Can I get Your Attention?
(Dogs Who Jumping Up on You/Guests)
Question: How do you I stop my dog from jumping up on me/guests?
Answer: The main reason dogs jump up on you, or your guests, is for attention. More accurately, they are asking you a question and the right response it important for many reasons (which I won’t go into here!). The normal response when a dogs jumps up is to tell them off or to ‘get down’ but unfortunately this still classifies as attention so when you do this they are learning that this behaviour works!
So what is the right response when a dog jumps up on you?
- Avoid making eye contact or saying anything your dog.
- Gently push the dog down, using a 3 strikes and you’re out rule
- If your dog jumps up a third time simply place them in a room on their own for a minute or two (there must be 5 seconds of silence for them to be let out again) or simply put them outside. Alternatively, if you are outside when the dog jumps up then immediately go back inside.
- Remain CALM when doing the above & be CONSISTENT!
What about guests?
- When guests knock on your door, place your dog outside or in the nearest room with a ‘good dog’.
- Invite guests in and ask them to pay no attention to your dog until they are calm and relaxed.
- Bring your dog back into the room on lead, this gives you control.
- If your dog tries to jump up you can calmly hold them back without saying anything, but if they persist place them back outside, or in another room, for a time-out. Wait for calm and then try again.
The reason we use the above approach is to show your dog that a) jumping up won’t succeed in gaining any attention, and b) if they continue to do it they will be removed from the family. This encourages your dog to use self-control, the best kind of control there is!
Thank you to Hayley Wright of Taking the Lead. For more great information visit http://www.takingthelead.net.au
