A sure sign of a well-behaved dog is when you enter someone's home and their pet does not jump on you in greeting. Not only is jumping on guests annoying, it can be dangerous. Large dogs can knock people down and are capable of seriously injuring small children or the elderly. Not to mention all the mud he gets on your clothes on rainy days!

Jumping on people is also a sure signal that your dog thinks he's the leader of the pack. Watch dogs together and you'll see them exhibiting the same behavior. Allowing your dog to jump on people undermines all your training.

These dogs have learned if they jump on people they get attention and often petted. Your job is to help them unlearn that with positive reinforcement. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

1. Ignore your dog when you arrive and leave the house. Ditch the long goodbye and the long-lost dog owner greeting. Don't greet your pet for five minutes once you get home. This will help break the habit.

2. Do you want to dance? If a week or so of not greeting your dog doesn't break the behavior, try this on your medium or large dog. When he jumps on you, firmly grip his paws while he's still on his hind legs. Hold them without squeezing until he starts to squirm, then firmly command, "Off!" Some trainers recommend stepping on your pet's back paws at the same time, but this could cause injury to your pet's delicate feet. Holding his front paws, sometimes for several minutes, will do the trick and won't be painful.

3. Use the leash. If guests are coming over, keep your dog on a leash. When he jumps on the visitors, pop the leash to engage his training collar, command, "Off!" and lead him to the other side of the room. Praise him after you lead him away.
Marilyn Burnham

Author: 'Dog Owners Boot Camp'
The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don't Want You To Know!
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