Does Fido love to greet you when you come home? Do
you look forward to seeing him, too? So much so that you don't mind
when he jumps up on you to say hello? The trouble is, when guests pop
over to visit, they're not as thrilled as you are to come cheek to cheek
with your 60 or more pound pal. The time has come to teach your dog
the proper way to greet guests.
Easier said than done.
Consistency
If you decide to train your dog to keep four on the
floor, be consistent. In the beginning I wasn't. Start by attaching
his/her collar to the leash and hanging it near the front door. (If your
dog wears his collar indoors, just keep his leash by the front door.)
This will give you a training edge. When the doorbell rings, you can
slipped the collar on and tell him to sit and stay. With the collar on,
you could enforce the commands.
The next step is kneeling down to your dogs' level
and petting him only when he doesn't jump up. If he doesn't jump,
quickly surprised them with a verbal praise or a treat. Rewarding your
dog at the right time will reinforce the lesson.
Once you consistently start reinforcing good
manners, your dog should easily catch on.
Stopping Bad Habits
Often, bad habits begin early, when dogs are puppies
and people pick them up and make a fuss over them when they get home.
Lifting him/her up onto the couch teaches a puppy that it's good to be
on your level. The more enthusiasm you show when you approach, the more
your pup tries to match it.
To dissuade your dog from jumping up, you have to be
vigilant. Keep your first hello as offhand as you can. Sure, you're
happy to see your dog, but teach him to sit or stand when he sees you,
and ignore him when he does anything else.
It won't take long for your dog to realize you want
him to do something different. At first he may stop jumping and just
look at you for further instruction. Or he may try a half-hearted leap
combined with a quick lick. But if you maintain your ground, your dog
will, too.
For training reinforcement, recruit friends and
family to come calling. Ask them not to pay any attention to your dog if
he starts jumping—and to pet him only when he sits or stands still. If
you're out on a walk, use the same technique when strangers pet your
dog.
Staying Down
You can still cuddle and catch those wet sloppy
kisses, but kneel down first. When your dog is at eye level, it's much
easier to reinforce the positive behavior.
Limit other behavior that involves your dog jumping,
such as grabbing for a toy or reaching for food.
Teach your dog not to leap for love, and you'll have
a better behaved—but still very lovable—canine companion.
Perfecting this training technique might take a few
tries and some patience. But going into it prepared will allow your and
your dog to enjoy it as just another of the many things you do together.
Note:
You should not rely on the veterinary advice or information provided on
this site for diagnosis or treatment of any specific situation. Always
consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical
condition or treatment of your own pet or animal. The Puppy Place
disclaims all warranties and liability related to the veterinary advice
and information provided on this site.
Full disclaimer.
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