Learning How To Stop Dog Jumping Behavior Is Important

Posted on July 30, 2008
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by Lee Dobbins

Most people subscribe to the idea that dogs jump on humans in order to be closer to them. However, this can be scary if large dogs, even with good intentions, jump on humans. It can cause all kinds of problems and potentially really hurt someone so it is important to know how to stop dog jumping behavior before an accident occurs.

A dog’s natural behavior is to jump up on a person when they want to be friendly. As the owner of the dog, you need to train your dog not to jump up on people. Also, let people know if they want to pet your dog, to kneel down to the dog’s level. As the dog’s owner, you should be an example, and kneel down to your dog. At the same time, show where the dog likes to be given attention. For example, rubbing behind the ears, sniffing your hand first, or scratching a dog’s chest.

‘Sit’ is an important and basic command. Mastering the ‘Sit’ is a foundation for other commands and may save your dogs life. Before teaching how to stop dog jumping, you and your dog need to master the ‘Sit’ command. It must be automatic and consistent in order to move forward to stopping any jumping behavior.

When training, you need to pay attention to the signs your dog is giving to you. Many times you can tell when a dog is about to jump up on you. Before they jump, give the ‘Sit’ command. If they disregard the ‘Sit’ command, and don’t worry if they don’t listen right away, lift your knee to the dogs chest to block the jump. The command used in combination with the knee is ‘Off’. Be sure to use the command ‘Off’ rather than ‘Down’. ‘Down’ is a different command to make a dog lay down and if used here, will give mixed signals to your dog.

Try not to scare or hurt your dog, just gently knock him off balance. Lifting your knee a bit should do the job. This is just associating the command with the action. Make sure he gets rewarded with a treat and verbal praise when it is done. With enough repetition, he will soon obey the “Off” command.

No one likes a dog that misbehaves, particularly a dog who jumps up on any person they meet. A jumping dog will eventually knock someone over. The person could be badly injured, and you might be facing a lawsuit. For your own safety and piece of mind, it’s essential to take the time to learn how to stop dog jumping behavior. Doing so will ensure that your dog is an enjoyable member of your family.

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