Diagnosis and prognosis

The dog jumps up on the family members or visitors. If family and visitors are consistent, there is an excellent prognosis for resolution of the problem.

Management and treatment

In order to manage this annoying behavior, it is important that everyone follow the same basic rules in training (Table 14.1).

Table 14.1 Management and treatment for the dog that jumps up

Management of dogs that jump on people involves:

Rather than trying to train the pet what not to do (i.e., jump), the focus should be on training the pet desirable greeting behaviors–standing (four on the floor), sitting, lying down, or having the dog wait on its bed or mat. To be successful, the family will need to train these behaviors until the dog reliably learns these basic skills. One measure that may stop some dogs from jumping is to avoid eye contact during greeting. Some dogs will not jump up or, if they do, will quickly stop and move away. It is still important to focus on teaching desirable greeting behavior because, as simple as it sounds, some people are likely to continue to make eye contact and some dogs will jump regardless. Clicker training ensures immediate timing of rewards to quicken the learning process. A daily regimen that includes structured interactions (say please), play, exercise, and multiple short training sessions is important for reducing arousal.

When practicing greetings, it is best to set up situations where the dog will be successful and can learn which greeting behaviors will result in rewards. The owners should set up training sessions with family members or visitors where they can leave and immediately return so the dog gets lots of practice. The dog’s level of excitement during these short departures should be kept to a minimum. During the greeting, the family member or visitor should remain low-key and refrain from giving the pet attention or eye contact. This will make the dog less likely to jump up. The family needs to decide what behaviors they want the dog to learn at greetings and to identify any rewards the dog is getting for jumping up so that these might be removed. The visitor should be told not to give any attention to the dog until it is in the desired position. Attention includes eye contact, touching (even to push the dog away), or talking to the pet. If the pet starts to jump, the visitor should stand up straight and turn sideways, keeping the pet in her peripheral vision but removing all attention. When the dog has resumed the desired behavior the visitor can calmly stroke the pet and give a treat. The owner should continually give small treats as long as the pet maintains the desired behavior. After a few moments of success the owner and dog should walk away. Then the exercise is repeated. Praise the dog using a calm voice when it approaches and keeps its paws on the ground or rear end on the floor. All treats should be offered at the pet’s nose level directly in front of its mouth. If treats are offered above the pet’s nose level or out of reach, this will encourage it to jump or move to get the treat, which is contrary to the purpose of the training session. A leash can be used to ensure that the dog stays on the floor in a sit position rather than jumping up to greet. A desirable sit response can then be reinforced. Under no circumstances should family members give the pet any attention for jumping up, including games that involve jumping up (Figure 14.1).

Figure 14.1 A leash can be used to prevent jumping up during greeting.

When any dog begins to jump up, the best option is quickly to turn or move away until the dog’s feet or rear end are back on the floor. If the dog does not know the command for the desired behavior, a treat can be used to lure the dog into position. Timing is a crucial element of any training session. For the dog to pair the reward with the behavior, the reward should ideally be given while the dog is engaged in the behavior (which is why clicker training is so handy). With effective timing, removing rewards for jumping, and immediately rewarding the desired behavior, the pet will learn what to do. Of course, once the dog has learned to stand, sit, or lie down on cue, this will speed the process as the owner can ask the dog for the behavior and immediately reward the dog’s correct response. Sometimes avoiding and turning away may not be practical, especially when the pet is overly excited or the visitor is unsteady on his or her feet. The use of a head halter can be an effective way to prevent jumping and lead the dog into a calm sit, which can then be rewarded (see Figures 4.18–4.20). Should the pet begin to jump, the owner can pull forward in line with the dog’s nose and up on the leash at the same time, which will bring the dog’s nose up, causing it to sit. Immediate release of tension (negative reinforcement) along with praise or a treat (positive reinforcement) should be given for sitting.

Another option is for the pet to go to a mat, bed, or crate and to use this command when people arrive. The Manners Minder can be particularly useful to train dogs to lie on a mat since it delivers treats by remote control (see Figure 7.5). The device should be set up at the pet’s resting area and the dog trained to go to the area and settle for treats. The mat command can then be used when people arrive or to quiet barking dogs (see below) since the treats can be released remotely with immediate timing when the pet is lying at the site. Proper greeting behavior must also be taught when releasing the dog from its crate or confinement area. Make sure the dog sits and give a treat before release. If necessary, attach a leash or leash and head halter so that the dog leaves the room calmly and under control.

Once the pet has learned the greeting behavior that earns rewards and jumping results in no rewards, the jumping behavior will stop. Punitive or painful corrections such as hitting, a knee to the chest, stepping on feet, pinch collars, or pinning are not appropriate (see Box 14.1, client handout #24, printable version available online, Appendix C, form C.4, client handout #2, and Box 7.2, client handout #23, printable version available online).

Prevention

Jumping up can be prevented by encouraging owners to use reward-based training to teach desired greeting behaviors as early as 8 weeks of age, and ensuring that attention is not given until the puppy greets properly. Success can be achieved by using high-value rewards, head halter training, and avoiding overenthusiastic greetings.

Owners should follow these basic rules: