Animal Behavior & Training
Stop Telling Your Dog to “Get Down”: Trainer Shares a Smarter Trick
If your dog jumps up every time you come through the door, you’re not alone.
While a bouncy greeting might seem cute at first, it can quickly become a nuisance, or even a safety concern.
But instead of shouting “down,” a professional trainer says there’s a much better way to correct the behavior.
The Howl School for Dogs, known for promoting ethical and positive dog training on TikTok, shared a clever tip to help redirect your pup’s energy, without using harsh commands.
Try Treats, Not Tension
In a recent video, a trainer from the Howl School suggested that instead of telling your dog “no” or “get down,” you try using a treat to encourage an incompatible behavior.
One that makes it impossible for them to jump.
“Before your dog even thinks about jumping up, put a treat on the ground for them,” the trainer explained.
“They can’t be jumping up and going to get their little treat at the same time.”
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Consistency Is Key
This trick works by redirecting the dog’s attention to the floor, interrupting their jump with something more rewarding.
Once they grab the treat, their focus shifts, often enough for them to forget about the urge to leap altogether.
As with any training method, it may take a few repetitions before your dog gets the idea.
The goal is to make them associate staying grounded with a positive reward, and over time, reduce their instinct to jump up when greeting people.
Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.
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