How to Get Dog to Stop Jumping on People

Dogs jump up on people for a variety of reasons. Though it may look cute and show your dog’s excitement to see you, it can be one of the most annoying dog's behavior. For instance, it can also become dangerous when your dog jumps on a child or frail adult who may trip over and fall. So, is there a way to stop dog jumping once and for all?

Let’s dive into dog training strategies and discover how to keep a dog from jumping on you.

Why Do Dogs Jump Up?

In a nutshell, dogs jump because you pay attention to it. This explains why dogs don’t jump on objects to have fun. They do it around people because we notice and provide some kind of response. Since dogs enjoy interacting with you, they keep jumping because they get a reaction from you. 

This type of demand for attention typically starts early when a dog is a puppy. Too cute to resist, pups captivate our souls, and we start playing with them the moment they jump excitedly on us. However, dealing with such behavior from a grown-up dog becomes exhausting. The key to tackling the problem is to stop encouraging your dog to jump on people and use dog training and behavior management techniques.

Other reasons for dog jumping:

• It’s a learned form of greeting you:

Dogs are social creatures who seek quality interactions with their owners. Petting, touching, or greeting your dog enthusiastically while they jump on you will form a habit. So, the dog will keep doing it to get a response.

• A dog jumps out of aggression

Jumping can occasionally become aggressive behavior, especially if the dog lunges at you/people/other animals. However, it can also be about self-defense.

Note: Dogs might jump to greet, play, or try and stop someone’s (or another animal’s) behavior (if accompanied by other calming signals).

In this blog post, we will focus on jumping caused by attention-seeking and go over practical tips on how to train a dog not to jump on you and other people.

Jumping Dog Training: How to Teach a Dog Not to Jump

As we’ve discussed, in most cases, jumping behavior stems from a dog’s need for attention. Theoretically, the dog will break the habit if you stop paying attention to it. However, for many dogs, additional training strategies can be beneficial. When a dog is adequately trained, they can control the urge to jump and stay calm around people.

First, you should minimize situations in which your dog can jump on you or your visitors. Imagine you have guests coming over. To prevent your dog from jumping on them, you can confine them in a crate (if they’re desensitized) or an isolated room with a Kong filled with something delicious. Alternatively, you can use a leash while new people arrive and reward your dog for staying calm.

The second step in stopping dog jumping is to use dog training techniques. These techniques will give your dog a better alternative to jumping, such as sitting on command or keeping all four paws on the ground. To remain consistent, all family members must deploy the same approach.

How to keep a dog from jumping on you:

• Reduce the emotional component of greeting. When you come back home, stay calm and speak in a quiet voice not to get your dog too excited.
• Greet by touching or paying attention to them only when they remain calm.
• Introduce the four-paws-on-the-floor rule. This means you interact with your dog only when they stand calmly on the floor. You can also teach a dog to sit or lie down during greetings.
• Praise and reward proper dog's behavior.

How to stop your dog from jumping on people:

• Ask a family member or a friend to help during the training process.
• Command your dog to sit and tell your partner to approach you and the dog.
• When your partner approaches, observe your dog’s reaction. They should sit calmly. If the dog tries to jump, the greeter should walk away.
• Keep practicing until your dog stops reacting to a new person approaching.
• Praise and reward staying in the seated position during the greeting.

How to stop your dog from jumping on you when excited:

• Ignore your dog when they jump out of excitement.
• Teach alternatives to jump, like the four feet on the floor, lying down, or sitting.
• Offer praise and reward when the dog remains seated or maintains the desired position.
• Practice consistently using positive reinforcement methods.

What to do if my dog keeps jumping after being neutered:

• Provide your pet with a calm resting place in your house.
• Use a leash or a crate to minimize their opportunities to jump on visitors.
• Avoid offering the dog toys that encourage such behavior.
• Provide enough mental and physical stimulation daily.

Exercise to teach the dog not to jump:

• Have a bag/box with snacks.
• Give the dog some snacks to start the training.
• Walk slowly forward and backward while holding the treat bag in your hands.
• Reinforce the dog with treats on the floor for following you and not trying to jump to get the treats.
• If the dog jumps up, ignore them (turn your back to the dog, avoid eye contact, don't talk to them).

What Not to Do in Dog Jumping Training

Let’s discuss dog owners' most common mistakes while training a dog not to jump. These mistakes can sabotage the training process or even build distrust between you and your canine companion.

Mistake 1. Scolding your dog for jumping

Though telling your dog off for inappropriate behavior sounds natural, you should avoid doing so. Remember that your attention is a key motivation for dog jumping, and negative attention is no exception. Instead, ignore jumps altogether.

Mistake 2. Pushing the dog away

Don’t push your dog away when you want to stop them from jumping. The same applies to putting your knee up to create a physical barrier between you and the dog. Such techniques can increase the dog’s excitement as it can perceive it as a wrestling game.

Some dogs with more vulnerable personalities may see it as a sign of rejection, resulting in difficulties in training and responding to basic commands.

Mistake 3. Introducing your dog to strangers on the walks

Walking outside can be challenging when your dog hasn’t mastered staying calm during greetings. Avoid meeting strangers at this stage so as not to provoke your dog to jump on them.

Mistake 4. Allowing the dog to jump on guests

Getting your friends and family members on the same page about dog jumping behavior is vital. Sending your dog mixed messages will confuse them and prolong the training process. That’s why anyone visiting your place should follow the same rules about ignoring jumps and not reinforcing them.

Additionally, you can try isolating the dog from visitors. This will prevent them from jumping on somebody. You can keep the dog in a separate room with a leash, a crate, or a baby fence.

Wrap Up

A dog jumping on people is mostly attention-seeking behavior that dogs demonstrate to make us interact. Behavior problem like jumping can be annoying and dangerous, especially if you own a larger breed. To make a dog stop jumping, ignore the behavior and teach your dog acceptable alternatives, like sitting or standing still during greetings. Ensure your friends and family follow the same rules to make your dog forget that cute behavior.