Stop Jumping on Guests!!

Who is the leader of your pack? You or your dog? How can you tell?

Well, it is really simple. A dog that jumps on you is the pack leader. If they jump on your guests they are essentially showing your visitors “who the boss is”.

The question is “how do we stop this behavior”?

• Assert yourself as a pack leader. The leader will always lead with calm and assertive energy. If you are lacking in it the dog will natural start filling the gaps. This can of course become a disastrous situation.
  
  
• DO NOT greet your dog with affection while you are still walking through the door. They are a dog, not a human child. You are kinder to the dog if you treat them as a dog because that is what they understand best.
  
  
• Correct the undesired behavior. When a dog mother sees her puppy doing something that they should not be doing, she does not go crazy, call them names and yell at the puppy. She asserts herself with calm assertive energy and moves the puppy out of the way. From this behavior the puppy learns what the boundary is and which is their submissive role in the pack. Thus what is the conclusion, will you yell and call them names or will you lead?
  
  
• When guests come, ask your dog to sit. If you are a pack leader and you assert yourself as one to your dog, the dog will listen. Animals do not negotiate. Their relationships are hierarchical. YOU are the at tip of the hierarchy.
  
  
• There is no such thing as “part time leader”. You either lead or you don’t. If you don’t you will initiate anxiety and confusion in a dog. Do not slack. Lead. Always.
  

As you can see if you master those and your dog will stop jumping on your or your guests. It always comes down to being a leader to your dog. If you learn to become one and you lead consistently the problem will not be a problem any more.