Teach Your Dog to Jump Up and Bark at You? You Bet!
Hello there my dog-loving friend! My name is Allison, and I’ve been working with dogs professionally for, well, a really long time. And sometimes there’s nothing like a little reverse-psychology to help you out with your pup. If you get stuck trying to teach your dog a behavior, sometimes the way forward requires a little backward thinking.
What do I mean? Take something your dog does naturally like jumping, digging, or howling, and teach them a command, like “Up”, “Dig”, or “Sing”… And then teach them the opposite command: teach them “Off”, “Quit”, or “Quiet”.
Here are 7 steps you can follow to teach your dog opposite commands today!
#1. Start linking the command with the behavior.
If your dog barks incessantly, you can teach them the command “Speak”.
It goes something like this:
Rex barks.
Say “Speak Rex, Speak” in a neutral tone of voice.
Rex looks at you like you are crazy.
Try to catch Rex when he’s just about to bark again, and say “Speak Rex”.
Rex barks.
Praise with “Good Speak!” in a high pitch tone.
👉Your dog will learn over time, so don’t worry about whether or not they “get it” right away. Every time you catch your dog barking, use that opportunity to pair the command with the action. Say the command a lot and fluctuate between a neutral tone of voice for giving the command and a high pitched voice for praise. Sounds crazy, right?
🌟But when you teach your dog to understand a command for an action, you have more control over that action!
#2. Take advantage of as many natural occurrences as you can.
We are dealing with behaviors that are instinctual for dogs, so they can be hard to recreate on the spot. 👉Look for instances where your dog naturally does a behavior, and then seize that opportunity to train. You want to create a positive and clear link between the command you give and the action your dog does. Do not overcomplicate or try to control it. Let your dog learn naturally over time and incorporate the commands into daily life versus a structured training session.
🌟Find opportunities to say the command: ideally, right before your dog does the behavior. Then use praise to strengthen the link. This is something you will need to repeat often, so stay consistent!
#3. Be prepared.
👉Keep treats readily available to use as reinforcement. Choose the command you want like “Jump” or “Up” ahead of time and make sure everyone in the household uses the same command and follows these steps. If possible, limit the occurrence of the behavior when you are unavailable for training opportunities.
Communicate clearly in a neutral tone of voice and praise quickly and consistently in a high pitch voice.
🌟There are no corrections in opposite training, so just remember to keep it simple and fun!
#4. It’s okay to cheat!
👉If you’re having trouble “catching your dog in the act”, manufacture a situation that will elicit the behavior. If you are trying to teach your dog not to bark, you may notice they bark out the window when people walk by. You can close curtains and block off access to the window at times you can not train and then give access to the window at times you are available. You can also practice at high foot-traffic times, so you have more opportunities.
#5. Use hand gestures to help your dog learn faster.
Wherever possible use a hand gesture as you give a command.
🌟Dogs learn hand gestures faster than actual words. But be sure that everyone is on the same page, using the same gestures and same commands. Consistency is key!
#6. Ready, Set… Switch!
Once your dog is a pro at jumping, digging, or barking on command, it is time to make the switch! Choose a command to use for the new, opposite behavior, like “Off”, “Quit”, or “Quiet”.
👉Give the original command, your dog will do the behavior, then instead of praising, give them the opposite command. Pair the opposite command with a hand gesture whenever possible. Praise instantly, even if your dog does the opposite command only for a second.
It goes something like this:
Place your hands to your chest and say “Bella Up”. Bella jumps up.
Instead of praising, now point your finger at the floor and say “Bella Off”.
Bella has no idea what you’re talking about.
Point down with one hand, gently move Bella to the floor with the other, and say “Bella Off”.
As soon as all four of Bella’s feet touch the ground, say “Good Off! Good girl Off, Bella!”
🌟No longer praise at all for the original command – only praise for the opposite command to solidify the behavior.
#7. Implement this strategy as much as you can!
Teaching opposite commands doesn’t take much effort. You may notice many behaviors you can pair commands with, like Take It / Leave It, Give Kisses / Enough, Go Ahead / Wait, and more! Playing fetch can practice “Take It”, “Bring It” and “Drop It” all in one game! The more commands you teach your dog the better. 👉Training is fun, challenging, and rewarding for your dog!
Check out our other blogs for more great training tips for you and your dog!
✨And if you are thinking of getting a dog, please consider adoption and rescue!
There are so many dogs out there that need your leadership and love! ✨