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Want to stop your Dachshund’s bad jumping behavior? You’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re concerned about the health of your Dachshund’s spine or want to get rid of their bad jumping behavior, there is a simple solution. If you know the right technique and put them into it will stop automatically!
Many people accidentally encourage jumping, and this post is made to ensure you’re not one of them.
So how exactly do you stop your Dachshund from jumping? To prevent a Dachshund from jumping, you must ignore their behavior and reward an alternative. The major challenge with stopping a dog’s tendency to jump (whether on furniture or people) is getting everyone that sees your dog on board. That way, your Dachshund knows precisely what’s expected of them without confusion.
In this post you’ll discover:
- Why dachshunds jump on people
- Why dachshunds jump on furniture (couches, sofas, beds, etc.)
- The dangers of frequent jumping for dachshunds
- Simple steps to stop your dachshund from jumping on furniture and people
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
Why Do Dachshunds Jump On People?
Dachshunds are known for their big personalities and their love of attention. For example, when they see someone they want to greet, they may jump on them to get closer and say hello.
This behavior is often seen as cute by unsuspecting victims, but it can quickly develop into a bad habit.
Dachshunds may jump on people for several reasons. They may be excited, want to play, or be seeking attention.
Why Do Dachshunds Jump On & Off Your Couch, Sofa Or Bed?
Dachshunds are natural climbers. They were bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals, so they had a strong desire to dig and climb.
This instinct can lead them to jump on and off of furniture as they try to reach high places. Additionally, many dachshunds enjoy being elevated to survey their surroundings.
The last reason is boredom or lack of exercise.
Dachshunds are high energy dogs. If they’re not getting enough exercise or stimulation they may start acting out in undesirable ways such as jumping on furniture.
Why Is It Especially Bad For Dachshunds To Jump?
Jumping is particularly bad for dachshunds because of their increased risk of getting injured.
Which is caused by their long body and short legs.
Because of how long their body is and how short their legs are, when they’re up on their hind legs, it puts far more pressure on their 2 legs than other dogs.
A higher percentage of their weight is placed on their two delicate legs (because of the length of their body) and increases their chances of injuring themselves.
Which also puts them at higher risk of developing IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) when jumping.
IVDD is a back problem that dachshunds in general are more prone to.
And when they frequently jump, it can increase their chances of developing IVDD.
Further Reading: Can Dachshunds Climb Stairs? 4 Dangers + 7 Helpful Tips
How To Stop Your Dachshund From Jumping On Furniture
First and foremost, you need to create a new rule that everyone in your family agrees to enforce.
And that’s no dachshunds on the furniture (bed, couch, sofa, etc.) unless they’re on it with someone.
If they’re allowed up when some people are home and not when others are home it’ll just confuse them and they won’t learn to stop.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that it’s for their own health, safety and to keep them around as long as possible.
Now let’s jump into the simple steps to stop your dachshund from jumping on furniture.
1) Block
If your couch has 2 cushions you’ll want to have 2 big objects (boxes, chairs, etc.) sitting on the cushions when no one’s using the couch.
This way it’s impossible for them to jump up even when they want to.
When you want to use the couch, simply move one of the objects while keeping the other on the other couch cushion.
Now the only way they can get up on the couch to cuddle with you or simply spend time close to you is if you pick them up and put them on your lap.
*The same goes for your bed or other furniture your pup has been jumping up on*
2) Call Them Over
Now you want them to see that they aren’t able to get up by themselves by calling them over.
They might even get a little frustrated and bark or whine in the beginning because they’re used to being able to get up with you whenever they feel like it.
Once they settle down and sit nicely by your feet you can pick them up, put them on your lap and praise/give them treats for waiting for you to pick them up.
3) Get Up And Put Blockade In Your Place
Once you’ve had enough of your cuddle session or need to get up and do something else, simply put the object back on the couch in your place.
This ensures your pup doesn’t feel like they can get up on the couch when you’re not already sitting on it.
You have to repeat this process of keeping them blocked from jumping up and only allowing them up when it’s with you for several days, maybe even weeks.
Once you feel they’re losing interest in jumping on your couch or bed you can start slowly removing the objects blocking them until it’s freely accessible again.
If you see them jump up, put the objects to block them back for a little while longer.
Eventually they’ll learn that being up on the furniture without a person is a no-no.
Which stops them from jumping up on the couch whether you’re around or not.
How To Stop Your Dachshund From Jumping On People
Again, to successfully get your Dachshund to stop jumping on people, everyone needs to be on the same page.
Every time your Dachshund jumps on someone, that person should immediately turn their back and ignore the dog.
Do not scold your Dachshund or push them away, as this will only reward their jumping behavior with attention.
Here are some steps you can take to stop Dachshunds jumping:
Don’t Reward The Behavior
As mentioned above, if you scold your Dachshund or push them away when they jump, you reward the behavior with attention.
The best thing to do is to turn your back and ignore your dog until they calm down.
Most people want to pet their dogs when they see them, but this is the worst thing you can do when trying to stop a Dachshund from jumping.
What To Do If Your Dachshund Gets Uncontrollably Excited:
If your Dachshund is getting too excited and you can’t seem to calm them down, it’s best to remove them from the situation entirely.
This could mean putting them in another room or outside until they have calmed down completely.
Some dachshunds may need a time-out more often than others. Still, eventually, they will learn that jumping equals being removed from the fun.
Once your Dachshunds have settled down, you can let them back in and praise them for good behavior.
Train New Greeting Behaviors
One of the best ways to stop your Dachshund from jumping is to train them to perform a different behavior when they greet people.
This could be anything from sitting, lying down, or giving a paw.
The key is to start training this behavior as soon as someone comes over before your Dachshund has a chance to jump.
They need to learn that this new behavior gets them rewarded and not isolated, like jumping.
Give them a treat and lots of praise every time they perform the new desired behavior. Eventually, they will start doing it automatically.
Make Sure Everyone Is On The Same Page
Jumping is a behavior that is often reinforced without people even realizing it.
This is why everyone who interacts with your Dachshund must be on the same page regarding stopping the behavior.
Suppose someone encourages your Dachshund to jump by petting them or speaking to them in a high-pitched voice. In that case, it will only worsen the behavior.
Make sure everyone in your household knows the rules and is willing to stick to them for the training to succeed.
Start by letting everyone know the game plan; visitors should be made aware before seeing the dog.
Exercise & Stimulation
You can do a few other things to help stop your Dachshund from jumping in addition to the steps above.
One is to ensure you give your dog enough exercise and stimulation. An energetic dog is more likely to jump than a tired one.
The classic saying “a tired dog is a good dog” applies here.
Make sure your Dachshund is getting at least 45 minutes of exercise daily, in addition to some playtime and mental stimulation.
This can be in the form of fetch, running around in the backyard, or even playing an interactive game like tug-of-war.
Final Thoughts
By following the steps above you’ll eventually get your dachshund to stop jumping on people & furniture.
Remember to be patient, consistent, and make sure everyone’s on the same page as you in order for this training to be successful.
Other posts you might find interesting:
12 Best Dog Beds for Dachshunds: Ultimate 1-Stop Resource
Ultimate Dachshund Walking Guide: 18 Things To Know