Puppy Jumping up? Want to avoid “ohhhhh my word! a huuuuman” moment?

Want to avoid those "ohhhhh my word!!! a huuuman!" moments?

Size doesn't matter!........Whether it's a tiny yorkie pup or a little-gonna-be-mahoosive german shepherd, The decision has to be made

Am i going to let pup jump up one everyone including kids, prams, pensioners.......or not!

Why Do Puppies Jump Up?

Puppies jump up to greet people because it’s their way of seeking attention. From a young age, they naturally try to get closer to our faces, which often results in jumping. However, while we might appreciate their enthusiasm, not everyone does. Training your puppy to greet people politely is crucial for both their safety and the comfort of others.

Preventing Puppy Jumping in the Park

Puppies are just so flipping cute! People will undoubtably want to approach your puppy and say hello. But it’s so important to establish boundaries early on. This is your puppy! It's not rude to politely explain and ask people to help you out on your training journey. You don't have to let your puppy interact with every approaching pair of hands. Here's how you can manage these interactions:

1. Train a Calm Sit Before Greeting: The first step is teaching your puppy to sit calmly before greeting people. Whenever someone approaches, ask your puppy to sit and wait for a few seconds before allowing them to interact. Reward them with a treat if they stay seated.

2. Ask Others to Appropriately Approach Your Puppy: Not everyone knows how to greet a dog properly. Politely ask people to let your puppy sit before interacting. You might say something like, "Would you mind waiting for him to sit before you greet him? We’re working on his manners."

3. Stay Calm: Puppies often mirror our energy. If you stay calm and composed during greetings, your puppy is more likely to do the same.The "Ohhhh my word!!! let me smooch his little face" greetings may be a little over whelming! 

4. Keep Encounters Short: Prolonged excitement can lead to jumping or other unwanted behaviours. Keep greetings short and always end them while your puppy is still calm.

Get the kids involved! 

Parks are full of kids! Excitable kiddy kids which feeding into excitable giddy puppies! If parents are happy, asking the child to "help train your puppy" by standing super still and calm whilst you bring puppy over. 

Greeting Visitors at Home

When visitors come into your home, it can be overwhelming for your puppy, often leading to jumping up in excitement. Here’s how to handle it:

1. Practice Sit at the Door: Have your puppy practice sitting by the door before visitors arrive. Reinforce the sit command with treats or praise to help them understand that staying seated leads to good things.

2. Use a Lead for Extra Control: Control and management! If your puppy is particularly excitable, use a lead to maintain control when visitors arrive. This helps prevent them from darting toward the door and jumping up on guests. Stair gates can come in useful too.

3. Teach the ‘Off’ Command: The "Off" command is a helpful way to redirect your puppy from jumping. If your puppy jumps up, calmly say "Off" and guide them into a sit position. Reward them only when all four paws are on the ground.

4. Encourage Guests to Ignore Jumping: Ask visitors to ignore your puppy when they jump up. By not giving attention to the behaviour, your puppy will learn that jumping doesn’t get them what they want. Turn and reinforce with cuddles when calm behaviour is presented.

Replacing Jumping with Desirable Behaviour (Mutually exclusive behaviour)

The key to solving jumping issues is replacing it with more desirable behaviour to ensure we done inadvertently reinforce the wrong behaviour or build frustration. Here are a few simple training tips based on IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) ‘Easy Peasy’ principles:

• Reward Calmness: Whenever your puppy stays calm and doesn’t jump, make sure to reward them. This could be with treats, praise, or affection. Over time, your puppy will associate calm behaviour with good things.

• Teach an Alternative Greeting: Instead of jumping up, teach your puppy to greet people with a sit or by offering their paw. Practice this with different people in various situations so that your puppy generalises the behaviour.

• Practice Recall: A solid recall is a great way to prevent jumping in public. If you notice your puppy getting overly excited, recall them back to you before they get the chance to jump. Reward them when they return calmly.

• Use Redirection: If your puppy is in an excitable mood, redirect their energy into a different activity. Throwing a toy or engaging them in a brief training session can help shift their focus away from jumping.

Conclusion

Preventing puppy jumping up is all about consistency and patience. By reinforcing calm behaviours, teaching proper greetings, and asking for the cooperation of those around you, you can set your puppy up for success. Remember, replacing unwanted behaviours like jumping with a more desirable one is key. Whether in the park or at home, helping your puppy to greet others calmly is an investment in their lifelong manners.

If you need personalised guidance or further help with puppy training, feel free to reach out to me. Let’s work together to ensure your puppy grows up with the best possible habits!