Dogs are cute. With their gigantic eyes, soft fur, floppy ears, and fluffy heads, these creatures look very appealing. Even if they do something naughty, we cannot help but squeeze them with love and forgive them for all their naughty missteps. Other characteristics that make them our dearest are their clumsy movements, nuzzling noses, wagging tails, and excitement when they see people around.
While some find it cute when pups hop for attention, others don’t, especially when a full-grown 100 lb. creature leaps at their face. It’s good if your dog doesn’t have big nails, but most canines prefer living in their natural self and don’t like when their owner cuts it. Although it is not bad, what would you do if your adorable pet scratches up your guests or knocks them over in excitement?
Fortunately, there’s a way to stop them from jumping. Giving training might not be as easy, but it isn’t impossible. Be persistent – your pup will soon be successful. Let’s look at different ways to train your best friend not to jump on people.
1. Keep the Leash On
To make your dog behave decently around people, it is a good idea to conduct their training on a leash. When a pet warns a leash while doing something, it teaches them self-control. You must have noticed that your dog behaves more appropriately when you take them for a walk or run on a leash. But just as you remove it, they run around like a headless chicken.
An animal trained in a controlled environment – not harsh, is usually more focused, calm, and attentive. They listen to owners and respond to instructions. A leash gives the owner 90% more control over their dog. That doesn’t mean you can yank it hard when they don’t listen. But at least have control over the situation if it goes out of hand.
Pet owners must understand that dogs are not naturally domestic creatures. If you don’t give them proper training, they will behave recklessly.
2. Don’t Reward their Behavior
Just as you do with a baby, don’t appreciate your pup’s behavior when they hop the guests. Instead, show them clearly that you don’t like it – ignore them. Don’t look them in the eyes until they are on all fours. When they do so, award them with a hug or their favorite food.
Remember that you must do this every time the pup jumps up. It may feel monotonous, but persistence is the key to success. Staying consistent with the training sessions will teach the animal that hopping does not work. They can successfully grab your attention if they sit on all paws and behave calmly around guests.
3. Hire a Professional
A toy pup jumping for joy is not as dangerous as medium or large breeds. Maybe the dog wants to say hello, but their claws and pointy teeth can intimidate or scare off those uncomfortable around animals. However, hiring a professional can help tackle such issues. Check out this page to teach your dog how to behave around people.
An animal trainer can teach a dog various tricks irrespective of their age. Just like you go for swimming or painting classes, your dog will also attend behavior lessons at home or the center. A professional uses positive reinforcement to teach a dog various tricks that earn them good things, like treats and praise!
They also help build a stronger bond between animals and humans by setting boundaries for what is acceptable and what is not and how to behave in social settings. Regular sessions work them physically and mentally, offering stimulation and rewards to prevent behavior concerns.
4. Ask for Help
If your canine doesn’t behave when you ignore them, ask your guests for help. Take a practical approach that involves asking them not to look at the canine until they listen to you and behave properly.
Before the guest greets them “hello”, command your pet to sit on all paws. When they do so, do what you did before – give them their favorite treats and hugs. Disregard the recklessness and appreciate peaceful behavior. Do so until the dog understands that sitting can get them your consideration and hopping cannot.
5. Be Patient
You have to be mentally prepared when training a dog because their approach to understanding varies from humans. Some days, there will be improvement, which may make you feel your best friend can do nothing wrong. Both of you will sync – your dog will listen to you. But on the other days, you may have to try again for them to listen to you.
But downsides are a part of training. Don’t lose hope – try harder until they understand what “sit” means.
6. Lock the Doors
If none of the above tricks work, you can resort to the age-old method – putting the leash on and locking the door. Although it is a harsh solution, it is the only way to make guests feel safe and comfortable. It will teach the canine that you don’t appreciate them jumping around. If you want to, you can bring them close enough to the guests to greet them but far enough to touch.
Ask the guests to not react and stand still when the dog jumps up. Meanwhile, get their attention and ask them to sit and behave. If they don’t, put them on a leash or lock them in the backyard.
Wrapping Up
Altering the natural impulse of a dog does not happen overnight. The probability of the situation getting out of hand or worse is far higher than seeing an improvement because such behavior comes naturally to them. You can’t expect them to understand and abide by your rules. In such a situation, only a professional can guide you.
A professional ensures your pet listens to your cues and prevents it from experiencing conflicts with other dogs, running on roads, and scaring off people. Being with your best friends during the training will help you better understand them, build stronger connections, and prevent future concerns!