Why does my dog jump on people and how can I stop my dog from jumping on people?
Dogs want our attention, just like children. If you are a parent then you know what it means when a child comes up and starts pulling on the bottom of your shirt and say, “Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?”. They just want our attention, plain and simple. When a dog jumps up, it’s the exact same thing as the child pulling on the bottom of your shirt. However, what children perceive as attention and what dogs perceive as attention are two very different things. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you understand what the dog perceives as “attention” and NOT provide it when he jumps on you.
What is “attention” from a dogs perspective? Any eye contact, touching, or being spoken to is “attention”. Negative or positive, it’s still attention. So things like; giving the evil eye, pushing the dog down with your hands, or even yelling at the dog to get down, is all “attention” and will encourage the exact behavior you don’t want.
So here are some tips:
1. Don’t touch the dog, literally no physical contact.
2. Don’t look at the dog, in fact, consciously look up or away or in the other direction.
3. Turn your back on the dog, this will most likely trigger the dog to walk around to your front side again but be persistent and keep turning your back on the dog until he sits or walks away.
4. If you can preempt his jump, then quickly step back or to the side to eliminate any physical contact. At minimum, turn your back so the dog touches your back/butt/back of legs instead of your front.
When utilized consistently, these tips will teach your dog that no attention is provided when he jumps on you. In other words, ensure every member of the household has agreed to adopt the same techniques.
How do I give attention to my dog otherwise, you ask? Well, the first thing is to determine when you want to give attention. Is it when he sits, or lays down, or when he’s calm? Whatever this is, then wait until the dog does this naturally, then praise, give attention, and feel free to include treats as well. Eventually the dog will learn that he gets attention when he does (i.e. sits, lays down, becomes calm, etc.).
PRACTICE: Don’t miss the opportunities for training. When you’ve been gone and your are returning home, consider how your pup is going to react when you walk in the door. If this is prime time for his jumping, then exploit it. Be prepared with treats in your pocket and the determination to ignore him until he sits. Enter the home as normal, turn or step back at each jump attempt, avoiding eye contact, verbal communication, and absolutely zero touching. Continue on your normal routine until the dog sits. Once he sits, then immediately (within 1.3 seconds) praise, give treats, and give him the attention he has been asking for. If he immediately begins to jump out of excitement, revert back to ignoring. Repeat until he gets it. Have patience, some dogs are quick learners and some dogs take more time.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!
Tonda Benge, MBS, CPPS
Professional Dog Mom LLC
https://prodogmom.com
775.800.6710
*Additional Helpful Free Info from World Renown Dog Trainer/Veterinarian Ian Dunbar HERE
