How do I stop my dog jumping up?

Dogs will usually start jumping up on people as puppies for attention. If this behaviour is reinforced it can become a very difficult behaviour to manage as the dog gets larger, and the behaviour more ingrained. If your dog jumps up, it is critical that they receive no attention for the behaviour. This includes talking to them, eye contact and touching them as any of these things may be inadvertently rewarding the behaviour. With some dogs, pushing them away can encourage them to jump more and it becomes a bit of a game for them! Telling your dog “no” or “down” is not always effective as the dog may stop temporarily but often doesn’t fix the problem. Turning your back each time your dog jumps up and ignoring the behaviour is effective, provided you are consistent. Once your dog has stopped jumping up, you can then give them attention. The key is that they only receive attention from you when all four feet are on the ground. Make sure all your visitors do the same to keep it consistent!