When your puppy jumps on you when they are small, you probably see it as cute or a sign of affection. As your puppy grows larger, however, that habit of jumping becomes much less ideal! Today we line out a few of our favorite ways to redirect your puppy’s attention and curb the jumping habit for good.
Ignore, Don’t Reward
Most likely your puppy or dog is jumping up on you to gain your attention. They know that when your focus is on them, they get all the loving in the world! The first step to deterring your puppy from jumping on you is to ignore the behavior. Rather than acknowledging your puppy, even to scold them for jumping, simply ignore them and continue on with what you were doing. This may not be 100% effective at first, but it begins to teach your dog that jumping does not make you stop what you are doing to turn your attention on them.
The best way to make this work is to turn away from your dog as they jump up onto you. Avoid eye contact and simply turn the other direction away from, not into, your dog. Your dog may follow you and continue to try and gain your affection, but do not reward your dog until they have all four feet on the ground and are waiting patiently.
Give Your Dog a Distraction
We LOVE that our dogs are excited to greet us at the door, but not so much when that greeting is accompanied by bad behavior such as jumping. If the ignoring method isn’t vibing with your pup, try distracting them from their own excitement.
You can use a command, such as sit, to redirect your dog’s attention. If your dog has yet to learn those basic commands, you can also use a toy to distract them. Start greeting your dog at the door with the same toy every day. Soon they will associate your arrival with that toy and will happily meet you at the door with their favorite toy in hand… err… mouth! You can also make a game out of playing with the toy in the beginning, but be careful of following the same routine so often that your dog associates your arrival home with immediate playtime.
Incorporate Plenty of Playtime
Your new puppy is a bustling bundle of joy that needs to have the chance to burn off his or her energy! Be sure that you are setting time out of your day for designated playtime. Whether you are taking your new pup for walks, enjoying a romp around the backyard or meeting up with friends at the dog park, giving your dog plenty of opportunities to burn some energy will lessen their likelihood of jumping.
Puppies are full of energy and it is our job as their owners to set them up for success. If you have a particularly playful puppy and don’t have the time to let them unwind, you will struggle with getting them to break habits such as jumping or adventuring around the house. We highly recommend the use of a certified dog trainer throughout your dog’s lifespan. Not only will these trainers help you teach your dog much-needed basic commands, but it will also give you and your dog the chance to burn off some steam and take home some great mental and physical exercises.
Puppies are a TON of fun, you just need to take the simple steps necessary to break potential bad habits in the making. As always, one of the perks to purchasing a puppy from Archview is our never-ending support in your new life with your four-legged friend. We are happy to offer bits of advice, recommend a trainer or brainstorm over an issue with each of our Archview families. So what are you waiting for? Check out our available puppies today!
I live in Australia and have a 10 week old labradoodle. I just wanted to let you know that your site is excellent. Even though I had excellent hints and tips from breeder on what to do, your website has so much information and detail. I am constantly looking up queries and concerns I have and you have answers for ‘everything’ concisely and clearly.
We have always had poodles, in the past, who were so different to train…… So thank you for providing this detailed information to a novice labradoodle owner.