Ways To Prevent Your Dog From Jumping On People

If your dog has a tendency to jump on people, it is important that you take steps to eliminate the behavior. It's not enough to punish him for jumping because that doesn't address his reasons for doing so. As a result, the punishment fails to have any lasting effect. In this article, we'll explore the main reasons why your dog jumps. Then, we'll provide a unique method that you can use to eliminate the behavior for the long-term.

Understanding Why Dogs Jump

Dogs jump by instinct. Like most of the things they do, it's part of their nature. There are 3 main reasons why your dog jumps. First, it's a display of enthusiasm. When you come home after a long day, he's naturally happy to see you. Dogs show their enthusiasm by jumping. Left on their own, dogs will naturally greet each other with their muzzles. When he sees you, he tries to do the same thing: greet you with his muzzle. The only way he can do it is by jumping on you.

Second, the behavior may imply that your dog seeks attention from you. This is one of the most common reasons because owners actually encourage it unwittingly when their dog is a puppy. When their dog approaches, an owner will often lift his front paws and interact face to face. This reinforces the behavior.

The third reason why dogs jump is because they want to show dominance. If the owner hasn't sufficiently established himself as the pack leader, a dog will try to usurp the role. You'll see this often when new people are greeted by large dogs. The dog will immediately jump to assert himself.

Curbing The Jumping

First, let's talk about what doesn't work. Whether by instinct or ignorance, many owners will try to place their knee in their dog's chest when he jumps. That doesn't curb the behavior. If anything, it interrupts the relationship between owner and dog.

Instead, when your dog jumps, grab his paws and hold him up. Don't allow him to rest his paws on your chest. That only establishes his sense of dominance and makes him more likely to jump in the future. As you're holding your dog's paws, speak kindly to him so that he senses your affection. Slowly begin to raise his paws. In effect, you're forcing him to stretch which is not pleasurable for him. Remember to keep speaking gently as you do this. When he begins to rub your hands with his muzzle, let his paws go. Don't set them on the ground. Simply let them go.

Once his front paws hit the ground, kneel down and show as much tenderness and kindness as possible. The experience will not be a good one for him. He needs to feel your affection for reassurance.

Then, stand up and encourage him to jump up again. If he does (and some dogs will have learned the lesson quickly), go through the entire process again. Before long, you'll have eliminated his urge to jump.