Get up, stand up (c'mon) c'mon, throw your hands up
If ya got the feelin', jump up towards the ceilin'
I came to get down, I came to get down
So get out your seat and jump around
Jump up, jump up, and get down
Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
You swear your puppy’s favorite song is House of Pain’s “Jump Around” because it must always be on his mind! You’re also convinced you have a designer hybrid dog mixed with a kangaroo, his incredible back legs made of strong springs. He’s a big boy, reaching chest height when standing on 2 legs even though he’s still a puppy. His jumping up is so bad that he’s pulled down an entire chicken from the counter, knocked over your friend’s child, scratched your face right next to your eye, gotten your new white pants filthy with muddy paw prints, and almost pushed over your elderly mother just trying to come to dinner. Your dog sitter even warned you his jumping was so bad that she had trouble putting on his harness. You’ve got to do something, and fast!
When puppies are little, it can be cute to watch them jump up for your attention with those little eyes staring up at you begging to be picked up. However, the older and bigger they get, it’s not cute anymore to be clawed on the leg, causing painful falls, skin slashes, and punctured clothing. A jumping puppy is even capable of pummeling you in the face if they are tall enough!
We all want to create a welcoming environment for guests of all ages in our home. If you have a jumper, people might stop coming over because you can’t control your dog. They don’t want to possibly get injured! Your puppy might have even knocked down a few people. Oftentimes, guests carry objects in their arms such as hot casseroles or gifts that your puppy could destroy. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to jumping dogs. A child could hit his head on something on the way down, knocking out teeth or being clawed directly in the face. An elderly person could break a bone or have their thin, fragile skin ripped and scratched. If you pair jumping with nipping behavior, you have a potentially disastrous situation on your hands that is a liability to you and your guests.
Puppies jump when they want your attention or are excited, such as when visitors come over or you arrive home, before feedings, on walks, or exiting their crate or a gate. Dogs jump on one another as they play, and it’s perfectly natural behavior. However, it’s rude to jump up on humans, so you need to teach your dog calm manners. But how do you get your puppy to stop jumping on you?
You may be frustrated to tears over your dog’s jumping behavior, but that’s where we come in. We’ve summarized a few different methods sharing how to get your dog to stop jumping up. Each method offers something a little different, so try out the ones that appeal to your situation, pick one, and stay consistent for results. You’ll be on your way to having a calm, polite dog that is a delight to be around rather than using you and your guests as a scratching post.
Methods to Get Your Dog to Stop Jumping
Several methods on the internet or during in-person training give options for you to try training your puppy not to jump. Not every dog will respond to each method equally well, so it may take some trial and error to find what works for you and your puppy. All of these methods reward your puppy for good behavior and teach your puppy what you’d like for it to do rather than what not to do – a phrase called “Four on the Floor” where all 4 paws are touching the ground. You can even combine methods, such as the scattered treat method and the ignored method, for more reinforcement.
Scattered treats method
Have your guests come into your home, and as soon as they do, you throw a handful of small treats in the opposite direction. Your puppy will hoover up these delicious scattered treats like the little vacuum cleaner he is. You can pet him and give him praise for not jumping up on visitors when he rehearses the appropriate behavior. This method does not utilize a verbal “Off” cue since the puppy is supposed to go in the opposite direction from the guests toward the treat.
Ignore method
The ignore method does not acknowledge your puppy at all until they are calm and have stopped jumping up. When you enter, ignore your puppy completely, not even acknowledging them with “Off” or “No” command or ear scratches. You may have to cross your arms and turn away, but you aren’t saying a word to them or interacting in any way until she settles. Puppies crave verbal praise and physical touch, and they may interpret pushing away or even negative words as being a reward. You can lavish praise on them and give treats when they stop jumping.
One disadvantage of this method is you might still get scratched or knocked over, so recruit friends willing to help rather than test this out on unsuspecting guests. However, you can wear thick, long pants and long sleeves or a coat to protect you from scratches and practice for long sessions until she catches on.
Knee up method
The next method you can try out to stop a puppy from jumping up on people uses the human body as a correction. When your dog jumps on you, lift your leg to where your knee is sticking out. Keep in mind that you are not slamming your knee into their chest or kicking – just lifting. Your dog will run into your knee and shin. Say “Off” as a verbal cue.
Some people aren’t keen on this method because they believe positive reinforcement is more effective than a physical block. Only you know your dog best, so move on to another method if this one barks up the wrong tree.
Pinned leash method
One method from McCann Professional Dog Training recommends 4 steps to teach your dog not to jump:
- Step 1: Use a clip-on long leash about 6 feet long on your puppy’s collar. Take away his ability to jump on you by putting your foot down on the leash far up enough toward the collar so your puppy can begin the jump but not complete it. This encourages your puppy to self-correct their behavior without you having to move. The only action you’ll need is pinning down the leash with your foot.
- Step 2: Be proactive rather than reactive. Don’t wait for your dog to jump up; rather, work on rewarding your dog when they choose not to jump with high-value tasty treats.
- Step 3: Add a verbal cue such as “Off.” Get your puppy excited when he normally jumps, and use the command when you anticipate he’s about to jump. Reward behavior that you like when 4 paws are on the ground rather than kneeing him in the chest or turning around when you say “Off” for this particular method
- Step 4: Be patient and persistent! This skill takes time and lots of repetition. Give your puppy as many chances as possible to practice this invaluable training command. Invite friends and family over and practice them coming in the door.
This method does not endorse using a prong collar, turning around, or pushing off. Your dog may interpret pushing him off as playtime. You’ll notice your guests do not have to follow complicated instructions or be responsible for giving them treats.
Jump For Joy With a Pawrade Puppy
The only jumping around we want to see is when you greet your Pawrade puppy for the first time – totally appropriate behavior for such an exciting occasion! Whether you want a small apartment dog or an extra large gentle giant, jump on over to view our puppies for sale!
