Pet Care
Jumping Up
Pets
that jump up on people can sometimes be considered cute and affectionate,
but other times those same pets can be annoying, embarrassing, and even
expensive. It seems that when and who our pet jumps up on determines whether
we are pleased or frustrated.
Obviously, we can not expect our pets to just "know" the difference between
an expensive suit and out play clothes, nor can they be expected to tell
whether a person wants to be jumped on or not. It is up to us to teach them.
Pets generally consider jumping up a means to satisfy their need for
attention or play. From a very young age, a cute little ball of fur can soon
find that jumping will be met with very worthwhile rewards. Jumping up, in
itself, normally will not meet a need, any more than a dog jumping on a door
will open it. However, very few pet owners can resist the cuteness.
Just remember one simple rule. Jumping behavior will soon disappear if it is
not rewarded.
Do not try to discourage jumping with any physical contact. It will not work
in the majority of cases. Remember, your pet is looking for attention from
you when he jumps, so don't assume your roughness and harsh voice to be a
deterrent. Animals consider negative attention better than no attention at
all. A jumping dog is like a child who will throw a temper tantrum in a
grocery store. If you give the child candy, he or she will be better for the
time being, but watch out the next time! If you try to punish that behavior,
the tantrum will increase the intensity. IGNORE IT! It will go away.
There is one draw back to the previous example. If one behavior (jumping) is
not met with the desired attention, another undesirable behavior may take
its place (stealing, barking, nipping, etc.) That is why it is important to
guide your dog to an appropriate behavior immediately after the jumping
behavior ceases and reward him with play, treats, or attention.
Ignoring the dog in order for the behavior to extinguish itself is perfect
for dealing with puppies and smaller dogs. What about the larger dogs that
are using your grandmother as a trampoline? It's hardly reasonable to assume
that you can ignore the behavior and wait for it to disappear.
In this situation, we have no choice but to try to discourage the jumping
behavior, but at the same time working within the frame work that was
previously discussed. For one or two weeks, every time the dog starts to
jump, push the dog firmly (but carefully) to all fours on the floor and say,
"No, Off! Rover, Sit!" Of course, if your dog would sit on command at a time
like this, he and you wouldn't have a jumping problem. So, when you tell
your dog to sit, don't hesitate and never repeat yourself. Just make him
sit. Pull up on his collar and push down on his hindquarters, then pet and
praise him for being in that more appropriate position.
He is not done yet. You will need to tell your dog when he is allowed to
break his command. Teach him the "release command." Use one word or phrase
that means he is allowed to get up, "OK!", "Alright!", or “Take A Break". It
doesn't matter which one, but don't let your dog break that sit until he
hears your release command. If your dog should get up from the spot where
you put him, before the release command, firmly tell him "NO!" Take him back
to the same spot, facing the same direction, push his rear to the ground and
repeat the command once, "Sit." After the dog has not gotten up from his
sit, release him with your command, and then play with the dog as a reward
for staying in one spot.
How long should he be able to stay in one spot? I've seen dogs stay for
hours, but when you are just starting, shoot for two minutes, unrestrained,
unenforced around distractions. Hey, I don't want to hear any laughing.
Trust me, he can do it. You just never tried to make your dog do anything
before. There is no time like the present!
Michael Rowland Copywright 1992
Animal Behavior Education Group
If you are experiencing difficult behavior with your puppy or adult dog,
please contact us. Most problem behaviors can be corrected. We
want to help and encourage a happy and healthy relationship for you and your
dog for many years to come.
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