How to get your dog to STOP JUMPING UP

When a behavior is reinforced, it will increase in frequency.

When a behavior is not reinforced, it will decrease in frequency.

Getting your pup to stop jumping up is so simple and so easy that most people don't think it'll work  -- and so they don't do it.  But if you're like most people, you are training your puppy to jump up.   You are turning to your pup, talking to him, yelling at him or – worst of all – petting him whenever he jumps on you.  This is most likely true if he's under 5 months of age because he's so cute you can't help it. 

If your puppy is jumping up, and you don't think you're giving him attention for jumping up, you are in denial.   Set up a videotape recorder for a few days to record you and your family with the pup.  You'll see.

The best way to stop your puppy from jumping is to simply ignore him when he does.  Turn away,  fold your arms and stand still while he jumps.  When he gives up and is  back on all fours, quickly get down to his level and give him attention until he jumps up again.  And when he jumps, quickly stand up again and turn away until he stops jumping.  Repeat several times until he stops jumping.  In this exercise you are reinforcing the desired behavior (not jumping up) and ignoring the undesired behavior (jumping up).    Practice this every time he jumps up, particularly when you are coming through the front door or entry door and when you are outside or somewhere in public.

When friends and family visit, BE FIRM WITH THEM and don't let them talk you into letting your pup jump on them!  If necessary (and it usually is), leave a note with these jumping instructions on the outside of the door and speak sternly to them if they can't comply with your rules.  Tell them this is not about them or what's OK with them – it's about the next elderly person who visits and what's OK with them.

Note if you have kids:  Tell your children to "be a tree" and show them this method.  It's also helpful if the child can face a wall while he's "being a tree" for stability and to stop the pup from jumping into his face. 

That's it. 

Well, OK, you can do more if you are so inclined:  In addition (not as a substitute) to ignoring jumping as described above, the following  jumping exercises are also very effective:

Put your puppy on a 4-6 foot leash, and tie the end securely to a doorknob .  Get some food in your pocket and move about 15 feet away from the pup.  Walk toward the puppy enthusiastically as if to greet him enthusiastically.  As soon as he jumps up, stop and take a step backwards away from the pup.  When pup stops jumping, move toward him again in the same manner and move backwards a step the instant he starts to jump.  Continue this method of approach until you can touch the pup without him jumping up.  Praise and feed from that position, moving back again if he jumps up in excitement.

Variation to train pup not to jump on people while you walk him:  Substitute yourself for the doorknob and have someone else approach in the manner described above.  When the approaching person gets all the way to your pup, you praise and feed him.  This teaches him how to nicely greet people on walks, and to pay attention to you rather than them. 

Note:  Although many pups will voluntarily sit as they learn this, you should not give the Sit command in these exercises, nor should you require it for praise and food.  If he sits, fine, go ahead and reinforce.  But if he simply stays on all fours, reinforce that.  The point is to teach him to not jump.  Sit will come later, and you could easily dilute the power of the word Sit by repeating it ineffectively in a jumping scenario.