How To Teach Your Labrador To Jump

Today’s article is all about teaching your Labrador to jump.

Like so many things, there is more than one way to achieve this.

I’m going to look at two slightly different methods, but first we need to talk about safety.

Jumping safely

Jumping is potentially hazardous.  For a number of reasons.

Firstly because a dog that jumps potentially dangerous obstacles can easily be injured.

Teaching dogs to jump fences for example, needs to be done with caution,  because one day, you will come across a barbed wire fence.

Dogs that jump barbed wire inevitably get hurt sooner or later.

The best way to keep your dog safe from this kind of injury is to ensure that he only jumps on command, and not otherwise.

Protecting joints

Jumping is also potentially hazardous because it puts a strain on the dog’s muscles, ligaments and especially on his joints.

For this reason we only start jumping lessons when a dog has finished growing.  And, we build up the height a dog jumps gradually

Different types of jumping

The way you teach your dog to jump may depend on why you want him to learn this skill.

Many Labradors learn to jump because their owners want to take part in Agility.

Agility is a great hobby for you and your dog.

We will look in more detail at how you can teach your dog to jump ‘agility style’ in a moment.

Others may want their Labrador to take part in gundog training and we often teach gundogs to jump using retrieves.   If your dog likes to play fetch you can do this too.  I’ll show you how below.

Dog Jumping Equipment

You will need to make a jump of some description, for your dog to learn on.  Preferably one that you can adjust in height.

I recommend you start with a simple dog agility jump(paid link) agility jump like the one in this picture.

If you make your own, you will need to make sure that the dog cannot hurt himself on it if he fails to clear it, and catches it on one of his legs.

 

Apart from the safety aspect, if he hurts himself on the jump, it will put him off jumping.

I tend to use ‘straw bales’ for my gun dogs, but you can also use a makeshift low fence of some sort.

The jump cue

You will need to chose a command or cue word for jumping.  You will then  teach your dog what this cue means.

I use the cue  ‘over’  but it does not matter what your cue is, as long as you stick to the same one, and provided it doesn’t sound too  much like any other word.

Now let’s look at the training process

Walking the jump

The first step is to have the jump  at the lowest level possible  –  if you have bought an agility jump put the pole on the ground – and with the dog on the lead,  walk over the jump many times.

He needs to feel comfortable with moving across and through this new object, with you at his side,  before you start making things difficult.

Agility style

If you are training the jump ‘agility style’ the next step is to begin to raise the height of the pole.  Just a tiny bit at first,  so have the pole on the lowest rung.

You are still going over the jump with the dog,  both of you passing between the two poles

Now, as the dog passed over the pole with a little jump, you can start to add your cue word ‘over’.

Say the cue as he takes off, each and every time.  Practice approaching the jump from both directions and with the dog on either side of you.

Practice several times a day, and over the space of several days, gradually raise the height of the jump until it is becoming difficult for you to jump with him.

Now go back to the pole on its lowest height again,  and start jumping the dog with you on the outside of the jump.  So that he is jumping whilst you go around.   With lots of practice, you will be able to raise the height of the jump steadily as your dog’s skill and fitness improves.

Gundog style

If your dog likes to play fetch, you can teach him to jump ‘gundog style’.   Just as before, you need to give the dog lots of practice crossing the jump at its lowest level with you at his side, before you ask him to retrieve over it.

You will also need to arrange your jump so that the dog cannot pass around either side of it, until the jump on command habit is well established.

This is because your dog will soon be working at a distance from you and initially you will need to ensure he passes over the jump both on his way out and on his return.   Dogs are not silly and will take the least demanding route if not sure what is being asked of them.

Add the cue

When you have walked, trotted, and run with the dog many times over a low level jump, you can begin to add your cue.  Say ‘over’ each time the dog takes off.  Practice jumping with him for several sessions.

Now you are ready to retrieve

The first retrieves

For the first retrieves you will stand literally right up against the jump.  It should be nice and low.

If you are using straw bales,  like I do,  you can even give him a couple of retrieves with him starting off standing on the jump itself.   Then proceed to stand immediately in front of the jump.

The idea is to leave the dog in no doubt that every time he sets off, the jump will be crossed.

Throw your retrieves to land a short way out on the far side of the jump.  Cue the dog ‘over’ as he passes across the jump, and collect the retrieve from him as soon as he lands back in front of you.

Adding distance from the jump

Increasing the distance between the two of you,  and the jump, when you send the dog to retrieve,  needs to be done very gradually.  If you go too fast, he will try and find a way around, and may even refuse to jump.

If you have any problems, go closer to the jump again and increase distance more slowly.

If you raise the height of the jump,  go back to sending the dog from very close to it again for a while.

Be safe

Remember that jumping puts a strain on your dog’s joints and ligaments. Build his strength and power up so that his muscles support him. An unfit or unwell dog and puppies under a year old, should never be asked to jump. If in doubt, check first with your vet.

How about you?

Does your dog enjoy jumping or agility?  Let us know in the comments box below,  or post up his picture on our facebook page.