​Today we’re going to tackle jumping up. A regular challenge that frustrates owners but can also get your dog into trouble with strangers at the park. Often this starts as a puppy, when jumping up is a puppy’s meet and greet natural behaviour to say hello.  People very often suddenly change their mind when they have a soaking wet spaniel springing up their best summer dress!

Most of the time dogs are jumping up for attention or to grab something out of our hands. The trick here is making sure we completely stop rewarding the dog for jumping up, remembering that reward comes in all sorts of forms including food, toys, affection, eye contact and even talking to your dog. The message to communicate to your dog is that you only greet dogs who keep their four paws on the floor.

“We are ALWAYS training because animals are ALWAYS learning!” Never was a truer word said by superb trainer, Kay Lawrence!

I want you to think about that statement in relation to where you are training your dog. Consider the environment you are training in and what additional learning your dog may be experiencing as you train together. Can your dog learn easily, and have you set them up for success? Are there other dogs too near for him to successfully perform for you or do you need to be more considerate where you are training your dog?  Maybe what you are teaching your dog demands individually training him in that environment.