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JUMPING UP
Dogs naturally
greet people by jumping up on them but this is an unacceptable,
and often times, dangerous behavior. You must teach your dog
to sit whenever he greets you or other people. One thing to
remember is that jumping up persists because the dog is usually
reinforced for doing it. When you give your dog any kind of
attention for jumping on you, even negative attention (yelling
at him, pushing him off, or even kneeing him in the chest),
the behavior will continue. So the best way to stop a dog from
jumping up is to remove the reinforcement - your attention.
Jumping
up when you enter the house
Approach #1
When you enter the house and your dog jumps up on you, simply
turn your back, stand tall with your arms at your side and say
nothing. Watch out of the corner of your eye and as soon as
your dog chooses another strategy (four on the floor, or better
yet, sitting), turn and give him attention and a food treat.
He will most likely jump back up on you and when he does, turn
around again and wait. Do this as many times in a row as it
takes until the dog sits when you walk in. Practice this exercise
repeatedly and then get the entire family involved. Later, invite
visitors to the house and have them do the exercise. Keep the
treats handy at first until the dog learns that he must sit
to greet all humans.
Approach #2
When you enter the house and your dog jumps up on you, turn
right around and go back outside. Wait a moment and then reenter.
If the dog jumps up again, leave again. Repeat this process
until the dog chooses another strategy, like sitting, when you
enter. The dog will learn that when he jumps up on you as you
enter, you leave, but if he sits, you give him the attention
he wants (and a yummy food treat). Repeat the exercise often
until your dog learns to sit every time you enter the house.
Practice at each door. Have every member of the family and then
some visiting friends practice as well. We want the dog to learn
that he must sit to greet all people entering the house.
Jumping
up on approaching people
One person should have the dog on lead and tell him to sit while
another approaches. If the dog breaks his sit and starts to
jump up on the approaching person, he/she should turn around
and walk away. Repeat this over and over until the dog remains
seated, at which time the approaching person will praise the
dog and give him a treat.
Repeat this with as many different people approaching as you
can, so that the dog learns that he must sit to greet all people.
Conditioning a sit at the door when company arrives
Have a helper knock on the door or ring the doorbell. You then
coach the dog to a rug located near the door and tell him to
“sit”. After 30 seconds give him a treat. Repeat this over and
over. The sound of the doorbell or knock soon becomes a cue
or command for going to the rug and sitting.
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