Jumping up is a natural behavior for canines, but can cause problems for owner and dog.

Muddy paw prints on a new silk dress or good suit jacket mean an extra trip to the dry cleaners. And Rover can cause both physical and psychological harm by jumping up on and knocking down a young child. So it's important to teach your dog, for his own sake, as well as yours, not to jump.

Dogs jump up for many reasons. Often your dog is simply seeking companionship and fun. Small puppies and little dogs often jump up on people's legs to get closer to their faces.

It is best to start training your puppy to jump when it is young. However, even older dogs can be retrained to eliminated this bad habit.

The "off" command
Every dog needs to know what the word "off" means. At the beginning, you will use the command when your dog jumps. Eventually, you can give the command in anticipation to prevent him from jumping.

When your puppy or small dog jumps on you, give a quick shake on his collar as you say "off!". As soon as he has all four feet on the ground, praise him, telling him he is a wonderful dog in a happy — but calm — voice. Avoid getting excited in your praise, or your puppy may leap up again. Be prepared to repeat this exercise' most dogs don't get the concept immediately.

For larger dogs, it may be easier to catch his front feet in your hands as he jumps on you. Say "off!" and hold him up on his hind feet for a few seconds. This position is unnatural to a dog; it will make jumping up less fun. As soon as he is on the floor, praise him.

The "sit" command
Teaching your dog to sit is an excellent way to prevent jumping. Begin by practicing the "sit" command in a quiet place. As Fido becomes more adept at sitting, gradually add more distractions until he can site with many activities and people in the room.

Perfecting the "don't jump on people entering the house" routine requires some practice. This exercise can help: place a small rug or mat near the door, then have the dog sit on the rug. While he is sitting, have a helper ring the doorbell. Stay by your dog's side, praising him and rewarding him as your helper enters. Your helper should pet the sitting dog and give him a special treat.

If Fido gets up during training, gently take his collar and place him back on the rug. He only gets rewarded when he is sitting in place.

Jumping and chasing kids
In the wild, dogs chase and bring down prey in order to survive. Many domestic dogs still have this instinct. Small children have many behaviors that stimulate the chase mechanism in a dog's brain.

Teaching dogs not to jump on children is similar to the approach discussed above. However, since children are more easily knocked over, bruised and frightened, you must have continual control of your pet. Before you start your training, be sure your dog has a long leash.

Take Rover to where the kids are playing, keeping your hand on his leash at all times. When a child approaches, and Rover starts to run and jump, give the "off!" command, followed by a quick tug on his leash. Then give his collar a quick shake. Praise him as soon as he becomes calm and settles down.

You will have to repeat this process several times until your dog understands he is not supposed to chase kids as long as you have a hold of his leash. Now you can leave the leash attached to his collar, but drop it to the ground, letting him drag it. Remain close by, so you can step on or grab the leash, if necessary. Remember to praise him whenever he is acting properly.

For more help dealing with jumping up and other training problems, consult a professional trainer. Your local Best Friends Pet Resort center can help.