How to Get Your Dog to Stop Jumping Up On Visitors

It's your front doorbell, and your dog has already run out to meet them. Tail wagging and paws on chest - pure excitement. And for many of us, this is exactly what we didn't want to happen. Jumping on visitors is perhaps one of the most commonly complained about behaviors by dog owners. So, the good news is that it is fixable; the bad news is that almost everything that you've tried so far hasn't worked, as you're likely inadvertently making things worse.

Why Do Dogs Jump On People?

Dogs don't jump on people to be rude. Dogs jump on people because it works.

Excitement

Dogs naturally greet one another face-to-face. When your dog jumps, they are trying to get closer to your guest's face. As reported by the American Kennel Club, this is an instinctual behavior that puppies use to greet their mothers.

Attention-Seeking

Each time your dog jumps and receives any kind of reaction — whether positive or negative — they receive attention. Your guest may push your dog away, tell your dog "no," or give your dog a pet. Regardless of how your guest reacts, your dog received attention.

Impulse Control

Some dogs will jump simply because they were never trained otherwise. Without establishing clear boundaries and consistently training your dog, your dog will not develop the necessary impulse control to keep four paws on the ground when excited.

Why Telling Your Dog "No" Usually Won't Work

I'm sure you've told your dog "no" when they jump. Perhaps you've also pushed your dog away or turned your back on them. However, from your dog's point of view, these reactions are still attention. When you say "no," you are looking at your dog, talking to your dog, and engaging. That's what your dog was going for. Even if the attention is negative, the fact that your dog receives attention reinforces the behavior.

The Plan for Changing Your Dog's Behavior

To achieve real change, you'll need to take a completely different approach than you've taken in the past.

Management (Leash, Gates)

Don't let your dog continue practicing the jumping behavior. Have your dog on a leash when guests come to visit, or install a baby gate to establish some distance between your dog and your guests. While management alone will not solve your problem, using a combination of management and training can buy you time.

Training a Solid "Sit" or "Place"

Your dog must understand what they should do instead of jumping. Establishing a reliable "sit" or "place" command provides your dog with an alternate behavior to perform. Upon the arrival of your guests, your dog now has a job: go to the "place" and wait.

Timing Rewards

You must reward your dog for approaching calmly with both paws on the floor before they begin jumping. Rewarding your dog after they have finished jumping and returned to their original position rewards the complete action of jumping and returning to a seated position. First, practice calm greetings from family members. Next, practice having people enter while your dog remains in the "sit" or "place." At the exact moment that your dog maintains a calm demeanor, reward them with calm attention.

Training Your Guests for Success

If you train your dog to behave calmly upon entering your home, it will be wasted if your guests undermine your efforts. Teach every person that comes into your home the following simple commands: "Please don't pet my dog until he places his feet on the ground." For visitors who may accidentally reinforce the jumping behavior, keep your dog leashed during the initial greeting. Also, advise your guests that once your dog begins to exhibit the jumping behavior, to ignore them. Ignore your dog until he is calm, and then you can acknowledge your dog. Contact us today to train your pet companion.