Polite Greetings
Everyone loves it when a tiny puppy jumps up to greet them. “Awww, so cute!” they say, but when that puppy grows up to be a full-grown Golden Retriever with muddy paws, it’s no longer cute. Actually, it’s down-right rude!
It’s very easy to teach a pup to greet people politely. It’s much harder to convince an adult dog who’s been rewarded for jumping up that he should now greet people politely. Wouldn’t you rather try the easy way?
The “good stuff” Sparky gets for jumping up is attention. Sometimes, when he jumps up to you, you pick him up and cuddle him. He learns that “up” is a desirable place to be.
At some point you decide that Sparky is too big to jump up anymore, however, he doesn’t realize it. And when that continue to happen, By then, it’s a well-established habit for him - a reliable way to get the good stuff.
You try to stop giving Sparky attention for jumping up, but every once in a while, when the mood is right, you fall on petting him when he puts his paws in your lap. What a big mistake it would be! You are not reinforcing the impolite dog behavior in a random manner. You occasionally reward this jumping up sometimes it’s not.
It becomes very tough for a behavior that are randomly reinforced - it’s not easy to eliminate it because Sparky learns that if he just keeps trying, eventually the behavior will pay off, like a slot machine that gives up its fortune if you keep pulling the handle long enough.
You’re not the only one who inadvertently rewards your pup randomly for jumping up. Family members, passersby on the street who want to gush over your pup when you’re walking him on the leash, visitors to your home - the entire world is a potential slot machine for your pup. This is where you combine good management with assertive insistence.
Make your pup think that sitting in front of you politely, he will get your attention. Jumping up makes you turn your back, walk away, or even step over or through a baby gate (a great management tool!) if necessary, leaving your puppy behind. Show your family how to respond in the same manner so Sparky will learn that the only way to get anyone to pay attention to him is by sitting.
When Sparky now know that sitting is a rewardable behavior, and if you’re walking him in public and someone approaches, gently but insistently let them know that before they can pet him, he must sit first. Your leash is your management tool - restrain Sparky so he can’t charge forward and jump up. Tell the person if Sparky jumps up, they must step back until he sits again, then allow them to pet your dog.