Jumping

Some clients tell me that they love coming home because their dog greets them excitedly by jumping and barking. They feel this proves their dog’s love for the family. But in a natural setting, dogs don’t bark, yelp, or jump on pack mates in a burst of affection. Dogs that greet their owners in this way are trying to communicate. But rather than professing undying love, they are probably trying to tell you that they are lonely and bored; their needs as a dog are not being met.  

This excitement is your dog’s way of burning off the excess energy that has been building throughout the day. Don’t be disappointed by this revelation. Dogs simply don’t use emotions like people do. Remember, they’re dogs. To love a dog means you must treat him like an animal, which means fulfilling him as Nature intended him to be fulfilled. 

How to greet your dog if you are entering a house without a human home: 

1. Enter your home and allow your dog to use his nose.  That means, do not distract him by talking by touching or petting him or acknowledging him (making eye contact).   This is especially true of a dog that has any type of separation anxiety, you are feeding into his anxious behavior if you immediately acknowledge him. 

2. Don’t stand still as you enter but push past your dog; completely ignoring his presence. 

3. Go about your business, change clothes, make coffee, etc.  After about 20-30 minutes, your dog should be completely over the fact that you are home and now has gone about his own business, this is when you are allowed to acknowledge the dog.  But not by going over and kissing him; calling him to you, commanding him to sit and then showing affection. 

4. Affection should be calm petting, no talking and no eye contact. This way your dog remains calm. 

If there is someone home: 

1. The person who is home should put the dog on a collar and leash.  Whoever is home with the dog now becomes the trainer.  They must ignore both the television and their cell phone. 

2. As the person enters, walk over with the dog on leash and allow the dog to smell the person entering.  If he starts to jump or get excited, correct and then command him to sit. 

3. The person entering should still make no effort to touch, talk or make eye contact with the dog. 

4. After about 20-30 minutes, your dog should be completely over the fact that this person is home and now has gone about his own business.  Now this person is allowed to acknowledge the dog by calling him to them, commanding him to sit and then showing affection. 

5. Affection should be calm petting, no talking and no eye contact. This way your dog remains calm. 

If you are having a party:   

1. Do not have the dog there when you are greeting your guests, excitement is in the air and the dog will feed into that excitement and be unable to control the jumping or focus on a sit command.  Have your dog in his crate or yard and once everyone is there and seated, then bring the dog out on a collar and leash.  He is now entering a calm environment. 

2. Walk over with the dog on leash and allow the dog to smell each person.  If he starts to jump or get excited, correct and command him to sit; move on to the next person. 

3. Your guests still should make no effort to touch, talk or make eye contact with the dog. 

4. After about 20-30 minutes, your dog should be completely over the party and now has gone about his own business.  Now your guests can say hello by calling him to them, commanding him to sit and then showing affection. 

5. Affection should be calm petting, no talking and no eye contact. This way your dog remains calm. 

Conclusion: 

All of this will go much smoother if your dog has been adequately exercised via a walk and has had mental stimulation in the form of training before anyone comes home.  Maybe your dog walker can come over one hour before you arrive home from work; maybe you can take your dog for a long walk before your spouse comes home or before your guests arrive.  But please, make sure it’s a training walk with your dog walking next to you and not smelling every tree along the way.  (Read my other article titled “The Walk”).  There is also a training video on my website that will illustrate jumping on people, furniture and counter tops!