Jumping Up:
Assuming that the dog is not attacking, then generally a dog that jumps up just wants attention or to say hello. However no matter how friendly the dog is it may not be appreciated if he gets muddy paws down the front of your clean white shirt!
As with all unwanted behaviors it is best if it is not allowed to start and become a rewarding behaviour in the first place. It is always harder to break a habit than it is to stop it becoming one. Even if you think it cute that your 12 week old Labrador puppy wants to lick your face you’d be best advised to train him not to. It is not as much fun when the dog is fully grown.
As mentioned above, the behaviour is all about demanding attention, thus pushing the puppy down will not work as it is in itself rewarding. The dog is getting attention! Shouting DOWN, OFF, etc. are even more forms of attention.
To avoid jumping up, when your puppy starts, stand still and turn your body language away from your puppy. It is important that you don't make eye contact with your puppy as some find this reward enough to keep on going. Standing sideways-on is good, as it allows you to see what is going on without making eye contact.
Your puppy will soon tire and sit and look at you - quickly praise and reward your puppy for having all feet on the floor. This is the behaviour you want. This will take some time if the behaviour is already becoming established as it has a reward history.
It is important to stick with it as no behaviour changes over night but within a week or two and if everyone is consistent and the jumping is not rewarded in any way then the habit will diminish.
If jumping is an already established habit.
First teach your puppy to SIT on every cue that you give. He must be consistent with this. Obviously your puppy cannot jump and sit at the same time. When you enter the house and your puppy attempts to jump up on you, beat him to it by giving the command SIT and then give lots of praise for the SIT.
It is useful in these cases if you can set up the scenario, and get friends and family to help you. Your puppy will learn a great deal quicker if you can enlist the help of some willing volunteers.
Keep a small bowl of treats on a shelf near the front door (even outside if under cover) so as you can have a reward immediately on hand as soon as you get the right response. Your dog will quickly learn that presenting himself with a SIT as you or a visitor comes in elicits a treat.
Have your dog on a lead when you know visitors are due to call - ask your dog to SIT while you let your visitor in and praise and reward him for his sits. If your dog is not very food motivated then have a toy at hand and give it to your visitor to play a quick game when your puppy offers the right behaviour.
There will always be one person who calls at your home and says 'it doesn't matter - I just love dogs.' It does matter because your dog doesn’t know instinctively who likes dogs and who doesn’t. Don’t let others undermine your training.
Written by EDDR training advisor Colin Goff APDT Member 00358