Why do dogs jump up?
To get attention; to get you to look at him, talk to him and touch him.

When he was a puppy he was irresistible, tottering on his hind legs trying to get your attention. You responded by bending over and cooing what a goooood puppy he was. Now he's a half grown, over-stimulated adolescent and it just isn't cute anymore. But it's not his fault. You TAUGHT him to do it!

Your dog must learn to sit for petting.

Never pet your dog when he is standing on his hindlegs, whether he's put his muddy mitts directly on you or has them propped on the couch or the arm of a chair. Pet your dog only when both front feet and his bottom are firmly planted on the floor. IF your dog knows what he is supposed to do, when he starts to jump up, tell him "OFF!" in an abrupt, "I can't believe you did that!" tone of voice. Withdraw all attention. Now remind him to "Sit!" and praise warmly, bend down to his level to help him remain seated. Unless you have spent HOURS proofing this exercise, he doesn't really understand!

When you arrive home and your dog goes ballistic, jumping all over you, withdraw all attention.
Fold your arms, look at the ceiling. Ignore the dog completely, pretend there is no dog - no looking, talking or touching. (He will be very hard to ignore!) If necessary, stand facing a corner and do not come out until the dog is quiet and calm. If the frenzy begins again as you come out of the corner, go back. The dog will soon discover that the only way to get you out of the corner, is to stop jumping and barking. If you reach to pet him and he jumps up - withhold the petting until you get the sit. If he gets obnoxious, go back in the corner or leave the room!

......

The look-away ~ dogs use it and puppies understand it.
Notice Louie isn't pushing, shoving or even NOTICING this rowdy pup.
To notice would be to acknowledge and engage the pup. Eventually the pup gives up.
Notice that the pup is now mimicking what her mentor is doing. This is leadership.

Photos courtesy of Bea Wachter

Practice, practice, practice.
Just because your dog will sit for you, doesn't mean he will for visitors.
Practice "sit for petting" as a stay exercise, daily. Raise your excitement level gradually, imitating the actions of people who will greet your dog. Waving - patting - goofy voices - squatting or looming - raise the difficulty factor in tolerable increments and help your dog succeed. Next, practice with family and friends, at the door after ringing the doorbell, with adults and children of all ages until your dog is fool-proof. You will have to train the humans who come to visit as well, as if one in ten visitors pets your dog while he is in a frenzy, frenzied behavior is being rewarded!

Once the dog knows what he SHOULD do (sit!) you can help the over-stimulated dog resist the urge to jump.

* Stand on the leash - With the dog on a sit, put your foot on the leash. There should be just enough slack that there is no tension on the leash as long as the dog remains seated. Bend slightly at the waist and extend your hand to pet him. If he jumps up, he will correct himself. Calmly tell the dog "off" as he corrects himself and "sit" (what he should have chosen instead.) Praise and reward for any attempt to contain himself.

* Step suddenly toward or away from the dog - be ready to praise him the instant his feet touch the ground. (The goal is to merely interrupt the jump, not knock him down!) Command "sit" and reward him for doing what he forgot to do in the first place!

* Please note:
It would be unfair to apply a correction if the dog doesn't know what he should have done instead ... And please, do not knee him in the chest, stomp on his hind feet or pinch his toes - this is your best friend, treat him like one!

4 month old "Zipper" shows what a proper sit for greeting looks like!

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