive reinforcement to teach your dog that it is not okay to jump on people.

What is my goal?
Your goal is two-fold. You want your dog to stop jumping and you also want her to have good manners. It’s up to you to decide what an appropriate greeting is and what good manners are when greeting a person. It is most common to encourage a dog to approach a person and then sit while waiting patiently for the attention she desires.
Where do I start?
1. To start you will need to enlist the help of a willing person to serve as your test subject.
2. Put a leash on your dog so that you are able to maintain control.
3. Give your helper the following instructions before you start:

Do not make eye contact with or acknowledge the dog in any way until he is sitting or standing and waiting patiently for attention.
Once he is no longer jumping, praise and reward the dog for his good dead. You will want to give your test subject a supply of treats.

Step-by-Step
1. Intentionally place your dog in a situation you know will elicit the jumping behavior. Usually this is as simple as having your test subject come to the door or walk up and greet you as you stand in another room or outside.
2. When the dog starts to jump give a command like “off”. Keep enough tension on the leash that it makes it hard for him to get off of the ground.
3. When all four feet are on the ground say “good off”
4. Give the “sit” command. If your dog does not know this already, you should teach it before you start teaching the dog not to jump on people.
5. When he sits, praise him and let your test subject praise, pet and treat him.
6. Repeat! Keep doing this over and over until your dog can be approached without ever trying to jump.

Success!
You know you have been successful when your dog can approach or be approached and automatically sit and wait for a greeting. One afternoon and one test subject will not completely resolve the issue. However, with continued training, your dog will become an excellent citizen and companion.

Ongoing training
1. Get everyone involved. Your dog may not jump on your friend Al because he was your training partner, but the problem may persist with other people. Repeat the process above with as many different people as you can to teach your dog that she should not jump on anyone, not just your friend Al.
2. Put a leash on your dog anytime some one comes to the door. Practice having your dog sit and wait for acknowledgement when guests come to visit. Advise your guests to wait until the dog sits to say hello.
3. Keep treats handy at home and when you are out with your dog to reinforce good behavior.
4. Read the information on this site about positive reinforcement to familiarize yourself with this training technique.
5. Be consistent and never let your dog jump on you or anyone, even in play.