There is almost nothing more frustrating to a dog owner than realizing that your dog has a jumping problem. Granted, this can seem innocent enough when they are little puppies. In fact, it can almost be tempting to think of it as ‘cute.’

But this quickly changes when the dog starts to grow up. In fact, where larger dogs are concerned, jumping can even be dangerous. It can knock people down, cause scratches from your dog’s claws, and/or be very irritating and embarrassing.

As a general rule, jumping is usually a behavior that you want to discourage.

But how?

Before you take action to stop your dog from jumping, it is important to understand why the behavior is happening to begin with. The fact of the matter is that your dog is doing this for a reason… and the better you understand that reason, the better equipped you will be to use healthy, productive techniques to help train your canine companion to know better.

Here are some of the common reasons why dogs jump, and what to do about it.

Dogs Jump to Say Hello

If you have ever watched dogs greet each other, you will notice that they usually go ‘face to face’ first. This is a dog thing. It is how they greet one-another and acknowledge the presence of another dog, especially if they are happy or excited to see the other animal.

With this being said, it is not so difficult to see why your dog would jump to greet you. They are jumping up to show you love, to say hello, and to express how excited they are that you have returned to them.

Dogs Jump to Show Their Dominance

Dogs use body language for a lot of their communication… and one reason for jumping could be that your dog is jumping to show their dominance.

Usually, your dog will see you as the dominant presence in the relationship. But in cases where this is not so, they may ‘jump’ up on you either because they do not respect you/see you as the boss, or because they are actually trying to assert their dominance and let you know that they are in charge.

This is obviously a more sensitive type of situation to handle—but with patience, practice, and consistency, you can once again reinstate your place as the dominant presence in the relationship.

This type of behavior can be difficult to identify. But in-general, you will want to keep an eye out for ‘unexcited’ jumping. It is pretty common for dogs to jump when they are excited—but if your dog is jumping to show dominance, they will be more likely to jump when you are either in their way, or when you have something that they want.

In other words, they will jump up on you to ‘force you’ to do what they want instead of jumping up on you for kisses and affection.

Sometimes, this kind of jumping will push you back, feel generally ‘unfriendly,’ or can even include a growl if you move into them or try to push them back.

If your dog acts aggressively or growls at you, it is always best to seek professional help—as this could be a sign of deep-set behavioral problems. It could also be an indicator of a dysfunctional relationship between you and your dog.

In any case, this type of jumping is important to identify and fix.

Dogs Jump When They Are Afraid or to Alert You

This is a less common type of jumping behavior, but it is one that is very important to try to pay attention to. Dogs sometimes jump when they are stressed out or afraid, as a way to either ask you for help or to express their discomfort.

This kind of jumping usually happens at weird times, when your dog usually wouldn’t jump. It can happen for a number of reasons. Your dog might be in pain, scared, afraid of a different dog, responding to a change in weather, asking for help, or letting you know that they need to go to the bathroom.

If you suspect that your dog may be jumping up on you out of fear, or because they are trying to alert you to something, it is important that you take a step back and try to figure out what they are saying.

There is likely something stressing them out, and the sooner you figure out what it is, the sooner you can help to sort it out so that things can go back to normal.

Dogs Jump When They Are Lacking Social Skills

Sometimes, dogs simply do not understand that jumping is a bad behavior. This can happen if your dog is under-socialized, stressed, doesn’t get out much, has not been trained properly, or receives mixed messages about what should or shouldn’t be done.

This is an example of how knowledge on the part of the trainer can make all the difference in the world. If the owner of the dog does not employ the proper teaching techniques, or if a dog is not allowed to socialize as much as they should, then this kind of problem is almost guaranteed to happen.

And in such cases, it is not fair to get mad at your dog. With the proper care and training, jumping due to a lack of social skills can be quickly remedied.

What Can You Do to Stop Dogs From Jumping on You?

Thankfully, this is not a new problem. And if you have been asking yourself “why does my dog jump on me?” you will be happy to learn that there are actually a number of different things that you can do to help sort it out.

Here are some tips to help.

• Figure out why your dog is jumping. Are they jumping to say hello? Are they jumping to alert you? There are a number of possible explanations, so pay attention to your dog’s behavior and try to diagnose it accurately.
• Do some reading and some research about the topic. You can never know too much about dogs. Reading a book on the subject, or even a few articles, can do a lot to help equip you for training your dog the right way.
• Make sure that you spend enough quality time with your dog. Learn about him/her, and figure out how he/she normally acts. Once you know what to expect on a daily basis, it gets easier to diagnose problems and troubleshoot different behaviors.

It is important to remember that every situation is a little bit different. If your dog is jumping up on you, try to figure out why—and then go from there. But here are some tips for how to handle more general types of jumping behavior.

Obviously you need to handle different situations a bit differently. But in a general sense, here are some basic guidelines to help you navigate this challenging issue with your favorite canine companion.

If Your Dog Is Jumping to Say Hello…

Solving this jumping habit is simply a matter of training. To put it simply, you just need to teach your dog better. You obviously need to start with a plan. One method that some trainers use helps the dog to distinguish between the commands ‘hug’ and ‘off.’

You use treats to train them to jump up and ‘hug’ you when you want them to, and then make sure that they understand that ‘off’ means that it is time to get down. When telling them that it is time to get ‘off,’ you should move INTO them, pushing into them with your body (but do not push them with your hands). You should conduct this training when your dog is calm, so that they can pay better attention to what you want.

If you don’t ever want your dog to jump up on you, then you should simply teach him/her the ‘off’ command.

Make sure to use a strong, firm voice. And remember, this takes time. Your dog may or may not pick up on it quickly, but be patient and consistent. You must ALWAYS tell your dog ‘off’ and stick with the same verbal command whenever your dog jumps for this to work. Inconsistency confuses dogs.

If Your Dog Is Jumping to Show Dominance…

This situation is a bit more serious, but it is still important to get it figured out. The first step is to build a foundation of respect with your dog. You need to be consistent and perseverant, but remember that your dog NEEDS this time with you if he/she is going to overcome this problem.

A few ways to start this process now is to…

• Start making your dog wait at every doorway. Whenever you cross a threshold, you can tell your dog to wait and let you cross first, indicating that you are claiming the territory and are in charge. If your dog tries to dart ahead of you, use your leash to stop them.
• Have your dog wait to eat his or her food until you give them permission.
• Start working on ‘backup’ exercises, where you move into your dog and have them back away from you.

These types of activities take a lot of time, patience, and practice. But your dog needs them… especially if they do not respect you.

If Your Dog Is Jumping to Alert You…

If your dog is jumping out of fear, or to alert you of something, there is probably no need to try to train them not to do it. If your dog jumps for other reasons, such as to say hello or to show dominance, then yes… training is probably necessary.

Your dog cannot talk to you. Therefore, he/she only has a few tools with which to communicate important things… and jumping is one of them.

If you know your dog well enough to know why they are jumping, then just try to fix the reason for their ‘alert jumping,’ and then be done with it. There is no need to train them for jumping when they are only jumping to let you know that something is wrong.

If Your Dog Is Jumping Because of Poor Social Skills…

If you feel that your dog may be under-socialized, then it is important that you address the problem.

But with that being said, this is admittedly a hard problem to remedy. In fact, this is one of the most difficult jumping problems to solve. Dogs who are under socialized might be so overstimulated at times that they can have a difficult time focusing on you or what you are saying.

Here are some tips for helping to turn this problem around.

• Use a leash for training, as this will help a lot
• Use treats to get your dog’s focus back on you
• If your dog is getting overstimulated, take them away from the situation
• Once they have calmed down, bring them back into the situation… but try to help them keep their focus on you
• From this point, teach your dog as you would an excited dog… using ‘hug’ and ‘off’ as command words to make them understand what you want

Where Can You Seek Help If You Can’t Get the Problem Fixed?

If you cannot get the problem solved on your own, you may need to find a professional dog trainer in your area. You could also sign up for local dog training classes. Your local veterinarian should have information about this if you cannot find it any other way, but a quick Google Search in your local area should yield plenty of relevant results.

Why does my dog jump on me? This question can be a confusing one to answer. But thankfully, with some patience, effort, and a little bit of information, you can actually do a lot to get it sorted out and get your dog back on the right track.

The post Why Does My Dog Jump on Me? appeared first on GoBarking.com.

Training your dog to use a crate has many advantages. Dogs are den animals by nature; they need to have the security of a space of their own where they can escape from the hubbub around them when the house is full, or retire to after a good long walk.

Used properly, a crate can provide just that; but your dog needs to be introduced gently and slowly to fully appreciate his crate.

Preparing For Crate Training an Adult Dog

It is very important to make sure you have the right size crate for your dog. If the crate is too small it would be inhumane, too large and it loses the den-like feeling of safety and security that a dog is looking for. So your crate needs to be large enough for him to stand up and turn around easily, and stretch out comfortably when lying down.

Position your crate in a quiet corner of a room where you and the family spend a lot of time, perhaps the kitchen/diner or living room. It’s important that your dog won’t feel isolated.

Put comfortable bedding in the crate, a blanket or crate bed on the base, maybe a blanket from his normal dog bed so there is something familiar and comforting in the crate.

Either remove or secure the crate door open so that there is no danger that the door closing behind him and scaring him.

Crate Training

Crate training an adult dog can take days or weeks depending on your dog’s temperament and past experiences; if your dog is a rescue dog, he could have had some bad experiences, so you need to be patient and never force him.

To successfully crate train an adult dog, the training needs to be taken slowly, one step at a time; he needs to associate his crate with positive emotions. Always praise and encourage him every step of the way.

Step 1: Introducing Your Dog to the Crate

Leave the crate in the room for 24 hours to let your dog get used to this new item of furniture, and allow his natural curiosity to take over. Some dogs will take to the crate immediately and curl up in it happily. If yours isn’t one of those, then you will need to slowly encourage him.

To encourage your dog to venture into the crate, place some of his favorite treats by the entrance, then just inside the crate, and gradually right to the back. If he doesn’t want to go right in, don’t force him.

You can try playing with his favorite toy, and then putting that in the crate. Always encourage and praise as he ventures further inside.

Once your dog is happily going in and out of the crate, move on to step 2.

Step 2: Feeding Your Dog in the Crate

Once your dog has accepted the crate, start feeding him his meals with the bowl at the back of the crate.

If he is still anxious about going right inside, start with the bowl just inside the entrance, then gradually move the bowl further in with each meal until he is happily eating with the bowl right at the back. Be sure to clip the door open, as if the door closes on him in the very beginning, it can spook him and set him back a few steps.

Once your dog is happily entering the crate at mealtimes, you can then close the door while he is eating. Initially open the door as soon as he has finished. With each meal leave the door closed a little longer until he is staying in his crate for 10 to 20 minutes after finishing his food.

If during this process your dog starts to whine or bark, it could be you have increased the length of time too quickly, so reduce the time you keep the door closed for a few meals before extending it again – very gradually.

If your dog does whine or bark, it is important not to let him out immediately, speak calmly and reassuringly to him, wait for even a brief gap in his whining before letting him out. Ignore him. If you look at him or talk to him, he’s getting attention. You don’t want him to associate whining and barking with being let out. This is a mistake that many dog owners make.

Step 3: Introducing Longer Crating Periods

Once your dog is happy to eat his meals in the crate and to stay in for a period of time after he has eaten, you can start training him to stay in the crate for short periods at other times.

Call him over to the crate with a treat in your hand, and indicate to enter, introduce a command, ‘in your bed,’ ‘crate,’ ‘kennel.’ Give him a treat and make a fuss of him when he goes in. Then close the door and give him another treat.

Sit close by the crate for five to ten minutes then go into another room for a minute or two, then return and sit down close by for a few more minutes. Then let him out of the crate, and praise him.

Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the length of time you are out of sight, and extending the length of time he is in the crate.

Once he is content to spend half an hour or more in the crate with you out of sight, he is ready to be left in there while you go out for short periods of time.

Step 4: Crating Your Dog and Leaving the House

Now your dog is content to be left in his crate for longer periods of time, you are free to go off and do a few errands, but don’t be gone for too long to begin with. Remember you need to take things slowly otherwise your dog could develop separation anxiety issues. It is also advisable as a safety measure to remove his collar while he is alone in his crate, in case it was to get caught in the mesh.

Call him over to the crate using your usual command, and give him a treat and praise him. Close the crate door as usual, and give him another treat.

Make sure he has a bowl of fresh water in the crate.

It might be an idea, if you aren’t already doing so, to leave a couple of safe toys or a chew, to occupy him in your absence.

Get ready to leave, don’t make a fuss or prolong your departure. He is quite happy to be in the crate if you make a fuss you could cause excitement or anxiety.

When you return, it is important not to make a big fuss of him. Be calm and matter-of-fact. Let him out in the usual fashion. If you greet him in an excited, over-enthusiastic way, he will become overexcited every time he is left.

Once you have started to crate your dog when you go out, make sure you also use the crate occasionally when you are home; otherwise, he will only associate the crate with you leaving him. Remember, for him to continue to be content when crated, he needs to associate it with good things.

Step 5: Crating Overnight

Crating overnight is sometimes a necessity if your dog is sick, or injured – and requires crate rest. While we don’t encourage long crating times, it is worth training them to accept this just in case an emergency does occur whereby it becomes a necessity.

When crating your dog overnight, it is advisable to move his crate either into your bedroom or on the landing outside to begin with, so he doesn’t feel isolated, and also so you can hear if he gets distressed or needs to go outside.

Use your usual command word to call him into the crate, and give him his treat before closing the door.

In the morning when you let him out, don’t make a huge fuss.

Common Mistakes When Crating an Adult Dog

When crate training an adult dog, you need to allow him enough time to become comfortable and confident in and around his crate. Older dogs need more time to take on board new behaviors, and also can forget, so repetition is important.

Using the Crate as a Punishment

If you send your dog to the crate as a punishment, you will be undoing all the training. For your dog to be relaxed and feel secure and content in his crate he needs to associate it with his favorite things – treats, toys and rest. If it is used as a punishment, he could become afraid, and it would see being confined in the crate as a punishment every time.

Crating for too Long

A dog should never be crated for more than 4 hours without a break, shorter periods for puppies and elderly dogs. A dog needs to be exercised and allowed to relieve himself. Being crated for long periods of time can cause distress, especially if the dog soils his bedding. Dogs are sociable, energetic animals and prolonged periods spent on their own can cause psychological problems.

Letting him out When he is Barking or Whining

There is a difference between a dog letting you know he needs to go out to relieve himself, and a dog attention seeking. If you give in to your dog when he creates a fuss, he will continue to do so. You have to ignore him; don’t speak to or look at him. When he goes quiet, then he can come out.

Final Thoughts

Crate training an adult dog doesn’t have to take all the time in the world, and can even be a great experience that allows you to bond with the new fluffy member of your family, and why not multitask; grab a cup of tea, or glass of wine – and finally get around to reading that book you’ve been wanting to start while you wait for the allotted crate time to pass?!

The post Crate Training an Adult Dog appeared first on GoBarking.com.

First, you should know that you’re not alone: This is a common challenge encountered by owners who adopt or inherit an older dog that is not accustomed to walking on a leash.

You should also know that the old saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” doesn’t hold any water.

Dogs of any age can be taught how to walk calmly on a leash, without pulling, regardless of any bad habits they may have picked up through previous owners. All that is required is the right training.

Training or retraining your dog to walk properly on a leash may seem daunting, but trust me, the extra time you put in will pay off in the end.

Being able to take your dog on a walk without any leash pulling on his part will be less stressful for you, more comfortable for your pup, and also less dangerous for both of you, especially if your dog is powerful enough to lead you both into the road or other undesired locations.

Plus, making your walks a more pleasant experience will help you to better bond with your pet.

What You Will Need to Follow This Tutorial

A Good Leash

Keep in mind that your dog may benefit from the use of a short training lead, which allows you to keep him close to your side during walks. This type of leash is especially helpful because it allows you to quickly correct bad behavior and direct your dog away from potential distractions.

Pro Tip: You may consider the Slip Lead Dog Leash by Rover on Main, which doubles as a collar and leash and can be used with all dog types.

The use of a choke chain, prong collar, or shock collar is not recommended since they could harm the dog and work by using fear to train him rather than helping him to learn in a positive way.

Dog Treats

Just as you should avoid punishing behaviors while lead-training your dog, you should work to reinforce good behaviors with positive affirmations. In addition to verbally praising your dog when he exhibits a good behavior, it’s a good idea to have canine treats on hand, since dogs generally respond well to edible offerings.

Pro Tip: I often reward my dogs with Greenies Dental Chews Dog Treats. These treats are a win-win in my mind since my dogs love them and they also help to clean their teeth and freshen their breath.

Patience

Keep in mind that this training process will take time. You and your dog will need to work together to achieve a positive end result, and that starts with a positive and patient mindset on your end.

You will need to learn, through trial and error, what motivates your dog to learn and follow commands.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Calm Your Dog’s Excitement About the Leash.

For many dog owners, leash challenges begin even before the walk has started. Your dog may associate putting on the leash with going outside, which may, in turn, cause him to become very excited and less responsive to your commands.

As a first step, then, you’ll want to train your pup to remain calm when you bring out his lead. One way to do this is by clipping your dog into and out of the leash while you remain in the house.

The goal here is to break his assumption that putting on the leash means he’ll be going for a walk. Clipping him into and out of the leash while you go about your daily routine inside the house will eventually desensitize him to the process.

This video from Expert Village offers helpful tips on how to correctly fasten a leash onto your dog.

2. Tame His Eagerness to Walk Out the Door

Once your dog is able to remain calm when you clip on his leash, you can practice calmly walking out the door. This process is similar to desensitizing your dog to the leash.

First, set aside some extra time for your walk. Practice walking out the door with your dog, pausing, then re-entering the house.

You should continue this until your dog’s excitement has died down and he’s lost interest. Then, once he’s calm, you can begin your walk.

WikiHow offers an ideal image here of what your pup should look like when you open the door to bring him outside.

This is how your dog should look like when you open the door to bring him outside.

Pro Tip: If your dog has a lot of energy, you may want to let him run and play off that energy before you go for a walk. If you’re able to, play fetch with him in a safe area outdoors first, then clip him to the leash and take him for a walk. He may be more responsive to your commands if he isn’t distracted by his pent-up need to run.

3. Stand Your Ground

The most common problem owners typically have to overcome during walks with their pup is leash pulling. Dogs pull on the leash because they’re excited to be outside and instinct tells them to explore their surroundings. If you reward your dog’s pulling by moving in the direction he pulls you, he’ll continue this potentially dangerous behavior.

To break him of this habit, stand firmly in place when he begins to pull on the leash, and don’t move again until he stops pulling and gives you his attention. You may need to repeat this many times until your pup realizes that pulling on the leash will do him no good.

Watch Cesar Millan explain why pulling happens and how to remedy it.

Pro Tip: When your dog stops pulling and turns to give you his attention, reinforce this positive behavior verbally and with treats. This will further drive home the point for him that pulling is bad and that he should follow your lead.

4. Try the Reverse Direction Technique

If you’re standing your ground consistently and your dog is taking no heed, you may want to try the reserve direction technique. Instead of planting your feet when your dog pulls and waiting for his attention, try issuing a “let’s go” cue, turn away from him, and walk in the opposite direction he is pulling. Instead of jerking or yanking the leash, speak in an excited voice to get his attention.

Once he is following you and the leash is relaxed, then you can turn around and continue in your original direction. This achieves the same purpose as the stand-your-ground technique, in that it drives home to your dog that pulling on the leash will not reward him with what he wants.

You can see this technique in action in this video by Victoria Stilwell.

Pro Tip: Reinforce your dog’s decision to walk close to you by offering him treats when he exhibits this behavior. Encouraging him to stay by your side during walks will ultimately be more comfortable and safer for both of you.

Remember: The better you make him feel for walking close to you, the more he will choose to do so.

5. Be Consistent

The most important thing you can do when leash training or retraining your dog is to be consistent in your efforts. Staying patient and sticking to these training guidelines day in and day out will teach your dog what kind of behavior is expected of him and allow him to ingrain good behaviors.

If you become frustrated one day and allow your pup to pull you to the park, for example, you will essentially erase the good work you’ve done previously to teach him that pulling will not reward him with what he wants, and you’ll have to start your training again from scratch.

Every dog will be different in terms of how long it will take him to be fully leash-trained, but all dogs are capable of this good behavior so long as you stay patient, consistent, and focused during the training process.

This video from Zak George’s rEvolution offers more insight on a patient and humane approach to leash training your dog.

With These Tips in Mind, Are You Ready to Leash Train Your Older Dog?

As a dog owner, I hope that every other owner has the opportunity to take enjoyable walks with their furry friends on a daily basis, and I hope that this tutorial will help you work toward that goal. Walking side by side with your pet is one of the many joys of owning a dog, and I hope that you feel it’s achievable for you.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to share it with your friends and on social media, especially if you think others would benefit from it.

We also welcome you to share what you think about this advice in the comments section and be sure to let us know how it works for you and your dog.

The post How to Leash Train an Older Dog (Quick Guide) appeared first on GoBarking.com.