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How to Stop Your Dog Jumping Up on People
This is a common problem many dog owners need to work with their dog to overcome. Dogs jump up because they are excited or because they are nervous. When they get excited, they tend to keep jumping, as if the trip across the threshold is all the excitement they are going to have. A lot of dogs simply don’t know when to stop. This is something that most owners can easily work on.
If you have a new dog or a puppy the only way to prevent this is by active training. But a word of caution, it is easy to get things wrong, to unwittingly train your dog to exactly the opposite of what you want. This is quite normal, but if you understand the basics of training, you can minimize and correct mistakes.
Top Tips
If you want to know how to stop your dog from jumping up on people, then here are some tips that you can use. These tips are not a cure-all, but they will help you be a better dog owner and a better dog trainer. This is not easy, but it is necessary for you to be able to help your dog live a happy life.
For one, it’s quite a difficult thing to do. If the dog has been allowed to jump on people in the past, it will take a while to re-train him or her as dogs learn by experience, and when learning that this is no longer acceptable your dog may be confused or rebel. However, you can show your dog it is fun not to jump up on people by using reinforcing techniques.
Using Reinforcing Techniques
These techniques can apply to any kind of training you want to undertake with your dog, not just to stop your dog jumping up. A “reinforcer” is anything your dog likes. Some behavior reinforcers, such as food treats and toys, are more powerful than others, such as kind words and attention which should be coupled with the more powerful reinforcers. Eventually once a behavior is learned and entrenched you will be able to command with your voice alone. As a side note, smaller dog treats are better as you will keep your dog’s attention rather than being distracted by food which takes a long time to eat.
Be a Leader Not a Bully
Remember not to be a bully, there is no need to shout at or berate your dog. You will win your dogs unconditional loyalty by being an effective leader and teacher who relies on positive reinforcement techniques.
Consistency is Key
Decide on what voice commands you want to use, such as “sit”, “lie down”, “stay” and stick with them. If you use “lie down” in one training session and “be still” in the next it will confuse your dog. If you are consistent with your commands your dog will eventually catch on.
Check your Tone
When you teach your dog the basic commands. Make sure that you use a friendly, confident and encouraging tone. Displaying impatience, frustration or anger will cause a reaction in your dog and it will make it harder for your dog to learn.
Keep Training Short But Sweet
Dogs tend to learn better in training segments that are 10 minutes or less (unless you have a very focused attentive dog) and a shorter time makes it easier for your dog to process the learning they have experienced without their minds wandering.
Intermittent Re-Inforcement
After a while it would be worthwhile to offer treats intermittently. Once you have taught your dog the basics, bolster compliance by offering a treat intermittently. Keep your dog guessing about when he will be rewarded and how much and he will work harder for the tasty “jackpot”
Vary Your Location
Your dog may perfectly obey your commands in your home, but misbehave and ignore you at the dog park. Set her up for success by teaching her the basics in your home and then teaching her in various settings. This way, she understands that she needs to listen to you, no matter where the two of you are.
Wrapping it Up
Good dog training should also include doing exercises that will help you build your dog’s self-confidence. Dogs can become aggressive when they’re not happy with what they’re doing. They can even hurt their owners, especially if the owner hasn’t taught them to properly interact with people.
To be able to train your dog, you must make sure that you’re willing to go the extra mile to get your dog to be a well-behaved dog. It may seem like a difficult task, but once you get your dog’s attention, then it will be easier to train your dog. Remember that you don’t need to be an expert in dog training, just make sure that you are willing to learn the basics and apply them to be able to train your dog properly.
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