Do you shower your dog with love and affection every time they jump on you to say hello? If so, all the dog training in Houston, TX, might not get your dog to stop jumping on people.
Most dogs respond well to positive reinforcement and repeat behaviors that help them earn rewards. You may inadvertently teach your dog that jumping on people is OK if you praise them as they jump on you.
When determining how to train a dog not to jump on people, begin by changing your own behavior while greeting your dog. Ignoring jumping behavior will show your dog there are better ways for them to get rewarded as they welcome you.
You may also take other steps to prevent your dog from jumping on you and other people. Check out our guide on training a dog not to jump on people below.
Keep Your Greetings With Your Dog Low Key
You love your dog, so it’s natural to want to show it as soon as you walk through your front door. You may have gotten into the habit of allowing your dog to jump all over you as you tell them what a good boy or girl they are.
Learning how to train a dog not to jump on people starts with immediately stopping this behavior. Rather than inviting your dog to jump on you, refuse to give them attention until they calm down.
Your dog may initially be confused and continue to act just like they always do. They might even jump on you more than usual to try and get your typical reaction.
Stay strong, and don’t give in to your dog’s wishes. If necessary, walk back out the front door and don’t return for a few minutes to give your dog a chance to unwind.
The more low-key your greetings with your dog are, the more likely they are to successfully break their bad habit of jumping on people.
Teach Your Dog To Sit While Greeting People
When figuring out how to train a dog not to jump on people in Houston, TX, try not to throw too much at them at once. Initially, you may need to spend weeks and possibly months teaching your dog to stay on the ground when you walk through your front door.
As they get the hang of it, gradually introduce the next step, which is to have your dog sit while greeting you when you come home.
Reward-based techniques usually work best. Upon entering your home, greet your dog by asking them to “sit” and provide a reward, such as a treat or a pat on the head, when they respond appropriately to your command training.
From there, call on a family member or friend to help teach your dog to do the same thing when other people enter your home. Here is how they can assist you:
- Find a family member or friend who loves dogs and wants to help.
- Invite this person to your home and have them stand where your dog can’t see them.
- Tell your dog to “sit” and have this person enter the same room as your dog and walk toward them.
- Ask this person to turn around and leave a room if your dog gets up while being approached.
- Repeat this process until your dog continues to “sit” while this person approaches them.
- Direct this person to provide your dog with a treat when they finally remain seated while being approached.
- Walk other family members and friends through this process to familiarize your dog with different people.
You should also take this show on the road and run through it in public as long as you’re comfortable asking strangers to help. If someone shows an interest in saying hello to your dog, ask them to wait for a moment and follow these steps:
- Provide this person with a treat for your dog discreetly.
- Tell your dog to “sit,” and once they’re seated, have this person walk toward them.
- Allow this person to provide your dog with a treat if they stay seated when approached.
- Repeat this process until your dog successfully “sits” while greeting this person.
Learning how to train a dog not to jump on people in Houston, TX, will require patience from you and others. Keep redirecting behavior you don’t like until your dog understands how you want them to behave.
Stay Consistent While Training a Dog Not To Jump on People
It’s easy to fall back into old habits when training your dog not to jump on people.
For example, you might have a difficult day at the office and decide you want your dog to jump all over you when you get home. You may also come across people who say: “Oh, I don’t mind if your dog jumps on me one bit. They’re just so adorable!”
Don’t let these scenarios throw your dog’s training routine off course. Even just a few bad days might ruin all your dog’s progress and cause them to start jumping on people again. Practice consistency in training to get the best results.
Work With a Professional Dog Trainer in Houston, TX
Making sense of how to train a dog not to jump on people in Houston, TX, is challenging for some dog owners. If you fall into this category, know you don’t have to do it alone.
Search for a professional dog trainer in Houston, TX, to help with improving dog training efforts. They will implement the latest dog-training techniques to slowly change your dog’s previous behaviors.
Call Us To Schedule Houston, TX, Dog Training Sessions
Do you have trouble commanding your dog not to jump on people? This is a more common problem among dog owners than you might realize.
Let Peace Love Dogs speak with you further about how to train a dog not to jump on people in Houston, TX. We also provide other services, such as showing you the top leash training methods.
Reach out to us at (346) 639-3629 for assistance!
