Does your dog love jumping up and down on the sofa like some rambunctious child or overjoyed puppy? Are you tired of searching the internet for a solution? How to tackle a jumping problem, is it even a problem, or just a harmless playful display?
How should you react when you find these big dogs jumping? Scold them sternly or drag them down, or offer them some treats. Judge the signs and listen to the cues your puppies are giving you.
Because a relationship between a dog owner and a puppy is exactly like a parent and an innocent child. Maybe your pups are craving some exercise or want to go on a walk, or are simply doing it because they need your love and attention, or have been facing separation anxiety.
Many high-energy and affectionate dogs carry their puppyhood characteristics well into adulthood, and sometimes a lack of training can also spark a jumping fest at your house. Let’s explore the whys and hows of these bouncy fur-ends.
Dog Breeds That Jump on Sofas Like Happy Puppies
1. Golden Retriever
- Origin: Scotland
- Life Span: 10-12 years
- Size: height 21.5-24 inches, weight 55-75 pounds
Bounciness Level:
Always overjoyed, very likely to knock a person down by jumping on him for affection, very springy like a hopping bunny.
So you are a new owner who has just barely wedged your foot in the door of pet parenting and are now encountering an amusing yet concerning scenario at your home. Your Golden Retriever puppy doesn’t want to get down from the couch, but not only that, this dog is often found jumping on the couch and other furniture.
Now it isn’t a huge, uncontrollable, or extremely dangerous; hence, first, you need to relax and take a deep breath. Now wait until your pup is off the couch to give it a treat, and then take it for a health checkup to the vet, to settle your nerves and concerns.
Moreover, Petplan recommends considering creating boundaries and safe spaces for your bird-watching enthusiasts.
2. French Bulldog
- Origin: France
- Life Span: 10-12 years
- Size: height 11-13 inches, weight under 28 pounds
Bounciness Level
This dog is going to make sure there are enough muddy paw prints on your white couch, a happy pup that’s living on multiple doses of oxytocin every day
The idea of exercise for this perky pup is staying indoors, away from the heat, and watching some K-dramas with you, which you can neither deny nor approve of every day. But this stubborn Frenchie loves to decide everything on its own and is now jumping up and down until you give in to its demands.
When your French Bulldog is jumping, command it to sit, and then, when it’s settled, reward it with a surprise toy or treat, which can make the jumping habit go away.
You can also command the dog to lounge near your feet and remove temptations for jumping around your house, like moving your couch away from the window they like to look out from.
3. Pomeranian
- Origin: Pomerania, a region between North-West Poland and North-East Germany in Central Europe
- Life Span: 12-16 years
- Size: height 6-7 inches, weight 3-7 pounds
Bounciness Level:
A tiny peppy regal personality with extremely high levels of keenness towards bumpy joy rides.
Continental Kennel Club says these soft, fluffy Spitz dogs are the most active four-legged creatures on this planet. Hence, beware of their roughhousing and couch jumping. Although this tiny guard dog loves to explore the neighborhood with you on a walk.
It also becomes a rambunctious toddler who jumps on all your furniture for playtime. If you get too worried about their health, you can consult a veterinarian, which is always a good option and can be beneficial for your pup. Moreover, you can leash train these spunky pups when they are 10 weeks old.
Although Pomeranians get happily settled in small spaces, they do need a lot of different activities to stay happy and healthy. Hence, one professional advice is to start encouraging them to use the stairs and lead them towards the wooden steps instead of the wooden furniture.
4. Beagle
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Life Span: 10-15 years
- Size: height under 13 inches or 13-15 inches, under 20 or 20-30 pounds
Bounciness Level:
Fun is the bare necessity for this scent hound, while bounciness is so elevated that it reaches the sky
So you come home at night to find your Beagles on the couch at half past nine, and their surprise presence at your place has left you in deep thought. How do breeders keep watch on these ardent trail following pups, handle, and raise these canines to be ideal dogs? How do they manage their health and protect themselves from every injury?
Omlet says a vet mentions that a pup who is almost an adult or on the way to adolescence should form good habits of respect and calmness if the owners focus on consistency and persistence. As a result, even high-jumping pups like the Beagles can learn commands in due time with patience.
5. Labrador Retriever
- Origin: Canada
- Life Span: 11-13 years
- Size: height 21.5-24.5 inches, weight 55-80 pounds
Bounciness Level:
Highly enthusiastic athlete, she’s a turbulent gust of wind
Labs are the most popular and the most versatile sporting breed you’ll ever find. They don’t like sitting in one place for a long time and have this constant urge to be on the go.
Labs are also notoriously known for the couch jumping and furniture surfing habit. But like the AKC said, you should anticipate your dog’s jumping behavior and provide the goodies before it can occur.
Moreover, if your Labrador puppy loves jumping on the couch, it is generally not recommended because, at such a young age, when their joints are still developing, such vigorous play could cause extreme damage.
Hence, it’s better to find ways to convince your dogs to stay with their four legs on the floor and make them learn that it’s the only way you’ll listen to them and give them attention. Because if they don’t, they might suffer from arthritis and hip dysplasia quite early on.
6. Boxer
- Origin: Germany
- Life Span: 10-12 years
- Size: height 21.5 – 25 inches, weight 50-80 pounds
Bounciness Level:
They have a hyperenthusiasm for life and all its details, so bouncy that you might need to get them a trampoline.
The Boxers are the guardians of the family; they love their humans with a fierce intensity and prefer being close to their pet parents at all times. But their high energy and high emotional level can cause a bout of jumping on your bed or the couch pretty often.
Moreover, if your Boxer gets in the habit of jumping on you or the couch to show its love for you, it is very likely going to be difficult to teach it to rest on the floor. But you can convince or cajole them out of this habit by getting their dog bed or a fluffy mat near your room.
Pawlicy Advisor recommends placing some of your Boxer’s favorite play toys on it, or if you cover the dog bed with something soft, your Boxer might sleep and rest on it for the next few weeks or hours. (depends on how lucky you are).
7. Shetland Sheepdog
- Origin: Scotland
- Life Span: 12-14 years
- Size: height 13-16 inches, weight 15-25 pounds
Bounciness Level:
An overwhelming amount of bumpiness, a blazing force of nature
The Sheltie has a naturally playful, energetic, and friendly personality that doesn’t fade with age. These easy-to-train pooches tend to have an affinity towards jumping, whether on the stairs or on the couch. Purina says these world-class competitors in obedience, agility, and herding trials like to bark and are extremely quick runners as well.
This can be a risk if your dog doesn’t know how to climb stairs or has small legs, as they can develop arthritis if their jumping habit isn’t handled. There are various training techniques, changes in the environment, and certain exercises that can help you in curbing their jumping.
For example, to avoid injury, positive reinforcement methods with treats, praise, and rewards can help your pups remain calm and grounded. Other strategies involve redirecting the jumping behavior by sitting or offering a paw, or consistency in training routines and expectations can work in your favor.
Conclusion
Puppies need to be exercised gently until they can control their legs without getting all snarled up. Training to avoid jumping on the bed or furniture should be provided quite early on. Why risk the health of perfectly healthy pooches and make them suffer through joint problems and diseases from an early age?
Did you know? If their jumping is taken too lightly, dogs can even face paralysis or arthritis at an early age. If you are living in a hotel, vets recommend desensitizing your dog to the new environment by taking it on a walk. Keep a close eye on your small and fragile lightweight dogs, like the Shih Tzu or Dachshund, to avoid any harmful situations.
