GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Jumping up against people is one of the most common behavioural problems owners have with their dogs. So, why do dogs do it, and what can you do to stop this?
Local K9 behaviourist and trainer George van Huyssteen explains:
Puppyhood
Puppies are cute, and we love the attention they give us. You bring your puppy home and you love to cuddle him and play with him. He loves the attention you give him and starts asking for more and more.
When he jumps up, you start playing or interacting with him and sometimes pat him on the head. You love to show your new puppy to your friends, and they really enjoy playing with him. After a short while though, your friends get used to your puppy and starts ignoring him.
The puppy is now used to getting all the attention he wants and has learned that jumping up gets him just that.
Your puppy is now six months old, and is becoming a problem. He is a giant breed dog and weighs almost 25 kg. He has already pushed people over, and you fear he might injure someone.
You try to stop him by pushing your knee into his chest, but the behaviour worsens. By now, you get really angry with your dog. You have punished him, scolded him, but to no avail.
Do you have an untrainable dog?
The answer is no. So why does punishment not work?
To your dog, any attention is better than no attention, so even if you push your knee into his chest, you are, in fact, still reinforcing the behaviour. You also got advice that you must ignore the dog when he jumps up, but up to now, that has proven unsuccessful. So what can you do?
Dogs generally do what works for them. If jumping up gets attention, negative or positive, it will be repeated. Don't despair, you need to do just two things.
Ignoring your dog's jumping up by not giving any attention is the first step.
The other important thing is to supply and reinforce an alternate behaviour like sitting or standing with all four paws on the floor. Behaviour that succeed will get repeated, but behaviour that fail will not.
Teaching alternative behaviour
Every time your dog approaches you, ask him to sit and give him a treat. Should he jump up, turn your back on him and ignore him. Should he approach and offers a sit, give him a treat or reward and all the attention he used to get when he jumped up.
The secret to success is that everybody must do the same thing. Friends and family should help with this, and it will take time. There is no quick fix, as the behaviour is entrenched.
All of this can be avoided by teaching your puppy an alternate behaviour from the start. From the day you bring your puppy home, teach him that jumping up gets him nothing, but sitting or standing gets him rewards, praise and attention.
Prevention is better (and easier) than cure.
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