Jumping Jumping behavior is considered one of the biggest problems for owners and can be equally problematic for dogs. Not only does jumping present certain health risks associated with injury, but also this behavior is often considered a substantial nuisance forcing many owners to isolate dogs in response. Understanding its origin, along with how we inadvertently reinforce the behavior can be helpful in not only seeing it from the dog’s point of view but also how we may contribute to the problem. It should be part of every responsible dog owner not only recognizing and seeking help for these problems when they first occur but in many cases prevent them from occurring in the first place. When we find ourselves with behavior problems that seem in conflict with our expectations, we should not only seek help, but should be willing to recognize our part in the process. The origin of jumping behavior Researchers (Fox, 1971) suspect jumping behavior in adult dogs is actually a by-product of “et-epimeletic” or care seeking behavior that serves as a “behavioral antecedent of adult greeting ritual displays, often observed during homecomings (Lindsay, 2000). This same behavior includes food regurgitation rituals performed by puppies soliciting food and directed toward returning adults. The effects of domestication, influences from coactive social facilitation along with a long history of canid/human social bonding makes transference and learning for this behavior extremely easy Other effects attributed to learning When owners get new puppies, jumping behavior is often tolerated perhaps even reinforced inadvertently, but as the young puppy increases in size and weight, the same behavior tolerated earlier quickly becomes a nuisance for many owners. Owners fail to realize during the early weeks and months when the cute little puppy greeted them by jumping, and in turn was acknowledged using their own happy greeting, the puppy learned the consequences of jumping was reinforcing creating a happy (appetitive) experience.

These reinforcing consequences experienced by the young puppy can make this behavior difficult to modify due to previous acquisition associated with negative transfer. Contrary to the effects of negative transfer on subsequent learning is positive transfer associated with preventative management and learning. Previously learned jumping behavior now comes in conflict with owner’s behavioral expectations creating problems not only for the disappointed owner, but for the dog as well, who is only doing what previously was acceptable behavior.

This point should be distinctly recognized as our part in creating the unpleasant behavior we now want to modify. By recognizing, our part as a significant influence on our dog’s subsequent behavior should help us remain more tolerant during not only the modification process but also accepting the responsibility for facilitating the change.

Higher order classes of behavior

Often types of learning established in laboratories fails to consider what occurs in environments that are more naturalistic. In an effort to explain this Estes (1971) tried to account for problems with reinforcement theory by noting “the frequency with which animals and men in non-laboratory situations repeat punished acts and fail to repeat rewarded ones is so great…statistical generalization, the empirical law of effect is all but vacuous” (Lindsay, 2000). According to Lindsay (2000) this statement does not imply that reinforcement and punishment do not work, but rather effects of higher order classes of behavior interfere or compete with learning responses that are in opposition. Lindsay (2000) cites several examples of competing higher-order behavior including attention seeking, fear-related, dominance-related, play and attachment. Jumping is an attention seeking behavior and often as part of behavior modification, an extinction process is suggested however used exclusively this process will not render jumping ineffective. What we have is an association between natural attention seeking (high-order) behavior and a sub-class behavior jumping.

Expectancy theory provides two forms of expectancies based on reinforcement “specific and generalized.” The simple association between a behavior and consequence is a “specific expectancy” and “general expectancies” are learned by acquiring knowledge about similarities between situations and reinforcing consequences. Thus, these “specific and generalized expectancies form complex…relationships influencing both trainability and performance.” “Generalized expectancies are …similar…to learning sets or the process of “learning how to learn” (Lindsay, 2000).

If we apply a competing behavior such as sit along with an extinction process during all instances of jumping (generalized expectancy) behavior the dog quickly learns that his previous response is not reinforced (disconfirmed) while at the same time reinforcing sit (competing behavior) makes changing the difficult behavior possible.

Preventative measures

Prevention of social excesses goes along way in strengthening the bond between human and dog. Taking an interest in early training exercises that prevent puppies learning inappropriate behavior is easily accomplished by encouraging behavior that is more acceptable. In the case of jumping this behavior should be discouraged at an early age while providing alternatives such as sit, down or stand and what dog trainers often refer to as “four feet on the floor” gets reinforced, anything other gets ignored.

Healthy play activities offer excellent ways of encouraging the puppy to keep *all four on the floor* and in addition increasing attentiveness. In instances that are more difficult management can be helpful, the use of tethers placed in strategic locations such as around doors can be effective allowing owners hands free control for using a clicker and reinforcers such as food and toys.

Lastly, I often suggest putting jumping behavior on cue. In most cases, jumping behavior is already part of the dogs’ repertoire so I prefer working on a reliable alternative behavior first, which may be helpful in eliminating any possible inadvertent reinforcement.

Modification

Often during behavior modification dogs will be inadvertently reinforced and coupled with the “intrinsic reward value” this intermittent form of reinforcement can counter even the best of efforts. Lindsay (2005) suggests the following four preferred methods for controlling and bringing jumping behavior under stimulus control.

1. Train a competing alternative behavior such as sit. Dogs cannot jump and sit at the same time. Make the alternative behavior more reinforcing than jumping.
2. Block, correct or ignore any jumping behavior when it occurs.
3. Allow jumping as a reward, under stimulus control as a reward for not jumping.
4. Put the jumping behavior on a continuous schedule of reinforcement then bring it under stimulus control.

Training other behaviors that may be helpful in countering jumping

Attentional training and impulse control exercises are always helpful when modifying any excessive behavior, along with situation controls such as waiting at doors, staying in place and sitting for greetings. Management tools are often recommended that provide owners’ additional control over the dog’s behavior, these might include draglines, hand leads, tethers and gates and can all be useful during the behavior modification process.

Rehearsal & Staging Procedures

In addition to teaching a competing behavior, there are usually setting events that precipitate the dog’s excessive greeting behavior that may include doorbells, arriving automobiles, and even previous punishment. These setting events usually cause arousal associated with anticipatory emotional greetings, this stimuli will also require counter-conditioning efforts.

To achieve the best results any behavior modification program should be approached methodically. The process will include any necessary trained competing behavior that counters the unwanted behavior, management to prevent the unwanted behavior being reinforced, any tools that may help the owner to control the dog, along with a well thought out training plan that includes steps for rehearsal and staging procedures before the dog is actually introduced to the real situation.

What is rehearsal?

Rehearsal is requiring the dog to “repeatedly perform behavior components” that will be necessary in the later stages of the behavior modification plan. All necessary behaviors that will be required to control the unwanted behavior should be practiced until the dog is reliably offering them. Once the dog is reliably offering the target behavior the behavior modification process proceeds to the next level, which is actual staging the entire event.

Staging takes place in the context where the problem behavior occurs. This often occurs in the context of greeting guests but the staging process begins first using persons more familiar to the dog, which is helpful keeping his arousal at a lower level, and before actually introducing the dog to an actual guest or stranger.

Modifying undesirable behavior is not difficult but it does require understanding the interaction between training and the target behavior of modification. The right behavior consultant will not only provide an appropriate training plan but will be able to explain these concepts in more detail if necessary. Part of any training process should take into consideration all the “collective exchanges and transactions between the trainer, dog, and family” and should promote “interactive harmony, mutual appreciation, and improved life experience with the dog” (Lindsay, 2005).

References

Lindsay, Steven R. Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 2 Vols.
Iowa: Iowa SP. 2000. Vol. 1.

Lindsay, Steven R. Handbook of applied dog behavior and training. 3 Vols.
Iowa: Blackwell. 2005. Vol. 3.

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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948
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