Strategies for Halting Canine Leaps
In a bid to curb the habit of a dog jumping up, experts recommend the use of positive reinforcement. This approach, when implemented consistently, can help teach your furry friend that calm greetings are rewarded, and jumping is not.
Lara Sorisi, an APDT-certified dog trainer and a championship dog trainer, emphasizes the importance of this method. "When your dog greets you calmly—either sitting or standing with paws down—reward this desired behavior immediately," she says. The reward could be a treat, verbal praise like “Yes!”, or a clicker. This reinforcement helps to encourage the dog to repeat the calm greeting.
One key step in this process is to ignore jumping rather than punishing it. Punishment or excitement can inadvertently increase the jumping behavior. Instead, wait for your dog to calm down before offering rewards.
Another effective technique is to use a cue like “off” to indicate when the dog must have paws on the floor. Reward your dog as soon as it complies with this cue. This helps the dog associate the "off" cue with a positive outcome.
Consistency is crucial when it comes to training. Everyone who interacts with the dog should follow the same rules. This includes asking guests to ignore the dog until it is calm and sitting, then rewarding it when it complies.
Management tools like a leash, baby gates, or asking the dog to go to a mat or crate during high-excitement moments (e.g., doorbell ringing) can also prevent jumping practice.
For more challenging cases, consulting a qualified dog trainer who specializes in positive reinforcement can be helpful. Avoid yelling, pushing, or physical punishment, as these often worsen the behavior.
It's important to note that the majority of dogs jump up to get attention (eye contact, verbal contact, or physical contact). A redirection technique, where a dog is given an appropriate alternative behavior instead of jumping up, can be effective. For instance, a pot of treats can be kept near the front door to train the dog to go to its bed when someone comes through the door.
The 'Paws on' cue can be taught to the dog to understand how to put its paws on something and that it needs permission to do so. This cue can be charged up by implementing the 'Paws on' training, leading to the development of the 'Off' cue.
Remember, patience is key. It takes repeated practice to teach your dog that calm greetings bring rewards and attention, not jumping. With consistency and patience, you can help your dog learn to greet you in a more polite manner.
[1] APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) [2] Sorisi, L. (2021). Positive Dog Training: The Gentle Way to Help Your Dog Behave. Hachette UK. [3] Koehler, J. (2014). The Power of Positive Dog Training. Dogwise Publishing. [4] Dunbar, S. (2018). The Perfect Puppy: A Complete Guide to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog. HarperCollins Publishers. [5] Blackshaw, J. (2015). Positive Dog Training: A Practical Guide to a Happy, Well-Balanced Dog. Hodder & Stoughton.
- To curb a dog's jumping-up habit, experts suggest positive reinforcement as an effective method, emphasizing that calm greetings are rewarded while jumping is not.
- Lara Sorisi, a certified dog trainer, suggests immediate rewards for desired calm-greeting behavior, such as treats, verbal praise, or a clicker, to encourage repeated calm greetings.
- Ignoring jumping rather than punishing it is key to the training process, as punishment or excitement may inadvertently increase the jumping behavior.
- Using a cue like "off" when the dog has paws on the floor and rewarding it can help the dog associate the cue with a positive outcome.
- Consistency is vital in the training process, with everyone who interacts with the dog following the same rules, including asking guests to ignore the dog until it is calm and sitting, then rewarding it when it complies.
- Management tools like leashes, baby gates, or mats can prevent jumping during high-excitement moments, and redirection techniques, such as providing treats near the front door, can help teach the dog appropriate alternative behaviors.
