Have you ever wondered why your dog continuously jumps up on you even if you say “no” and push it off you every time it does this? Or, why it barks at the back door non-stop until you go out and let it in, or shout out to it to “be quiet”?

Let’s look at it from the dog’s point of view. What does the dog want from you when it is doing either of these actions? To be near you, to touch you, have you touch them, to get your attention, or to be let inside.

So, even if you are yelling at or telling the dog off when it is jumping up or barking, (which you assume would make them stop, or maybe it does this time!) what are you actually giving to your dog? Exactly what it wants – your attention! So, you have actually given them a reward for this behaviour – a positive consequence i.e.: what it wants at that time! This then reinforces that behaviour… and so the problem begins.

In fact some of the most common ‘problem’ behaviours, such as jumping up excitedly when anyone walks in the door, most likely began when you brought your dog home as a puppy. Think about how excited everyone in the household was, all the patting and cuddling that went on as the puppy jumped all over everyone giving kisses, nibbling at fingers and hair and barking in excitement.

Fast forward one, two, three or more years later as the dog has grown in size and weight… now this behaviour isn’t considered quite so appropriate is it?

So how can this be addressed? Firstly if you are reading this before bringing a new puppy home, or your dog is still a pup, be very aware about what behaviour you are rewarding.

If you don’t want your puppy to become a ‘Jumping Jack’ as it grows older, then it is important not to reinforce this behaviour by encouraging it whilst it is young.