1. Step Forward Method

The step-forward method is a popular choice amongst Australian Shepherd owners. The method is just as you’d expect – you essentially take steps towards your Aussie when they jump up on you. The step-forward technique is effective at teaching Australian Shepherds not to jump up on visitors frequently.

Step 1: Get The Treats

Get yourself some treats and have them ready to use for positive reinforcement & encouragement.

Step 2: Say Hello To Your Furry Friend

Go over to your Australian Shepherd after he or she has had some time to relax and unwind.

Step 3: When They Jump Up, Step Towards Them

If your Australian Shepherd tries to jump up on you, step towards them. This will help throw off their balance and make them return to all fours.

Step 4: Repeat Until Its Understood By Your Aussie

Repeat This Process until your Australian Shepherd understands that jumping up is not a wanted activity.

2. Leash Method

Just as you’d expect, the leash method is a simple and effective way to help your Australian Shepherd that jumping up on family members or guests isn’t acceptable. It’s easier to train Australian Shepherds to not jump on visitors if you just put a barrier between them. It may take some time, but it’s well worth the effort.

Step 1: Get A Leash

Get yourself a leash – hopefully 6-8 feet in length. What you essentially want to do here is connect your Australian Shepherd to the leach and wrap the loose lease length under your foot. This effectively prevents your Australian Shepherd from being able to jump and forces them to recognize this.

Step 2: Introduce A Guest

Once you’ve got your Australian Shepherd on the leash, slowly introduce a guest. You do not want your Australian Shepherd to show wild excitement and begin jumping up on them. Instead, you want to encourage calmness, non-jumping, and desired behaviors.

Step 3: Ignore Bad Behavior + Reward Good Behavior

If your Australian Shepherd fights you on the jumping, stand your ground. If your furry friend still isn’t getting the message, you can consider using a tactic of “ignoring” your Aussie while folding your arms across your body to show your Australian Shepherd you’re not happy.

Step 4: Repeat + Reward Good Behavior

You will likely need to do this on multiple occasions and get into a routine to engrave jumping as bad inside your Australian Shepherd’s mind.

3. Sit Method

Just like the two previously mentioned methods, this last “Sit” method is very much what it sounds like. This approach is great for getting Australian Shepherds to stop jumping up on guests frequently.

Step 1: Greet Your Australian Shepherd & Command “Sit”

Go over to your Australian Shepherd and greet them. Make sure the greeting is a calm, respectable one. Before your Aussie has time to jump up on you, be sure to command them to “sit”.

Step 2: Ignore Hyper Energy

If your dog jumps on you instead of sitting, fold your arms across your chest and look up towards the sky or ceiling. Essentially divert your attention AWAY from your dog. When your furry friend is calm, tell him to sit again if he hasn’t already. Wait for him to either sit or depart.

Step 3: Repeat The “Sit” Command

Throughout the rest of the day, if your Australian Shepherd wants your attention, you should start with the sit command. If they decide not to listen and walk away, repeat this process until they understand what’s happening.

Step 4: Repeat + Reward Good Behavior

Over time your Australian Shepherd will pick up on these changes. After all, Australian Shepherds are incredibly smart and capable of grasping complex ideas.

Conclusion

The best way to get your Australian Shepherd to stop jumping obnoxiously on guests, friends, or family is to get them to do something alternative than jump. The goal is to get them preoccupied with something else. Australian Shepherds are known to be energetic and playful dogs.

While this may be adorable, it can also be a nuisance when they start jumping on guests or family members. In this article, we’ve outlined three different methods that you can use to help your Australian Shepherd stop jumping up – the reinforcement & encouragement method, the leash method, and the sit method. Australian Shepherds are smart dogs and with a little bit of patience, you’ll be able to teach them not to jump up in no time!