Quick Fixes for Common Problems: Stop Jumping

This is the first installment in a series on quick fixes for the most common behavior problems I encounter as a professional dog trainer.

A Quick Fix. Too Good to Be True?

Getting relief from dog behavior problems doesn’t have to be complicated or include lengthy training programs.*

Often, the fastest and easiest solutions come by simply adjusting the environment or human behavior to prevent the problem from happening in the first place.

Is that a cop out? Is prevention an inferior solution? Are you a wimp for solving your dog’s dumpster-diving habit by using a locking-lid trash can?

Nope! Not in the least.

For most people, the goal is solving the problem—not spending time training the dog. If prevention does the job and doesn’t create other problems, why not use it?!

(And if moving beyond prevention is part of your goal, not to worry: prevention is always the first step of the training plan anyway.)

The Problem: Jumping

Jumping is probably among the top 5 reasons owners seek my professional help. It’s not something dogs grow out of and becomes increasingly unpleasant—if not painful and dangerous—as the dog gets bigger.

What I do about jumping depends on what kind of jumping we’re talking about. Today, we’ll focus on the jumping that happens when people who live in the house arrive home.

The Quick Fix: Treat Toss Away

Treat Toss Away is my favorite simple solution for this common problem. This technique utilizes strategic and generous feeding to prevent your dog from jumping on you.

A treat trail mix like this can be used for your Treat Toss Away. Firm or hard treats that your dog can hear hit the floor can be helpful.

1. Before entering the house, ensure you’re wearing your bait bag and it’s stocked with appropriate treats (a mixture of Stella and Chewy’s Raw Coated Kibble + Ziwi Peak Air Dried Food would be good)

2. Hold some treats in your right hand

3. Enter the house and stick your hand out to meet your dog so it almost touches his nose

4. Slowly toss the treats away from yourself

5. While your dog is busy eating, resume walking into the house while getting another handful of treats

6. When your dog finishes eating and runs your way, stick your treat hand out to meet him

7. Slowly toss the treats away from yourself

8. Continue until you see your dog’s excitement has lessened

Why does it work?

• We’re giving the dog something to do with his energy that isn’t jumping: go chase those treats

• We’re giving the dog something to do that lowers his heart rate: go sniff around for those treats

• The good stuff happens away from us instead of up in our face

• The dog is rewarded with a treat toss before he jumps

Troubleshooting

“My dog doesn’t go for the food.”

This usually happens for one or two of several reasons:

• The food isn’t held right to his nose first

• The food isn’t tossed slowly enough for the dog to follow

• The food is too boring