How to Stop Your Puppy From Jumping Up

The main reason you're likely to have a problem with your puppy jumping up at you is that you actively encourage it yourself!

Go on, admit it, it gives you a lovely, warm feeling when your new puppy excitedly jumps up and makes a fuss of you, doesn't it?

And what do you do in return? That's right, you make a fuss of him right back, don't you?

The signal you give him by doing this is that he's pleasing you and winning your approval. And perhaps you'll not realize that this is exactly what your puppy is looking for and that it just reinforces the behavior.

Pushing him off isn't the answer, because he'll see this as a game. Remember, play fighting is part of a puppy's natural instinct and learning process.

Shouting at him isn't an answer, because he interprets that as getting attention and that's just what he wants and it may get him barking too.

What you really need to do to break the jumping up habit is the exact opposite of what you actually are doing.

That's right. Ignore your puppy. Completely ignore him. Pay him no attention whatsoever. Yes, we know it's hard but it's the only way you'll ultimately break this habit which can be annoying to guests and dangerous for small children.

Ignoring him means no verbal interaction (don't talk to him) and no touching. Turn you back on him and fold your arms to keep them out of his reach.

If your puppy jumps at your back, take a step away from him. If he comes around the front of you, turn your back on him again.

To repeat, don't give him any acknowledgment whilst he is jumping up at you.

As soon as he gets down on all fours and stops jumping at you, go down to his level, make a fuss of him and give him a tidbit.

In other words, reward him for doing what you want him to do and give him nothing he can construe as a reward when he's doing what you DON'T want him to do.

So, to sum up, you want him to understand that four feet on the ground is what will get your attention, two feet on you will not.

It's also important to make sure that any visitors to your house also understand this drill.
It may seem an impossible task now, but if you're consistent with the above exercise, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your puppy gets the message that remaining on the floor is what will get attention.

Until next time

Teia