Behavior Training
How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on Guests
Teach calm greetings using positive reinforcement and patience.
Why dogs jump
Jumping is excitement + attention-seeking. Dogs repeat it because it works — people touch, laugh, or react. The solution is to teach a better way to ask for attention, not just suppress the behavior.
3-step polite greeting routine
- Reward four paws on the floor. Ignore the jumping completely (turn your back). The instant all four paws hit the floor, give calm praise and a treat.
- Teach “sit to say hello.” Ask guests to greet only when the dog is sitting calmly. If the bum leaves the ground, the guest stops engaging.
- Manage arrivals. Use a leash or gate at first to prevent rehearsals of the jumping behavior while the excitement is high.
Avoid these mistakes
- Pushing the dog down: Most dogs interpret this as wrestling or play.
- Inconsistent rules: If you let the dog jump on you but not guests, the dog will be confused.
- Yelling: Vocal reaction is still attention. Silence is more powerful.
Common Questions
Why does my dog jump on people?
Dogs jump to say hello face-to-face. It's often reinforced because people naturally look at, touch, or talk to the dog when they jump.
Should I knee my dog in the chest?
No. This can injure the dog and damage your relationship. Instead, turn your back and ignore the dog until all four paws are on the floor.