Survival Guide Day 4-Jumping: My Dog is a Jumping Bean!

One of the most common behavioral issues I come across: jumping. Even though we find this a nuisance, this is normal behavior for dogs! Dogs will happily greet us when we come home, and they will happily greet guests when they come over. However, while many of us love the affection our dogs give us...there may be some out there who aren't as...enthused. 

Below are some tips to help guide you and your jumping bean:

1. Dogs LOVE attention whether it's positive or negative; they can't tell the difference. They don't care whether you're praising or yelling it's getting them what they want - attention. When you come home, only give your dog attention, treat, or toy when they are sitting politely or keeping their four feet on the floor. If they jump, remove all attention from them. Remember:

   1. No Look

   2. No Touch

   3. No Talk (I am not a fan of Caesar Milan but this is one idea that I agree with)

2. With the help of friends, you can have them come over to help train your dog. You'll need to make sure your dog is on leash and have treats. When your friend walks in, make sure to reward your dog with treats and soft praise. If you get too excited they might jump! If your dog DOES jump make sure your friend ignores them AND you remove all attention and treats. Keep at this, once you feel confidence enough, you can allow your dog to drag the leash while your friend comes into your home. You keep your dog on leash so you have some control over them, the leash is a temporary tool to help with jumping. 🐕

3. Walk in with a PURPOSE. If you had a bad day at the office, you were frustrated at the grocery store, etc, we want a few minutes to collect ourselves when we come home. So...when you come home and your dog charges you excitedly - ignore them. Walk "through" them (walk into their space) and make your way into the home. I would recommend walking briskly into your bedroom and closing the door on the dog. Give yourself about 10-15 minutes, then you can leave your room. Yes, your dog will be excited but not AS excited when you first came home. 🏠

4. When training your dog to not jump there MUST be consistency. You can't allow your dog to jump on some people and then get angry when they jump on others. This causes confusion! The dog doesn't understand why they are praised one day and then the next yelled at. 😕 Confusion can cause frustration and make training even harder! 

   
   

"My dog is super hyper and doesn't settle right away when people come over!"

If your dog is really excited when people come over, I always recommend exercising the dog before guests come over. Take them on a long walk, go to a park, decompression walk on the beach...anything that will help the dog mentally and physically! Your dog might still be excited when people come over, but they won't be launching themselves at guests' faces like a rocket. 🚀

Honestly though? If you're having a party or get together and are already a bit stressed, I would exercise the dog and then before guests come over, place them in their crate or a quiet area of the home with something to keep them entertained, like a stuffed Kong or a no-hide. If you're alread

y stressed, then you are setting the dog up for failure at that point - it's better to work your dog with a clear mind. If you're upset, the dog will sense it. 

Hope these tips help! 

Stay tuned for tomorrow's last survival guide on Chewing: My Dog Thinks He's a Termite!

🐕

If you have questions, I'm just a message away ~

Nicole