How to Break Your Dog's Jumping Habit

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If you own a Pit Bull or other highly energetic dog breed, you've probably noticed that they require supervision to keep from getting into trouble. Untreated, they often develop bad habits that can be tough to break.

One common problem for some dog owners is jumping; and it's one of the most annoying habits a dog can have. Some dogs do it as a greeting, some to beg for food or attention. It's not easy to correct this behavior sometimes, but it is important. If your dog jumps up on a small child, they could easily hurt them.

One way lots of people have used to stop their dogs from jumping up is by distracting them, by throwing treats on the floor for example, and then greeting them while they're distracted by the treats. This doesn't help if your pet is begging, but it can work to stop a greeting-related problem.

Another method of training to prevent jumping is to greet your dog calmly when you arrive, and when he jumps up, turn your back on him. Once your dog puts all four feet back on the floor, then turn around and give him attention. Any time your dog jumps up on you, turn your back on him and refuse to pay any attention until he stops being annoying. This method can take a while for your dog to respond to, so be patient and don't give up. You can go further by teaching your dog to sit before he will get any attention.

A final third technique is to make him sit or stand and hold a treat above him while commanding him to sit. If he jumps up, don't give him anything and try again when he is calm. When he obeys your order to sit and doesn't get excited, then give him the treat and praise him with extra attention.

Remember that if you are excited or anxious, your dog can pick up on your body language and get excited as well. Remain calm and be firm whenever you're training your pet. It requires work and discipline to train your pet, but at the end everyone will live together much more peacefully.