How to Train Your Boxer Dog to Not Jump
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Introduction
Daisy is a very friendly 2-year-old Boxer--too friendly, some would say. As is characteristic of her breed, she gets very excited when people come over or her owners return home, jumping up on them to show how happy she is to see them. The problem is, Daisy is a big girl--with claws--and most people do not appreciate her jumping behavior. Her owners have got to come up with a solution before Daisy drives all their friends away and wrecks all their clothes!
Boxers are very expressive of their emotions and can be high-energy dogs. The result is jumping behavior when they are excited. What may be cute when they are puppies will not be cute when they are bigger. Because jumping up can injure people, especially seniors or children, your Boxer will need to earn a more appropriate way to channel his emotion and excitement. Fortunately, there are several ways to teach your Boxer how to keep his or her paws on the ground.
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Defining Tasks
When your Boxer jumps up on you, he is probably trying to express his excitement at seeing you and wants affection. This is a worthy goal, and you do not want to punish it, but to redirect it to more appropriate expressive and attention-seeking behavior. Boxers are pawsy dogs, which means they are more apt to use their paws to handle a toy or communicate with you then some other breeds. Keep this in mind when redirecting behavior, and try not to lose patience with your lovable Boxer, who is just trying to show his pleasure in being with you. You will want to teach your Boxer that putting his paw on you does not get attention. Instead, he will get attention for other behaviors, like sitting and looking at you or performing a trick or command.
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Getting Started
When working with your Boxer, you will want to first establish that you are the leader. Work with your dog to teach him obedience commands. Take your dog for walks and participate in feeding time by making your dog wait while you prepare food and then staying with him while he eats, to establish you are the provider of all good things. A Boxer that recognizes your leadership will be much easier to work with and teach not to jump up. Make sure all members of your household and any guests to the home understand that your Boxer is undergoing training not to jump up, and understands what to do or not do when the dog jumps. You will want to establish consistency.
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The Extinguish Method
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Turn away
When your Boxer comes at you, and starts to jump up, cross your arms over your chest and turn your body away from your Boxer.
Ignore jumping
Pay no attention to your dog if he continues to jump.
Walk away
Walk away from your Boxer if he continues his jumping behavior.
Reward stop jumping
As soon as your Boxer stops trying to jump at you, stop, turn around and praise your dog. Give him attention.
Capture paws on ground
Repeat, withdrawing attention for jumping, giving it when paws are on the ground. When your Boxer approaches you and does not jump up, give him lots of attention and a treat to reinforce paws on the ground behavior.
The Alternate Behavior Method
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Teach alternate behavior
Teach your dog a behavior such as 'sit and look at me', or 'sit-stay'. Provide treats for performing the behavior.
Practice when distracted
Give the command for the alternate behavior in distracting situations, such as outside in the yard, or while on walks. Reinforced with treats, attention and play for your high-energy Boxer.
Provide command when dog jumps
When your Boxer approaches you or someone else, and starts to jump up, provide the command for the alternate behavior, 'sit-stay' or 'sit and look at me'.
Reward obedience
When the dog complies, give a treat and lots of attention.
Ignore jumping
If the Boxer continues to jump up, ignore and turn away. When the dog hesitates and has paws on the ground, repeat the command for the alternate behavior. Reinforce the alternate behavior.
The Start Young Method
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Take paws
When your pup jumps up towards you, take hold of his paws before he puts them on you.
Hold paws
Hold the paws until your puppy becomes tired of standing on his back feet, when he show signs of this, let his paws go, and allow him to put them back on the floor.
Reward paws on ground
When your Boxer puppy’s paws hit the floor, give your puppy praise and attention.
Repeat
Repeat every time your Boxer puppy tries to put his paws up on you.
Capture not jumping
When your puppy approaches you about to jump, and then second guesses and stays down, give lots of praise and treats to reinforce not jumping. Capture the moment when the Boxer puppy hesitates and decides not to jump up.
Written by Laurie Haggart
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 12/22/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Tara
german shepherd and pitbull mix
6 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Tara always jumps on us when we come in the door so we ignore her. But we say hi to our other dog because she isn't jumping and that makes Tara jump even more. And when I tell Tara to sit and she does that instead of jumping, I pet her and she just gets up and jumps on me again.
Oct. 21, 2021
Tara's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Natalie, Check out the Step Toward method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 22, 2021
Odin
Boxer
7 Months
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
He is obsessed with jumping up on people and especially to young children. He shows no aggression but just want to get to their face to lick or say hello. It is becoming a real problem as he sometimes makes a b-line for smaller children across the park as he just wants to say hello even though his recall is generally pretty good. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Feb. 15, 2021
Odin's Owner
Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer
257 Dog owners recommended
Jumping: Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They can't sit and jump up at the same time. If they are not sitting, they get no attention. It is important to be consistent. Everyone in your family must follow the training program all the time. You can't let your dog jump on people in some circumstances, but not others. Training techniques: When your dog… Jumps on other people: Ask a family member or friend to assist with training. Your assistant must be someone your dog likes and wants to greet. Your dog should never be forced to greet someone who scares them. Give your dog the "sit" command. (This exercise assumes your dog already knows how to "sit.") The greeter approaches you and your dog. If your dog stands up, the greeter immediately turns and walks away. Ask your dog to "sit," and have the greeter approach again. Keep repeating until your dog remains seated as the greeter approaches. If your dog does remain seated, the greeter can give your dog a treat as a reward. When you encounter someone while out walking your dog, you must manage the situation and train your dog at the same time. Stop the person from approaching by telling them you don't want your dog to jump. Hand the person a treat. Ask your dog to "sit." Tell the person they can pet your dog and give them the treat as long as your dog remains seated. Some people will tell you they don't mind if your dog jumps on them, especially if your dog is small and fluffy or a puppy. But you should mind. Remember you need to be consistent in training. If you don't want your dog to jump on people, stick to your training and don't make exceptions. Jumps on you when you come in the door: Keep greetings quiet and low-key. If your dog jumps on you, ignore them. Turn and go out the door. Try again. You may have to come in and go out dozens of times before your dog learns they only gets your attention when they keep all four feet on the floor. Jumps on you when you're sitting: If you are sitting and your dog jumps up on you, stand up. Don't talk to your dog or push them away. Just ignore them until all four feet are on the ground. Please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you for writing in!
Feb. 16, 2021