Is your dog always jumping up at you or guests? While dogs often jump up out of excitement or to get attention, it can also pose safety risks or simply be bad manners, especially if they’re a large breed or interacting with someone older or carrying a hot drink.
Professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant Amelia Steele, known as Amelia the Dog Trainer, shared an effective method to prevent dogs from jumping up in a recent Instagram post. She demonstrated her technique while working with a rescue dog in Romania, highlighting how crucial it is for dogs in shelters to learn not to jump, as it could make the difference between finding a home or not.
In the video, Steele uses a food reward technique to encourage alternative behaviors. She explains, “I’m going to reward him for literally anything he’s doing other than jumping.” By placing the treat on the floor, she redirects the dog’s focus to keeping its feet grounded.
Steele continues, “I like to get him thinking about alternative ways to engage with me,” encouraging problem-solving as the dog figures out how to get the treat. If the dog jumps, she waits for them to come back down before rewarding the calm behavior.
This simple but effective method reinforces the idea that staying on the ground leads to rewards, teaching the dog that this is the best way to get treats—and eventually cuddles.
While the reasons for training may vary depending on the individual dog and its environment, Steele’s approach offers a straightforward solution to a common dog behavior problem.
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