Stop that Dog from Jumping!

This dog is jumping all over me!

You come home and your dog is soooo happy to see you! And he/she is jumping all over you! Now you might not mind this so much - as #1 -- you are thrilled that someone is happy you are home!! And…. you don't have your best clothes on…

BUT -- the day comes that you walk in with your silk dress and nylons -- or your best tan suit -- and that dog is now jumping all over your good clothes ~~~ Well you aren't too excited about that anymore now are you?

Or your new date arrives and your 100+lb dog is knocking them over - not a very good first impression!

What to Do?

If your dog is still a puppy -- or a small dog -- Bend down to them -- Bend down and pet your dog. Do not kneel down to the dog's level - just bend from your waist. While you pet your dog keep a light pressure so he can't jump. Don't say too much - and keep walking. If you are talking overly excited - the dog will continue to jump. Also if you are yelling or saying No or Down - you still sound excited to the dog.

Even if your words are saying something negative - "No" or "Down". Your dog is hearing excited words and he/she is thinking you are just as excited as he is! We don't want the dog thinking this is OK - so many bad behaviors are reinforced because owners don't realize their excited words are exciting to the dog.

If your dog is very excited -- bend down pet the dog and then put a toy in his/her mouth - then continue to walk.

As the dog calms down - you can go over and pet them some more - but - don't be talking in a very excited voice - keep your voice calm, pleasant and loving.

Why the toy?

Why put a toy in the dog's mouth? Several reasons - lots of times when dogs are this excited they are mouthing you - letting them nip you - is teaching them it is OK. Well it isn't OK to nip - now is it? So -- put that toy in their mouth. When you put the toy in their mouth - they now have something else to put some of their zealous joy into instead of jumping on you.

Does this Work?

Well - I have done this with all my dogs… Now when I come home - they are excited to see me - and when I walk in all 3 of them run and get a toy. No one is jumping on me - no one is mouthing me -- all 3 of them are wagging their tails (actually their entire bodies) and each of them has a toy in their mouths. It works Great!

If you have an older and larger dog -- then use your knee to stop the jumping. I don't say a word - I put my knee up quickly and let them bang into it - they go back down. I don't use brute force - just enough to bounce them off -- then I get that toy.

Persistence is the key here - you need to do this everyday -- some dogs will stop jumping the first day -- other's it might take a few days - but if your are consistent the jumping will stop.