How to Stop Your Dog From Jumping on People
Jumping Isn’t Just Annoying — It’s a Lack of Boundaries
It might start off as cute — your dog leaps to greet you after a long day or bounces on guests to show excitement. But over time, jumping becomes a real problem. It can knock over children, startle strangers, and reinforce impulsive behavior that spills into other areas of life.
Jumping is one of the most common behavior complaints from dog owners, but the good news is this: it’s also one of the most fixable.
In this post, we’ll break down why dogs jump, how to stop it, and how to build polite, calm greeting behavior instead.
Why Dogs Jump in the First Place
1. Excitement and Lack of Impulse Control
Dogs jump because they’re excited and have no idea what else to do with their energy. Without being taught what to do instead, jumping becomes their default greeting.
2. Reinforced By Accident
Even pushing your dog down, talking to them, or giving eye contact can reward jumping. If the behavior earns attention — even negative attention — it often gets repeated.
3. Inconsistent Rules
If jumping is allowed sometimes (like when you’re in a good mood or wearing old clothes) but punished other times (like when guests arrive), your dog becomes confused about the boundary.
What Doesn’t Work
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Yelling or shouting: Often adds excitement, which fuels the behavior.
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Pushing the dog down: Can feel like play to some dogs and still reinforces physical engagement.
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Kneeing the dog in the chest: Risky, uncomfortable, and usually ineffective long term.
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Ignoring without guidance: While removing attention is important, your dog also needs to learn what to do instead.
What To Do Instead
1. Teach an Incompatible Behavior
Train your dog to sit or go to a “place” as a default greeting. A dog cannot jump if they are sitting calmly or holding a position on a designated mat or cot.
Mark and reward the calm behavior consistently, especially when new people enter the space.
2. Use Leash Control for Repetition
During the learning phase, keep your dog on a leash for greetings. Step on the leash to prevent jumping physically, then guide them into a sit or place. Praise once calm behavior is shown.
This lets you create repetition with structure and reduces the chance of accidental reinforcement.
3. Instruct Guests Ahead of Time
If people bend down to greet your dog excitedly or pet them while they’re jumping, the training will break down. Let guests know they should only interact with your dog once all four paws are on the ground.
Better yet, reward your dog yourself for polite behavior before guests interact at all.
4. Reward Calm, Ignore Chaos
If your dog jumps — no eye contact, no talking, no touch. Turn your back. When all four paws are on the floor or your dog sits, calmly mark that behavior and reward.
Dogs quickly learn that jumping gets them nothing, while calmness earns attention.
5. Practice Controlled Greeting Drills
Set up mock greetings with family members or friends to practice calm behavior. Repetition in a low-stakes environment builds consistency for real-world situations.
What If My Dog Only Jumps Sometimes?
Partial success means your dog hasn’t generalized the behavior yet. Practice in different places — doorways, driveways, parks — and with different people until the polite response becomes automatic.
Consistency from everyone involved is key.
What If My Dog Gets Worse Before Getting Better?
This is normal. It’s called an extinction burst. When a dog no longer gets what they expect from jumping (attention), they might try harder before giving up. Stay calm and consistent — the behavior will fade if it’s not reinforced.
Final Thoughts: Jumping Is a Training Opportunity
Jumping isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a sign your dog needs guidance. By teaching an alternative behavior and rewarding calm greetings, you create a dog who is more respectful, controlled, and enjoyable to be around.
With a little patience, repetition, and clarity, your dog can learn that keeping four paws on the ground is the fastest way to get what they want.
