What Do I Do About My Dog Jumping Up?

Most dogs have a natural inclination to jump on people sometimes. How often they do this will vary with their breed and personality. Some have suggested that dogs are trying to get close to someone’s face, not to attack that person, but to facilitate interaction. Dogs do this with each other; especially if they are of similar breeds, their faces are close to each other and on similar levels. Dogs use their eyes and noses to explore.

Therefore, one way to get your dog to stop jumping is to remove his or her need to reach out to you. Instead, kneel down and “get on the dog’s level.” Let your dog explore your face safely, at the same time watching for too much assertiveness on the dog’s part. Most dogs won’t bite their owners this way, especially if the owner has assumed the “alpha” position, or leader of the pack position.

There are some caveats to this, though. If you have adopted an older dog instead of a puppy, use this method with caution. You can protect yourself from any potential injury by putting a collar on your dog and then inserting your thumb underneath it behind the dog’s neck. If the dog appears to be getting overly aggressive, simply jerk your thumb sideways to stop the dog’s actions.

If at all possible, jerk sideways, not backwards. A dog’s neck muscles are strong, but you can easily injure your dog’s throat if you use a sharp backwards motion. Remember that you’re trying to teach your dog not to do this particular action and at the same time protect yourself, but you are not punishing your dog.

You can also practice off leash training to teach your dog not to jump. Wear some sturdy pants that will protect you and have your dog stand in front of you. You can, of course, train your dog to “sit” as a way to get him or her to quit jumping, but it’s not possible to get your dog to sit all the time. Most often, a dog jumps when he or she has been standing or running. Therefore, you need to start this exercise with your dog in a standing position.

Keep an eye out for your dog’s body tension to change, whereby he or she is about to jump. When you see this, order the dog to “sit.” If the dog still jumps, lift your leg slightly and gently nudge your dog’s chest with your knee or your thigh. While you do this, simultaneously, thrust your hand palm outward near the dog’s face, saying, “Off!” as you do so. (Don’t say “down,” since this is a separate behavior and requires a different word.)

Again, when you do this, be gentle. Don’t knock your dog in the chest overly hard, and don’t push your hand into his or her face. Your raised knee or thigh simply blocks the dog from jumping and puts it slightly off balance. You’re putting your hand palm up and outward as you do so to block the dog’s vision and discourage him or her from jumping again.

If you can work with a partner to train your dog, you may decide you want to use leash training instead, especially if the dog is particularly stubborn about jumping. In that case, when the dog starts to jump, have your partner pull the dog sideways as you say, “Off!” You, not your partner, should say, “Off!” It’s you the dog needs to focus on and obey.

If you don’t have a partner and you are working outside, you can wrap the leash (assuming it’s long) around a post or tree. This is somewhat more difficult, because the dog will be jerked backwards instead of sideways, which is less desirable than a sideways jerk.

You can use positive reinforcement to teach your dog, too. In that case, take a favorite toy or treat in one hand, and when your dog begins to jump, hold the treat/toy above and slightly behind your dog’s head. This will distract your dog and slightly unbalance him or her. It also encourages the dog to sit, just when he or she wanted to jump.

As with any type of training, persistence and consistency are key when you say, “Off!” Be firm but patient with your dog as you train him or her. With time, most dogs will understand that they must obey and suppress their natural urge to jump until you give them permission to do so.