Stop the Jumping
Stop the Jumping: How to Teach Your Dog to Greet People Without Launching
Does your dog think “greeting” means launching themselves at guests like a furry missile? While it’s cute (sometimes), jumping can get out of hand—especially when your 80-pound dog thinks they’re a lap dog. The good news? Teaching your dog to stop jumping doesn’t require a miracle. Just follow these steps, and soon your dog will be greeting people politely, paws on the ground.
Step 1: No Reward for JumpingDogs jump because it gets attention—plain and simple. So, when your dog jumps, don’t give them what they want. No petting, no talking, and no eye contact. Just turn your back and ignore them until all four paws are on the floor. (Yes, even when they give you those big puppy eyes.)
Step 2: Reward Good BehaviorOnce your dog is standing or sitting calmly, reward them with attention, praise, or a treat. Your dog will quickly learn that keeping all four paws on the ground equals love and snacks—much better than jumping and being ignored.
Step 3: Teach “Sit” as a ReplacementTeach your dog to sit when they greet people. It’s a simple command that keeps your dog grounded (literally). When someone comes over, ask your dog to sit and only give them attention once they’re sitting calmly. This will soon become their go-to behavior when meeting new people.
Step 4: Consistency is EverythingThis is one of those times when being consistent matters. If you let your dog jump on you sometimes (because it’s “cute”), they’ll get confused and keep trying. Make sure everyone in the household follows the same rules: no paws on people, ever.
Step 1: No Reward for JumpingDogs jump because it gets attention—plain and simple. So, when your dog jumps, don’t give them what they want. No petting, no talking, and no eye contact. Just turn your back and ignore them until all four paws are on the floor. (Yes, even when they give you those big puppy eyes.)
Step 2: Reward Good BehaviorOnce your dog is standing or sitting calmly, reward them with attention, praise, or a treat. Your dog will quickly learn that keeping all four paws on the ground equals love and snacks—much better than jumping and being ignored.
Step 3: Teach “Sit” as a ReplacementTeach your dog to sit when they greet people. It’s a simple command that keeps your dog grounded (literally). When someone comes over, ask your dog to sit and only give them attention once they’re sitting calmly. This will soon become their go-to behavior when meeting new people.
Step 4: Consistency is EverythingThis is one of those times when being consistent matters. If you let your dog jump on you sometimes (because it’s “cute”), they’ll get confused and keep trying. Make sure everyone in the household follows the same rules: no paws on people, ever.