How do I Teach My Dog Not to Jump on Guests?

Dogs jump for all sorts of reasons—whether it’s to get attention, show excitement, or simply because they don’t know what else to do when they see someone.

Does your dog jump on you like they’ve got springs in their paws? As cute as it seems, we humans are often to blame. We not only let them do it but sometimes encourage it. It’s hard to resist a playful puppy, but we forget that what seems cute now can turn into a big problem when they’re older.

Letting your dog jump on people can also be risky. You could end up scratched or bruised, and a child or elderly person could get knocked over and seriously hurt.

To stop jumping, it takes both managing the situation and training your dog.

Management

Managing the situation means controlling things so your dog doesn’t get the chance to jump up. You’ll want to use these management techniques while your dog is still learning not to jump.

For example, let’s say your dog jumps on visitors. To manage this, you could try one of these things before your guest arrives:

• Put your dog in their crate.
• Keep them in another room.
• Hold them on a leash and ask them to sit while the guest comes in. Be sure to reward them when they behave well.

These steps will help stop jumping while your dog is learning the right way to behave.

Also Read: How do I Stop My Dog from Being Afraid of Thunderstorms?

Training

Teach your dog that jumping on you or anyone else doesn’t get them any attention. When they jump, just turn your back, and only pet them when all four paws are on the floor.

You can also teach them to do something else instead of jumping, like sitting. They can’t sit and jump at the same time. If they’re not sitting, they don’t get attention.

Consistency is key! Everyone in your household needs to follow the training rules all the time. You can’t let your dog jump on people sometimes and not others.

Training Techniques

When your dog jumps on other people:

Ask a family member or friend to help with training. Make sure it’s someone your dog likes and wants to greet. Don’t force your dog to greet anyone they’re scared of.

Start by telling your dog to “sit” (they should already know how to sit). Have your friend approach you and your dog. If your dog stands up, the greeter should immediately turn around and walk away.

Keep asking your dog to “sit” and have the greeter try again. Repeat this until your dog stays seated when the greeter gets close. If your dog stays seated, the greeter can reward them with a treat.

When you’re out walking and encounter someone, you need to manage the situation and train your dog at the same time:

• Let the person know you don’t want your dog to jump.
• Give the person a treat or have one ready to reward your dog for good behavior.
• Ask your dog to “sit.”
• Tell the person they can pet your dog and give them a treat, but only if your dog stays seated.

Some people might say they don’t mind if your dog jumps, especially if your dog is small or cute. But you should still care. Stick to your training, and if someone encourages your dog to jump, just say “no thank you” and keep going.

Also Read: How to Stop a Dog from Digging in the Yard?

When your dog jumps on you when you come in the door:

Keep greetings calm and low-key. If your dog jumps on you, ignore them and go back out the door. Try again. You might need to do this many times before your dog understands that they only get attention when all four paws are on the floor.

When your dog jumps on you while you’re sitting:

If your dog jumps on you, simply stand up. Don’t talk to them or push them away—just ignore them until all four paws are on the ground.