|
Q: How do I stop my dog from
jumping up on everyone?
A: You have two goals if you want to change the
jumping up behavior:
- Manage the situation so she can’t jump
up
- Teach her a new behavior that is incompatible
with jumping that you can reward so she will
choose the new behavior instead of jumping up
Your training goal is to condition a new behavior
when the doorbell rings or someone knocks on your
door. Now your dog will find you, walk with you to
the door and sit still before you open the door.
To start you’ll need to see that you training
toolbox is properly prepared. You’ll need:
- A friend who knows what you are retraining who
will come to visit,
- A leash on your dog (just being dragged) before
your friend rings the bell
- Lots of wonderful food treats
Even before your friend shows up, you have some
training to do. Begin by practicing having your dog
sit using a hand signal. Have small, tasty,
smelly, easy to chew treats ready. When she sits
on cue, instead of giving her the treats by hand,
toss each treat on the floor a few feet away. Your
dog will have to get up and move to get it the treat. Then
you can ask her to sit again with your hand signal.
And again toss her treat after she sits. This way
each time she moves you can ask for another sit. Practice
this many times near the door - not too close - maybe
4 feet from the door.
Now you will ring the bell or knock and give
your dog the signal to sit – reinforce each
sit. Do this a total of 50 times in two days – not
in one practice session! You’ll know
you are making progress if your dog sits when she
hears the doorbell ring or someone knocking on the
door.
Now have a friend come over (you still have the
leash on your dog.) When your friend rings
the bell go to the door, ask your dog to sit and
then ask your friend to come in. If your dog gets
up, then have her sit back down. You may have
to ask your friend to back up and shut the door if
the dog can’t sit. Then start again.
Repeat this till the dog sits quietly when your friend
comes in.
Once your friend can knock or ring the bell and
the dog just sits still waiting for a cookie its
time to do it with out the leash on. Remember the
jumping behavior didn’t happen over night.
So she needs time to condition a new behavior. She
may fall back into old ways before the jumping extinguishes,
just put the leash back on and back up. Be
patient, don’t loose your temper, and try to
be prepared. A dog with manners is good company! And
just like kids good manners are taught over time
with love, a sense of humor and good treats.
|
