Dealing with a German Shepherd jumping all over you, your furniture, and your guests is embarrassing, frustrating, all too common, and fortunately, easy enough to resolve.
It might not seem that way now, but this isn’t a problem you just have to learn to live with. Neither is it a problem you’re alone in dealing with.
You know the story…
A visitor pops by your house. Your pup gets excited, loses all control, and starts jumping all over the place in a bid to get as much attention and as close to the action as possible.
Everyone tells you how adorable they are. And then your pup loses their baby teeth, gains 50 lb of muscle, and suddenly adorable turns into scary.
Sound familiar?
It should do. German Shepherds are known for their jumping prowess. As adults, they’re capable of jumping between 4 and 6 feet high. They’ve got power in their legs, determination in their heads, and the combination of the two rarely spells good things for your neighbors, your friends, and anyone else who has the misfortune to stop by your home.
It’s rare that they mean any harm with their antics. But that doesn’t mean Mrs. Jones from next door will be any more amenable to being knocked to the floor than if they did.
And if you want to turn your dog from a menace into a model citizen, it’s time to get on top of their behavior once and for all.
The good news?
It’s not that hard. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie to dog training or an experienced hand, this is a problem you’re more than capable of managing.
The first step?
Take two minutes out of your schedule to grab a free copy of “My Everyday Dog Training Tools” from Dan Abdelnoor over at the Online Dog Trainer.
Designed to teach any dog to take control of their emotions, this short guide reveals 5 simple exercises that will put your dog on the path to becoming calmer, more focused, and far more inclined to listen to you than jump all over you.
Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Grab Your Free Copy Of My Everyday Dog Training Tools Discover How To Finally Stop Your German Shepherd Jumping… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
Why Is My German Shepherd Jumping?
As sure as every person is unique, every dog is too. When it comes to jumping, though, most dogs jump for the same reasons.
Work out which of the following common explanations apply in your own case, and you’ll be one step closer to managing the problem.
Attention
If there’s one thing German Shepherds love more than almost anything else, it’s the attention of their owner. This is a breed that bonds fast and bonds hard – as soon as that bond is established, they’ll go out of their way to protect, serve, and spend as much time with their human family as possible.
If they feel their owner isn’t lavishing them with quite as much time and attention as they’d like. They’ll do whatever they feel is necessary to grab back the limelight… and yep, that includes jumping.
Excitement
German Shepherds have a reputation for being unselfish, hard-working, and stately. The truth is, they’re as prone to getting overexcited as any other breed.
When that excitement kicks in, so does the jumping.
Training
Most German Shepherds start picking up habits like jumping at a young age. If the behavior isn’t corrected in the proper way and at the proper time, those habits will become ingrained.
If you have a young pup who’s already starting to get a little too comfortable on two legs, now’s the time to address it – it may seem cute at the moment. But the longer you leave it, the less adorable it’ll become.
Fear
We all know what fear feels like, but not many of us are able to recognize it in our dogs.
A tail between the legs and a slouching slink might give the game away in some cases, but some dogs prefer expressing their emotions in a different way.
If your German Shepherd feels threatened or fearful for any reason, they might jump up or display other out-of-character behaviors.
Boredom
German Shepherds were bred as working dogs. If they don’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation, they can easily become bored, frustrated, and prone to acting out.
Think about how much exercise your dog gets. If you have to think long and hard to remember the last time they got a good workout at the park, you might have found the reason for all that hyperactive behavior and jumping.
Related Post: How To Calm An Overexcited Dog – Instant Calming Techniques
How to Stop a German Shepherd Jumping
So, we know why your German Shepherd might be jumping around like a jack-in-the-box. But how exactly do you stop it?
Number 1? Check out the exercises in My Everyday Dog Training Tools. The sooner you can start teaching your dog how to stay in control of their emotions, the sooner you can wave goodbye to all that boisterous, annoying behavior.
The Dog Calming Code will help teach your dog how to calm down, start focused, and pay attention. Once they’re able to do all three, you’ll find working your way through the rest of these tips and tricks a breeze.
Use Body Language
Dogs use body language to express how they feel. If you can learn to do the same, you’ll be one step closer to a more well-behaved dog.
Next time you see your dog getting ready to spring into action, say ‘no’ firmly and turn your back. To your dog, your back is boring. There no’s fun in jumping up to meet you if all they get is the back of your head.
If they try to circle around to meet you head-on, be persistent. Keep turning your back on them, even if they manage to get their feet off the floor. By rejecting their request for attention in this way, they’ll eventually give up trying.
Tell your friends, your family, and everyone else who comes into contact with your dog to do the same thing. Soon enough, they’ll stop associating jumping with attention.
While you’re doing that, introduce a new way to give them some attention. Next time they dash over, hold out your hand in a ‘stop’ signal and ask them to sit. Once they do, reward them handsomely with lots of praise. If they jump up during the petting session, put an end to the interaction by turning your back.
German Shepherds aren’t stupid: once they cotton on to the fact that staying calm gets them the attention they crave and getting giddy gets them nothing, their jumping days will soon be behind them.
Get Active
German Shepherds weren’t bred to sit around the sofa all day doing nothing. Deprive them of mental and physical activity for too long, and they’ll get wound up, pent up, and prone to doing whatever they can to release the tension…. including jumping.
Make exercise a habit. If you’re away from home for most of the day, consider getting a dog walker or friend to pop by to help break up your dog’s day with a run.
Play is just as important as structured exercise: frisbee, tug of war, and fetch are all great ways to add some exercise into your dog’s life without making you break out into a sweat in the process.
If you have a yard, be sure to let your dog make the most of it. Just remember basic safety precautions – German Shepherds will see a 4-5 foot fence as an opportunity, not a deterrent.
To stop them jumping to freedom, install a sturdy, chew-proof fence that’s at least 6 feet high. It’s also worth opting for a fence made from solid wood or vinyl wood panels rather than a chain-link option if they’ve figured out how to climb.
Put an End to Boredom
Exercise is one thing, but a highly intelligent dog like the German Shepherd needs more than just physical activity to keep them stimulated and happy.
Keep boredom at bay by shaking things up from time to time. Alternate walking routes, turn one walk into two shorter ones, teach them some tricks, and invest in some interactive toys. You could even try signing them up for an agility or training course.
As German Shepherds love to socialize, it’s also a great idea to organize regular playdates with friends and neighbors and get them to the dog park as often as possible.
Remember, variety is the spice of life – the more spice you add, the less chance your dog will get bored, frustrated, and prone to engaging in undesirable behaviors like jumping.
Educate Them
Training might seem like a lot of hard work, but if your dog’s jumping habit is bringing you down, now’s the time to knuckle down with some basic obedience training.
Enlist the help of a friend, grab a bag of treats, and get started on this simple training technique:
- Pop your dog on a leash and give the leash to your friend to hold. Grab a handful of treats, give your dog a sniff, then stand 6 feet away.
- Start walking towards your dog. If they try to jump towards you, issue a firm ‘no’ and take a step back. Wait for them to calm down.
- If they don’t jump, reward them with a treat and plenty of praise. Keep repeating the exercise until they learn to associate calmness with a treat, and jumping with a big fat zero.
Redirect Their Energy
Diversion can often be just as good as a cure.
Next time your dog starts jumping, redirect their focus by asking them to sit, lie down, or roll (obviously, they’ll need to know the commands for these – if you haven’t already taught them, now’s the time to start).
By diverting their attention onto something else, you’ll stop the immediate inconvenience and, in time, help bring an end to the habit altogether.
Encourage Emotional Control
Jumping caused by boredom, hyperactivity, excitement, or anxiety all boils down to one thing: a loss of control.
If you can teach your dog how to stay in control of their emotions, how to stay focused, and how to stop turning a deaf ear to your instructions whenever they get distracted. You’ll be kissing goodbye to all that boisterous jumping before you know it.
I know I’ve mentioned My Everyday Dog Training Tools a few times already, but a good thing bears repeating. If you haven’t already grabbed your free copy, do it now.
There’s nothing challenging about the code, nothing complicated, and nothing that’s going to stress out either you or your dog. It’s simply good, solid, proven advice that’s going to make a world of difference to your dog’s behavior.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherds are strong, agile, incredibly loyal, superb at protecting kith and kin, and far, far too athletic for their own good. Or, to be more accurate, their owners.
German Shepherds that spend most of their life with two feet off the ground aren’t unusual. Does that mean you have to put up with being knocked to the floor every time you walk through the front door? Not at all.
Keep them exercised, keep them distracted, and keep them trained. Soon enough, they’ll learn to appreciate the value of having four feet planted firmly on terra firma.
