Stop dog jumping up

With jumping up, we need to look at how we may have accidentally reinforced the behaviour itself – have we on occasions given our dogs love and pets and fuss when they have jumped up at us? Have we taught them that to seek access to fuss, they must first jump up at us?

Step 1: what's the reward?

There are many techniques to changing jumping up behaviours and the skill lies in identifying what it is that the dog is finding rewarding at the time and using that to our advantage.  

Step 2: Reframe the reward

You don’t have to be shouting “No”, you don’t have to be turning your back on them, you most definitely don’t need to be pushing them down. You just need to reframe how they access their reinforcer.

Step 3: reward what you want

If we know they are seeking attention and fuss, then before they have jumped up, drop down to their level and deliver the fuss. Notice when they are doing the right thing and reinforce it. If they are walking past and all four feet are on the floor, call them to you and reinforce that. Something we are poor at is noticing when our wonderful dogs are being good and getting things right.

Step 4: Consistency is key 

We all like good feedback when we are doing well, so notice it and reinforce it. This is mostly the key to maintaining good behaviour and is the thing we mostly forget to do! Avoid inadvertently rewarding your dog for jumping up. If your dog jumps up, just act neutral and boring. You don't need to punish them or turn your back on them. Focus on rewarding the behaviour you want.