Q: How can I get my dog to sit still on my lap and not jump up when somebody moves in the house?
A: Without having specific details or history of your dog, this is difficult to answer. Generally, dogs will repeat behaviours that they find rewarding.
Ask yourself what your dog is finding rewarding in not sitting still and jumping up when somebody moves?
Why is jumping up more rewarding than sitting on your lap? There could be numerous reasons for this. Your dog may be feeling anxious or stressed when he hears movement in the house, and then isn’t able to stay relaxed on your lap.
He may be jumping off your lap in order to be more alert and ready for action. Your dog may simply be interested or stimulated by other people moving about in the house if he is left alone for periods and may be looking for more human attention. Maybe your dog has learned that if he jumps up when he hears movement, he receives more attention from you as you try to get him to sit still and settle.
There could be many reasons for this behaviour, and the approach in addressing the problem would be specific to the reason it is happening. Ensuring that your dog is receiving sufficient exercise and mental stimulation is always a good place to start.
For more specific advice on your situation, I would recommend that you contact a qualified behaviourist in your area, who can take a full history and work with you in determining the cause and solution. For a list of reputable behaviourists, please go to www.coape.org.
Alyson Kingsley-Hall, behaviourist