Jumping up is a common behaviour we see with our dogs. 🐶
For most of us its undesirable and can lead to injuries as well as unhappy members of the public, if your muddy dog jumps up at them whilst they are walking to work! 🚶
There are many reasons why they may jump up:
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Wanting to say hello 👋
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Seeking attention 🤪
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Excitement 😄
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Over stimulation ⚡
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Lack of training 🐾
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Anxiety 😨
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Uncertainty ❓
When your dog jumps up to say hello, we tend to make a fuss and give them a big cuddle, this only encourages your dog to jump up more, as its highly reinforcing for them.
To prevent this from being a habit, we can teach them a simple alternative behaviour by keeping all 4 paws on the floor. 🐾
When your dog approaches you to say hello, quickly ask them to sit before they actually get close to you. If your able to, come down to their level to stroke your dogs chest area (some dogs don't like to be stroked on the head as they may be hand shy). Keep the interaction calm, so as not to excite your dog. If you like you can give them some treats to help reinforce this behaviour. 🍗
If your dog tries to jump up, stand up and turn your back to them, don’t talk to them or give them eye contact, wait until they are calm and try again. If they are getting more excited or frustrated, remove yourself from the room to give your dog some time to calm down. 🐕
If you know you have visitors coming round, provide your dog with an outlet for their excitement or energy: a brisk walk or some mental stimulation with interactive toys will help them release excess energy in a positive way. 🥎
Remember to be consistent. Everyone that comes into contact with your dog must do the same exercise to avoid confusing your dog; - that one minute they can jump up to say hello and the next time they can’t. 😵
NEVER punish your dog for jumping up, as it can lead to increased anxiety or confusion. It may also reinforce the jumping up if the dog still sees it as attention. Positive reinforcement builds trust and encourages desirable behaviours without causing stress.
Happy Training 🐾
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