How to Train Your Dog to Jump on Your Back

So, you've taught your pup to jump into the car, over sticks, and maybe even through hoops, but are you ready for the next challenge: training your dog to jump on your back? Not only will this be a lot of fun for you and your pup, but it’s a great trick for you to teach him and is sure to be entertaining for the rest of the family and your friends. Teaching him to jump on and off a range of objects such as your back, your couch, is fun, but most of all it gives you even more control over your dog.

Of course, if you haven't taught him to jump over anything yet, teaching him to jump on your back is a great starter. Bear in mind that his ability to jump safely and well relies on a number of key factors, including self-confidence, power, and the skills needed to do so. The only real limits to his jumping skills are your desire to train him and any limits based on his physical size. For example, a Welsh Corgi is not going to be able to jump as high as a Border Collie. 

The basis of this command is that you want your pup to be able to jump up on your back and stay there until you release him. One word of warning, you may not want to teach your St. Bernard or Alaskan Malamute this trick unless you have a really strong back. Teaching your dog to jump on your back not only helps to build a strong bond between the two of you, it also helps to build stronger muscles and, most importantly, trust.

Learning to jump on command is a very impressive skill for any dog to learn. It is not an easy one to learn, but most dogs can be taught this trick at any age as long as they are physically capable of doing so. Be patient, train regularly, and it won’t be long before he will jump on your back when you are playing, when it's time to go for a ride, and more. 

Before you get started, a few words of warning: jumping can put a lot of strain on your dog's joints, ligaments, and muscles. Be sure your pup has finished growing before trying to teach him to jump too high. Most vets agree that you should not try teaching your dog to jump until he is at least one year of age, especially if you have a larger breed dog. And now the supplies list:

• Treats: No training is complete without some way to reward your pup for doing a good job.
  
• Couch: You need something soft for him to practice jumping on and off of without injury.
  
• Clicker: If you have already been using one for training your dog, it will be handy now too.
  
• Time: It takes a lot of time to train your dog to jump on your back
  
• Patience: Be patient because it will take time for him to master this trick
  

Lastly, you will need a quiet place to work so that your dog doesn't have to deal with distractions while he is trying to master this new skill.