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How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump Part 2

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How to Stop Your Dog From Jumping

Stop Your Dog From Jumping
Click! All four feet on the floor!

Does your dog jump on you or guests? View this 3-part video series, which will teach your dog:

  • Not to jump on you when coming home
  • To greet guests politely

If you missed Part 1, How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump Part 1.

Directions:

  • View first video and practice homework for 7 days.
  • View second video and practice homework for 7 days.
  • View third, and last, video.

Each video contains TONS of information, so rewind and watch several times. Bookmark for easy reference.

What you will need:

Note: Always enroll your dog in a group dog training class. This video should not be used in place of dog training class attendance.

How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump Part 2 Video

Any questions about the How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump Part 2 video? Please add them in the comment section below!

NEXT: How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump Part 3

Choosing an Animal Behaviorist

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Animal Behaviorist

Animal BehavioristDealing with dog aggression, moderate to severe anxiety or fearfulness or obsessive compulsive behaviors (OCD) is extremely trying for pet owners. I’ve held these owners in my arms, as they sobbed. It’s a difficult situation for dogs and their owners.

That is why I refer these cases to a qualified animal behaviorist. Within my 20 years of dog training experience, I find difficult cases are solved much quicker and with better results when a qualified animal behaviorist is involved.

What is an Animal Behaviorist?

An animal behaviorist is an expert who deals with difficult behavior cases, such as dog aggression, anxiety and obsessive compulsion behaviors on a daily basis.

Veterinarians, whom are board certified in animal behavior:

  • Bring their expert veterinary knowledge plus four years of solving and studying dog behavior (and many other animals) to their cases
  • Have completed their vet requirements and studied dog behavior, solving difficult behavioral cases for a minimum of four years, plus have passed a demanding animal behavior board certification
  • Can prescribe medications, if needed, so a dog can learn how to overcome his fears

Applied Animal Behaviorists have:

  • Earned a Masters or PhD degree in animal behavior
  • Studied dog behavior for a minimum of 7 years
  • Been required to successfully solve difficult cases under supervision with field experts during their internships

Prescribed Anti-Anxiety Medications

Some pet owners are reluctant to use anti-anxiety medications and I understand. You’re scared you will make your dog worse or drug him. Personally, when training dogs with life-destroying anxiety, I’ve seen amazing results when anti-anxiety medications are used. “The ultimate goal is to reach a point where the drugs are no longer necessary, a point where your dog has overcome his anxiety and learned to react in an appropriate fashion,” says Dr. Lorie Hudson DVM.

RELATED: Medical Modalities for Dogs

Why Contact an Animal Behaviorist?

Dog trainers and animal behaviorists are two different professions, yet they work together as a fabulous team. Think of dog trainers as general practitioners (GPs) and animal behaviorists as specialists in dog behavior. 

  • Animal behaviorists study and treat difficult cases daily with great success rates. They are required to complete yearly continuing education in their field of study and stay updated on the latest findings with fear, anxiety, aggression or OCD.
  • Animal behaviorists provide immediate assistance and solutions for the issue at hand, which provides quicker results for your dog and saves money. Dog trainers (GPs) teach polite manners, solve everyday pet issues and are usually a pet owner’s first contact when dealing with difficult behaviors. 
  • Dog trainers’ knowledge is vast. They are prepared for anything that might walk through their training center doors, complete yearly continuing education and provide recommendations to ensure the success of a dog and their owners. They are the general practitioners of the dog training world. They triage to specialists when needed. Personally, I’m extremely proud to be a dog trainer and empowered to have qualified animal behaviorists to call upon when needed.

Referral Process and Consultation

  1. When dog trainers encounter moderate to extreme fear, aggression, anxiety or OCD, they refer pet parents to an animal behaviorist, as these cases require one-on-one attention that provides specific training protocols for success. Dog trainers usually have their preferred animal behaviorist and will always ensure this person works for you and your dog too.
  2. An animal behaviorist will ask you to complete an extensive history background. Answer to the best of your knowledge. This history report is key to note triggers (what causes your dog to act fearful, aggressive, anxious or causes OCD behavior to happen).
  3. Then, an animal behaviorist will involve your local veterinarian to rule out any health issues.
  4. Once heath issues have been ruled out, the animal behaviorist will schedule a time to discuss your dog’s history background. Ask questions and observe your dog.
  5. After the consultation, a training protocol is designed and medications are prescribed if needed.
  6. Dog trainers will assist you with your prescribed training protocol and report back to the animal behaviorist on progress.
  7. Most animal behaviorists require a six-month check-in, especially if medications were prescribed.

Contacting an Animal Behaviorist

Usually, local positive reinforcement dog trainers work with an animal behaviorist in the area. However, still research your dog trainer’s referral. Qualified animal behaviorists should be listed in the below database:

If you’re unable to find a qualified person in your area, the below vets (both are board certified in animal behavior) provide phone consultations through your regular vet:

Animal Behaviorist Tips

  • Not recommended: Dog trainers or unqualified animal behaviorists boasting they can fix any issue is equivalent to a general practitioner saying they can preform open heart surgery.
  • Choose a qualified animal behaviorist. The cost is the same or less than an unqualified animal behaviorist.
  • Do not choose an animal behaviorist using punishment-based training methods.

You’re more than welcome to ask any questions on this subject in the comment section below. This is a tough situation and I hope this article points you in the right direction with solutions.

READ ALSO: ASPCA – Finding Professional Help

Choosing the Right Dog Trainer

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Find a Trainer for Your Dog

Dog Trainer
Happy dog trainer!

How do you pick the right dog trainer for you and your dog?

Dog Trainer Requirements

  1. Use positive reinforcement training. This means he uses treats to reward good behaviors and redirects or ignores bad behaviors. Positive reinforcement works!
  2. Use positive reinforcement on humans too! Basically, dog trainers are teaching you how to train your dog. And if it’s not fun, who wants to do it, right? 🙂
  3. Provide a safe, clean and fun learning environment. Potty accidents must be cleaned immediately. Dogs should not be allowed to bark and growl at each other. Good dog trainers will provide visual barriers to ensure everyone is safe and having fun! If a dog is barking constantly, the dog trainer should be offering the pet parent tips to manage this barking.
  4. Has excellent communication skills. Dog trainers should smile, encourage, ignore mistakes, offer different tips to ensure success. Students should feel comfortable and encouraged.
  5. Understands dogs are individuals. Dogs learn differently, just like humans, so a dog trainer should have plenty of fun ideas in his Dog Trainer Tool Box. He needs to find what works for your dog.
  6. Provides plenty of time to practice behaviors during class. While your dog trainer will explain how to teach a behavior, his stories should be kept to a minimum. About 70% of class time should be focused on practice time.
  7. Shows up on time for each session and is available to answer questions after class.
  8. Helps pet parents meet or exceed their training goals. Dog trainers should check in with each team before, during and after class even if it’s a “thumbs up”or “high five” when they reach their goal 🙂
  9. Leaves you feeling empowered. You must feel successful during and after each class. Fabulous dog trainers strive to ensure you and your dog are always successful.

For additional details, click here.

Locating a Dog Trainer

My advice is to begin searching for dog trainers at Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainers, Karen Pryor Academy, Council of Certified Dog Trainers Database, International Associates of Animal Behavior Consultants,  and American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Consultants.

Interviewing a Dog Trainer

Now that you understand the requirements and have located a dog trainer, it’s time to interview them. It’s best to speak with dog trainers on the phone and ask to observe a class in session. Dog trainers are honored when pet owners ask to observe a class because they can show off their skills. Using your list of dog trainer requirements, observe a group class in session. Are they meeting your requirements? If, at any time, you are not comfortable observing/practicing any techniques, stop and speak with your trainer. I’m empowering you to be your dog’s voice. 🙂

Tell us about your dog trainer in the comment section below!

More: 
Dog Trainer Fanna Easter 
Dog Trainer Karen Pryor 
Dog Training Classes 
Dog Obedience Training

How to Choose Dog Training Treats

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Dog Training Treats

Puppy Training Treats
Fabulous treats! L-R: Dried venison, cheese, blue cheese, salami, peanut butter and hot dogs.

So many times, clients bring their dogs into the training center and their bait bag is filled with dry kibble or biscuits. Their dogs are overwhelmed with others dogs, sights, smells, sounds and ignore their owners as everything else is more exciting. Learn how to train a dog by choosing treats your dog loves!

Treats are your dog’s currency. Be generous, pay well and often.

Think about it: If I were paying you for a job well done, would you work harder for $100 or $1 bill? Now translate to food: If I paid you with donuts or broccoli, which would you choose? Personally, I would work for donuts and a $100 bill. I think you see my point now. 🙂

Now, I’m not saying you must have treats in your pocket for your dog to sit. We use treats and rewards in the learning phase, and then wean him after the dog understands the cue. By “weaning,” I’m not saying remove treats entirely. I’m saying reward behaviors intermediately (like a slot machine). We, as humans, have an obsession with weaning our dogs off treats too fast. Not sure why we do it. When you are thinking of not rewarding a dog for a great job, think of a stingy boss from your past – yuck!

RELATED: Healthy Dog Treats

Stinky, small, easy to chew dog treats
Stinky, small and easy to chew dog treats.

Try these dog training tips when selecting fantastic treats for your pooch. He will thank you with his full attention and polite behavior.

  1. Treats must have a strong aroma. The stinkier, the better, as your dog has a fabulous nose. Meat-based treats, especially fish, smell luscious!
  2. Tiny like the size of a pea. Look for treats that break up easily and don’t crumble. Keeping the treat size tiny keeps your dog hungry, calories down and treat cost low. We ask pet parents to bring 100 tiny treats to each class. 🙂
  3. Easy to chew. Soft treats are easy for your dog to chew and swallow quickly. With hard treats, you are waiting for your dog to crunch, crunch and crunch some more before moving forward.

Some dogs love catching their favorite ball or a game of tug as a reward, but 9 times out of 10, most dogs respond to scrumptious treats in high distraction places (i.e. dog training classes). Praise is awesome too. However, this is the icing on the cake with treats. Again, think of working on a project with a friend: praise is nice for a while. Currency is better because you need to pay your bills and eat. 🙂

How to Tell if Your Dog Loves His Treats

  1. As you cut treats or open the bag, your dog is glued to your side sniffing.
  2. You have his full and undivided attention during class.
  3. Immediate and improved success when teaching behaviors.

What’s in my bait bag? Mozzarella cheese sticks, hot dogs, cooked chicken breast, blue cheese (yes, they love it!), cubed round steak and any fish-based treats.

What treats does your dog love? Please comment below and tell us what is in your bait bag!

You may also like: Picky Dog Eaters

Dog Training Classes

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Dog Obedience Training

Dog Obedience Training
Dog training class in session.

Ah, the magic question that I’m asked several times a day, from new and frustrated dog owners, is: Does your dog need obedience classes?

Let’s explore this question about dog obedience training.

As a dog trainer, I see things a bit differently, as over 80% of my clients are already frustrated with their dog’s behavior. The remaining 20% of dog owners who attend dog obedience classes want to prevent naughty behaviors before they happen. These pet parents usually have attended a dog obedience or puppy training class in the past.

Training Classes are a Must

Your dog needs positive opportunities to learn which dog behaviors are appropriate. Just like a small child, it’s our job to teach dogs how to behave around people and other dogs:

  • On a leash
  • At the dog park
  • At home
  • At a stranger’s house
  • In the car
  • In public places like restaurants

Dogs pull on a leash to move forward. They jump up to greet you, as they have not been taught how to appropriately greet you (or any humans). Your dog is not acting naughty out of spite, but he may not have been trained by you or a dog trainer as to what good behavior is.

3 Things You Will Learn in Dog Training Classes

Dog training classes are a fabulous resource to teach polite manners. These classes should be considered mandatory for all dogs and their owners. Before your hackles go up from the word “mandatory,” let me explain. Over 70% of dogs are in shelters due to naughty behaviors that can easily be fixed by taking dog training classes. It really is that simple. Help prevent a dog from potentially being put down in a shelter by training him good behavior skills.

Parking your dog is a great behavior every dog and his owner should know. It simply means that despite distractions, another animal barking at him or in any situation that you want your dog to remain poised, your dog will not act up but instead look to you for guidance.

Dog treats are the best motivators for training your pet. Some people love cheesecake while others love chocolate. Dogs are the same way. They all have things that they are excited about and love to be given whether it is:

  • Cheese sticks
  • Bones
  • Tennis balls
  • Chicken
  • Turkey
  • Snacks  and biscuits
  • Kongs
RELATED: Dog Training Treats

Finding out what motivates your dog and using this while training will produce better behavior results at a faster pace. Think of it from a human perspective. For example: If I were to ask you to take a seat in the chair and you do, but then I ask you to stand up. Next, I ask you to sit in the seat again. Eventually, you may get bored and give up. But, if I were to hand you a $20 bill every time that you sat back down in the seat, I’d bet you wouldn’t mind getting up and sitting down anymore. In fact, you would probably enjoy doing it, right?

Dog training requires the same techniques. The dog’s currencies and motivation are what you can use to train him into behaving in an acceptable or desired manner. What is your dog’s “$20 bill”?

During a group dog training class, your pet will learn foundation cues, such as:

  • Sit
  • Down
  • Stay
  • Come
  • Walk politely on a leash
  • How to politely behave around other dogs and people

Dog behavior amongst other dogs and humans is the most important behavior aspects that your dog should know. Most dogs perform cues like sit and down at home, but will your dog respond when a guest visits? Does he forget what you taught him when it counts out in the field or in a public place?

Are dogs ever too old to learn? Of course not!

As a professional dog trainer with over 20 years of experience, I can tell you for certain that you can teach an old dog new tricks. You can teach new behaviors, reteach foundational behaviors and how to remember dog tricks! If you adopt an older rescue dog, it’s great to bring him through a group dog training class. You are teaching foundation behavior and building a bond. It is never too late for consulting with a dog trainer!

RELATED: Best Dog Training Books

The Importance of Dog Behavior Training

Will your dog behave the way you want at the park or during walks down the street? Or in the backyard when a squirrel is teasing him from a tree? Most dogs that have not attended group classes usually have a tough time responding to cues with high distractions. These are just a few situations that dog training becomes beneficial in your pet’s life.

Basic Dog Training Classes

While most dog training classes are weekly, at the same time and day each week, classes can vary from 4-6 weeks. In a basic dog training class, you will learn to teach your dog the foundational behaviors. Your dog will learn what behaviors need to be used in place of the naughty unwanted behaviors.

For example: Training your dog to sit before he jumps on you. In my 20 years of training, I have yet to see a dog jump when sitting. Teach your dog to sit and then teach him to park so you know the difference and so will he.

Dog training classes offer a fun and safe learning environment that will set you and your dog up for success. Mistakes are ignored (and yes, us dog trainers make mistakes too) and appropriate behavior is rewarded even for humans.

Dog obedience training classes will teach you the pet owner how to train your dog. That means you will learn the skills that can prevent naughty behavior from your dog. Taking dog training classes can be addictive and it’s a lot of fun!

Have you ever taken your dog to dog training classes? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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