“Off” - People
Week 5
Full Class Instructions
Watch the video below to hear our instructors discuss the importance of “Off” of people.
Quick Notes
Puppies jump on people primarily because it gets attention, which has often been reinforced since they were very young.
Jumping is frequently encouraged unintentionally when people pet, talk to, or greet puppies while they’re jumping.
Dogs are scent-driven animals, and much of a human’s scent is concentrated around the face and upper body, motivating dogs to jump up to investigate.
Jumping is also a natural social behavior rooted in how dogs greet and interact with one another.
Even negative attention (talking, scolding, reacting) can reinforce jumping, because the dog still receives engagement.
To change the behavior, puppies must be reinforced for being off people before they jump, not after the jumping has already occurred.
Demonstration
Teacher Demonstration with puppy in class
At What A Good Dog, we ensure that we do our demonstrations with your puppies! Watch as Laura and Linda use class puppy Ruby in their demonstration before the class tries themsevles.
Notice How Ruby behaves when Linda, “the distraction” interacts with her.
Class Experience
Practice at home!
Now it’s time for you to try with your puppy! Watch as our students practice with Linda and Laura as they act as a distraction and try yourself with a friend or family member. Don’t forget your cue words!
Upload a video
Be sure to send us a video demonstrating this behavior as well so we can give you personalized training advice with our virtual video service.