5 Effective Tips to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People
We all love greeting our dogs after a long day, but those enthusiastic jumps can quickly become unpleasant or even hazardous. While it might seem cute at first, a jumping dog can scratch, knock someone over, or make visitors uncomfortable. If your dog has a habit of jumping on people, these five proven dog training tips will help you curb the behavior and encourage polite greetings.
1. Stay Calm During Greetings
Your energy during greetings directly impacts your dog’s behavior. If you greet your dog with excitement and high energy, they are more likely to reciprocate by jumping. To prevent this:
- Remain calm and relaxed when entering your home.
- Encourage visitors to do the same.
- Avoid making greetings a big event.
By modeling calm behavior, you teach your dog that meeting new people isn’t a cause for excitement and jumping.
2. Ignore Jumping Behavior
Dogs jump primarily to seek attention and affection. If you react to their jumping—even negatively—you may be reinforcing the behavior. To break the cycle:
- Withhold all attention when your dog jumps.
- Avoid eye contact, talking, or petting.
- Only engage with your dog once all four paws are on the ground.
When your dog realizes that jumping does not get them the attention they want, they will be less inclined to continue doing it.
3. Use Spatial Pressure to Deter Jumping
Dogs are sensitive to spatial pressure, meaning they will instinctively move away if you enter their space. Instead of backing up when your dog jumps:
- Step toward your dog to gently encourage them to back off.
- Avoid retreating, as it may invite more jumping.
This method naturally discourages jumping by making the behavior incompatible with their physical space.
4. Teach an Alternative Behavior
Training your dog to perform an alternative, incompatible behavior like “sit” or “down” is an effective way to stop jumping. Here’s how to implement this strategy:
- Practice these commands in distracting environments before applying them during greetings.
- Only allow your dog to greet people once they perform the desired behavior.
- Reinforce correct behavior with treats and praise.
By rewarding calm, controlled actions, you teach your dog that polite behavior leads to the reward of meeting new people.
5. Reward Proper Greetings
Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in dog training. Consistently rewarding your dog for keeping all four paws on the ground helps establish appropriate greeting behavior.
- Always reward calm greetings with treats or affection.
- Be consistent—only provide attention when your dog is behaving appropriately.
Over time, your dog will associate polite greetings with positive outcomes, making them more likely to repeat the behavior.
Need Professional Help with Dog Training?
If you’ve tried these techniques and your dog still can’t keep their paws on the ground, professional dog training can make a world of difference. At Prestige Dog Training, our experienced trainers specialize in helping dogs of all breeds and behavior levels.
Contact us today at 312-380-1474 to schedule a consultation and put an end to your dog’s jumping habit for good.
By consistently applying these techniques and maintaining a calm demeanor, you can teach your dog to greet people politely while strengthening your bond. Start implementing these tips today for a happier, better-behaved canine companion!
