The Good, the Bad and the Jumping Puppy!

Who doesn’t want to stop a puppy from jumping at the wrong times in all the wrong situations?

I will outline some very effective methods to help encourage your dog to stop pouncing around like a kangaroo when it’s not appropriate.

I’ve written extensively on puppy potty training, but it’s safe to say that puppy jumping and biting are common problems we all face in the early stages of puppy development.

First, let me point out that none of these are actual problems in the first place because they’re all normal puppy behaviors. Puppy jumping can be a hassle and annoying but it’s very normal and can be addressed using positive training techniques.

Dominance – Excuse Me?

First off, forget everything you’ve heard about your puppy jumping to exert dominance. I cannot believe how much information there is out there stating that if your dog is jumping on you then you have to call martial law and prepare your home and family for a calculated canine takeover.

Let me get this straight. You want ME to show my little 15-Pounder who’s the boss and devise a strategy to put him back into his sub-ordinate role before his plans to control my life come to fruition?

Give Me a Break!

In extremely rare cases a dog might mount or jump on another dog to display dominance. A dog that is an alpha will clearly let other dogs know he’s dominant. Furthermore, he’ll take down any dog that might question his dominance. Jumping around to be bossy hardly fits the equation.

I know many that will disagree with the above. I’m NOT saying dogs can’t be dominant or that your dog isn’t dominant. It is very, extremely unlikely! It would be ill advised to tag puppy jumping as a dominance issue, which encourages you to use all kinds of negative methods that are detrimental to your pup’s well being.

Rest assured that your puppy is not going to take you down or dominate your family! You don’t have to BE the boss but you do have to let your puppy know there are inappropriate times to jump and other times when it might not be ok. You should definitely be a good role model and a loving teacher.

You simply have to present some guidelines and rules to help them behave in a manner that is acceptable inside your home, around your family and others.

No Punishment, No Pain and No Misconceptions about Doggy Dominance.

The Jumping Puppy Agenda

Puppies jump because they’re excited, eager and love to greet us with bunches of love. When it comes to greeting rituals, dogs are something else!

Dogs are pack animals and love being in close proximity to their social circle. However, the modern human-dog relationship is filled with separation. Most of us separate and reunite with our dogs several times during any given week, which only adds more oomph to greeting time.

This might explain why they can sometimes get out of hand when they meet and greet their loved ones.

There’s absolutely no question about it – Jumping Puppies are Very Cute! We tolerate and even encourage it when they’re very young then we try to nip it in the bud when they get older.

“I had a Jumping Up marathon that lasted several weeks when I was growing up and I’m Proud of it!” } Halle

Once you have a full grown pup on your hands, random jumping or annoying leaping is not so cute anymore, especially with larger breeds.

Here are just some of the not-so-cool consequences of a manic four-legged jumper:

- Soils or Might Damage your Clothes.
- Dangerous – knock a Child or Elderly person over.
- Really Annoying if you’re trying to Do Something.
- Not Respectful if Strangers or Visitors enter your Home.
- Makes Outdoor Activities Difficult.

But what about jumping on furniture and kitchen counters? The reason is generally associated to a history of reinforcement or a lack of something better to do.

The jumping puppy agenda is not filled with dominance, but with honest reasons for engaging in such behavior. Before we explore ways to deal with this matter, let’s go over actions you absolutely need to stray away from.

Unnecessary Solutions

Saying there’s a lot of bad advice on this topic is an understatement! Here are 5 techniques that are definitely NOT HBD Recommended. Let me point out that many of them DO work but can be incredibly dangerous and harmful to your puppy.

1. The Knee Block. Putting your knee up to block and potentially harm your puppy is never a good idea. You can seriously injure your dog, especially with deep-chested breeds like Weimaraners and Boxers. You might read about justified knee blocking without kicking but as long as your knee is up and blocking you can hurt your dog.

2. Yanking the Leash. This when you Keep your puppy on leash and abruptly yank your dog for jumping up when it’s not ok. Directing and gently pulling on the leash is ok, yanking with anger or to enforce you leadership is not required.

3. Paw Pinching. Squeezing or holding your puppy’s paws to initiate an undesirable behavior is pure punishment. Imagine doing this, then trying to train your puppy to allow you to trim his nails.

4. Loud Noise Containers and Yelling. Doing any of this does nothing to offer your puppy any instructive feedback. Yes, they’re a different species but there many ways to communicate with your puppy without abusing their sensitive ears with loud noises.

5. Spray Bottles and Water Guns. Again not necessary and very negative! Also very archaic if you ask me!

Like I mentioned, many of the traditional and popular methods above WILL work but are completely unnecessary and can cause all kinds of damage. There are of course other punitive methods but I think I’ve covered some of the most common.

If you’ve used any of these methods in the past or using them now, don’t fret. I don’t blame you. Most of the information you find on this topic seems to revolve around these methods. All you have to do is stop using them and start using what I’m outlining in this article.

As a responsible dog owner, you should always use positive techniques that require no pain to achieve desired results.

Priming your Puppy!

Before we get right into the solutions, let me say that teaching your puppy a few simple cues like ‘Sit’ and ‘Down’ will help a great deal in achieving successful results. If you haven’t started training your puppy to offer behaviors on command, then the time is now. There’s nothing quite like it plus it only takes a few days at most to prepare and teach your puppy to do a few simple behaviors.

I highly recommend reading our Clicker Training for Dogs articles if you need input on where to start. Plus clicker training will help you establish a ‘no-reward’ marker which will only help broaden your communication spectrum when it comes to dealing with a puppy that is jumping up all the time.

I’m going to be referencing some cues like ‘Sit’ or ‘Down’ in this article since they are a wonderful alternatives to jumping. One of the smartest things you can do is teach your dog behaviors that are completely exclusive to jumping. Please get hooked up with some clicker dog training tools and some high-value treats. Devote a few days to getting your puppy sitting and lying down on cue.

Once you get better with your training skills, you can also teach your dog to jump up on command, which will do wonders for helping your furry friend control the behavior of jumping.

Keep in mind that working with jumping puppies is obviously a lot easier than working with full grown dogs. Starting when they’re young is key! Consistency is also vital. It’s never too late to work with your dog and positive changes can be achieved fairly quickly if your approach is right.

It’s time to dig into how you can actually stop a puppy from jumping.

Puppy Jumping Answers

You might believe your puppy is jumping to annoy the hell out of you but in all honesty, puppies jump because there’s something in it for them. We might not see it but they generally jump because something makes it worthwhile.

They might jump up on you and others for love and attention. Puppies might jump to bite – in order to satisfy the urge to mouth when teething. They might do it to grab something or to even pass the time when they’re bored.

The general rule is that there is an underlying reward for their action.

This goes for many of the reasons why puppies and dogs do what they do. This is also why understanding and harnessing the power of Positive Reinforcement in Dog Training can help a great deal in resolving undesirable puppy jumping.

Your best course of action is to tip the scale and make No Jumping more rewarding than Jumping.

Puppy Jumping up on You…

Whenever you enter your home or re-connect with your puppy, be calm and ignore any inappropriate behavior including any jumping up to incite a greeting from you. If you praise, touch, use eye contact or acknowledge, then you’re rewarding the behavior. You want to wait until the puppy is chill and relaxed so that you can reward the desired action.

If you’re working with a new puppy then the process of teaching your newbie that jumping does nothing will be fairly quick. If you’re dealing with an older pup or veteran hopper, you’ll have to be persistent and patient. It might even take upwards of 10-15 minutes before the dog stops trying. Either way you wait until the puppy is calmly sitting or quietly waiting for some kind of acknowledgment without jumping.

If you feel the need to react physically or if you’re getting bombarded with jumps you might want to cross your arms and turnaround or move around to avoid being stuck brewing in one spot. Go on with other tasks. Do whatever you would normally do after entering your home until the puppy is calm and relaxed.

Once you have the desired behavior, you can give your dog a very tasty treat followed with some hugs and petting. You can also use verbal praise. You should scooch down to your dog’s level to discourage the need to jump. In the beginning, don’t overdo the praise or you might excite your puppy into jumping. Just very nicely reward the behavior and keep it moving.

If you’ve got your puppy working for markers, you can ask your puppy to sit or lie down when you arrive home to earn a treat and praise. If they jump, you don’t reward until they’ve delivered the requested behavior on cue. If your pup is being excessive you can gently say “oh-that’s-no-good” or “no-no” to let them know they’re off the mark. This will enlighten your furball to sit in order to earn rewards. This will teach your four-legged buddy the awesomeness of a veritable Treat and Great!

This is the beginning of the Four-Paws on the Ground Rule! You never accept anything less and never reward or give in to jumping when it’s not appropriate. This is sometimes easier said than done but essential.

Jumping on Others…

Most dog owners have no problem graduating from getting their dog to stop jumping on them. It’s jumping on others that is often very difficult to tame.

The key for other people is that they must follow the same puppy jumping rules I’ve outlined above. Ignore the jumping and reward the non-jumping.

The problem usually stems from friends and family that won’t adhere to the jumping puppy policy. You have to be strict with your fellow humans. Consistency is everything! There should be no grey-zone for your puppy. If jumping doesn’t work for you, it shouldn’t work with others.

Ask your guests to ignore the puppy until the puppy sits or waits. At this point, they can bend down and greet or offer a treat. Remember that getting down low for greeting enables puppy kisses without having the puppy hopping to reach high. You can also treat your dog for being good when guests arrive. All of this helps your puppy understand what you really want from him.

You should also take this a step further and set up training sessions with friends and family. Have them come over and give them high-value treats. Ask them to leave and come back in say 5-10 minutes. Upon return, they ignore and wait for the puppy to sit or be calm at which point they kindly treat and offer praise.

A few planned training sessions can do wonders to reinforce the desired behavior. Planned sessions are also far better than unprepared and unexpected visits that might throw a wrench into the teaching process.

If needed, you can also tether your pup to your waist or keep him on leash. The leash is not intended for yanking. You can use it to kindly direct him off if he jumps on guests. You can or might have to use timeouts, which we’ll discuss in a bit.

Once your puppy stops jumping with a few other people, you’ll notice a shift in his behavior whenever just about anyone comes over.

Please remember that all of the above is a process. It can take some time but it works and is the ideal way to get your puppy to calm down without hopping around whenever people visit your home.

Jumping Up on Others Outside…

Using well timed rewards will do wonders to help your puppy use better judgment when meeting other humans.

Right before you allow your puppy to greet someone, ask or wait for him to sit. You can use a treat to get his attention in the beginning but eventually just being able to greet someone will be reinforcing enough for your dog to offer a sit automatically.

This too can all be done with planned exercises in a controlled setting. A few minutes of training with a friend can yield great results.

Say you meet someone and have your dog sit calmly before meeting. Say you then stand around and have a discussion with your friend while your puppy chills or explores the surroundings. Then all of sudden, your puppy gets excited and jumps on your friend.

Jumping After the Greet…

First off, any random jumping after the meeting can and will happen especially with excitable puppies.

When this occurs, don’t completely ignore it but don’t worry too much about it. Your puppy is young and needs times to learn good manners. If you stick to everything I’ve mentioned so far, he will grow out of random happy jumping. He might also need more physical or mental exercise to calm the spirits and channel all that wonderful energy. Don’t get upset or punish your pup in any way.

One thing you could do if the jumping persists is, in a kind tone, let your dog know that jumping up is a “no-no” and (if needed) shorten the lead or take a few steps back so that the person you’re talking to is not within reach until you’re done chatting.

Jumping on Furniture…

Again, positive reinforcement for not jumping is key. You should ideally never give your puppy free run of the house in the beginning so that you can slowly cultivate good house etiquette. This can be done by crate training your puppy and slowly easing your pup into other situations, including how to behave around furniture.

In the early stages of puppyhood, your mini beast is just exploring and learning about all of the wonderful stuff that humans possess. Sofas and Tables are really cool and interesting. Your job is to teach the boundaries and limits within your home.

The best approach is by tethering your puppy or keeping him on leash. Reinforce desired behavior with treats and praise. If the puppy jumps up on a table or sofa that is not permitted, gently direct them off.

Always Reward Handsomely for Doing Anything Right!

Your puppy will understand what you expect of him if you’re clear and reliable with your instructions. This goes for everyone in your household. You can’t make exceptions and expect your dog to decipher what is right and wrong.

If you’re dealing with an older puppy that isn’t crate trained and enjoys jumping up all over the place, then you should seriously consider crate training your pup and slowly introducing him to your upgraded version of house etiquette 101! You can also just keep your pup on leash and reward with treats and lots of praise for appropriate behavior.

You can also remedy the jumping with practice training sessions. Keep your dog on leash and approach the furniture that is prone to incite hopping and see what happens. If the dog jumps, say “that’s-no-no” and gently lead him off. If he doesn’t jump, reward with praise and treats. Allow for the dog to have a moment to decide what he wants to do. This will help him learn what works by his own free will. Make it fun, make it a game. Your puppy is eager to learn how to become a productive member of the household.

Sit down with everyone that lives with you and devise a plan on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable and stay consistent. You never have to punish, hurt or yell at your puppy. All you have to do is provide clear information and instructive feedback combined with rewards for doing the right thing. Then all you need is repetition, consistency and patience to complete the equation.

If your puppy is jumping up to snatch goodies or steal food from kitchen counters, then you have a little more work cut out for you.

Stopping the Springy-Legged Bandit!

Puppies that jump and find things are a tough to train because they’ve usually had a strong history of being reinforced in two major ways:

1. They’ve managed to find and chew a treasure (household item) or eat something tasty that they weren’t supposed to eat. Finding valuable stuff is pure gold to a puppy.

2. They get to play “Catch me If You Can” when YOU find out, which is a lot of fun. This game is so fun, that it’s definitely worth jumping up and grabbing more stuff to initiate games on their command. The puppy has pretty much training you at this point.

If you’re dealing with any of the above, you have to clear out any of the hot spots from paper items to food and household goodies that might be encouraging your puppy to jump.

You want to ensure 0% success at being able to reach or grab anything. This might seem difficult but it’s only temporary to help solve the matter.

See what happens.

If your dog grabs something, don’t chase. That’s what he wants. Ask him to give it up or walk towards him or strategically corner him (without scaring him of course) until you can calmly take it back. You can also use a cue like ‘Drop’ (if he knows the cue) and praise him when he does. Of course, if you do this enough times, you might end up with a puppy that grabs stuff just to drop and earn rewards. Choose your steps wisely and never punish or scold your dog.

Again, you can focus on controlling the environment, giving access to a couple of rooms and using crate training to establish nice house manners. You should also integrate healthy physical and mental exercise to keep your puppy from falling into bad habits.

I know I’ve made a point about training with markers a few times already but I can’t tell you how much it can do to strengthen the bond and communication you have with your dog.

Please take a moment to read our articles on Positive Reinforcement and Clicker Dog Training.

Always remember to ‘keep the four-paws on the ground’ rule in full effect at all times.

Backup Plan

What do you do if you’ve got a puppy that tends to spend the better part of his day on two feet after you’ve done a lot of the above? He understands what you want or has had some reinforced training sessions and for the most part, seems to grasp that jumping up in your home and on humans is not acceptable. Yet, from time to time, he pushes a little too much or doesn’t seem to want to give in or listen.

The first course of action with notorious jumpers is to adequately exercise without over exercising or stressing his growing body. You must give your puppy nice long walks and training for mental stimulus. As well, provide healthy chewtoys stuffed with goodies, anything to keep him calm and happy! This will help take the wind out of those bouncy legs.

Another thing you can do when needed is kindly instruct your puppy or use timeouts. Instruction can be a vocal “that’s-a-no-no” or “that’s-not-nice” and if necessary gently direct your puppy to a crate or designated timeout spot for a few minutes.

I would only recommend doing this if you’ve had some successful jumping related training sessions or see improvement in your puppy’s jumping etiquette. The reason being that if you give timeouts and your puppy has no idea why, then it’s kind of pointless.

We believe that fair timeouts can be a priceless training tool that will not physically or mentally harm your puppy. YES you never want the crate associated with anything negative. But for peaceful timeouts – it’s Fine! Your dog will not dislike the crate after timeouts if she’s already crated trained.

Again – don’t use timeouts unless you have a good working relationship with your puppy and have had some history of positive reinforcement during your no-jumping trials.

When all else Fails…

If you’re in dire need of hands-on help, don’t hesitate to contact a dog trainer or canine behavior specialist in your area. Always look for professionals that specialize in positive reinforcement and modern training methods. You might want to re-consider any trainer that encourages the ‘Unnecessary Solutions’ outlined above to stop puppy jumping.

98% is as Good as It Gets!

Remember that all behavior is conditional to many variables. Once your puppy is all good, you may find that he occasionally jumps for no readily apparent reason.

Maybe, you haven’t had a chance to train, play or walk your dog for a few days and he might find other ways to pass the time. Maybe he’ll get so excited at the sight of a new toy that he might bust a jump. All of this is normal and expected.

“Every now and then, I get so excited when family comes over that I do a half-hop-jump-banana-twist to greet even though I’m not really allowed. It Feels so Good!” } Halle

You just have to keep working and helping your dog learn to master his jump control. Not much more too it. I can assure you that any sudden jumping is not an attempt to dominate your or your home.

If you tune into all of the methods I’ve outlined in this article, you’ll be able to completely solve or at the very least, see huge improvements with your puppy jumping woes within just a couple of weeks.

Good luck with your mission to keep Four Paws on the Ground!

Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Are in the middle of jumping puppy madness? What’s your ideal strategy for dealing with a jumping puppy?

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