How to Stop Your Dog From Jumping on People

A jumping dog can be embarrassing, annoying, and for children or elderly guests, genuinely dangerous. But why do dogs do it? In the dog world, greeting face-to-face is polite and friendly. Since our faces are up high, dogs naturally jump to reach us.

The good news is that stopping this behavior is straightforward once you understand how dogs learn.

The Golden Rule: Attention is a Reward

To a dog, any attention is good attention. If your dog jumps and you push them off, yell "No!", or make eye contact, you are actively rewarding the behavior. You are engaging with them.

To extinguish the jumping behavior, you must completely remove the reward (your attention) the moment the front paws leave the ground.

Step-by-Step: The "Four on the Floor" Method

1. Ignore the Jump

When your dog jumps on you, immediately fold your arms, turn your back, and look up at the ceiling. Do not speak to them, touch them, or look at them. Become boring.

2. Reward Calmness

Eventually, your dog will realize jumping isn't working and will place all four paws back on the floor. The exact second their front paws hit the ground, turn back around and calmly praise and pet them.

If they jump up again during the petting, instantly turn your back again. They will quickly learn that jumping turns you off, and standing calmly turns you on.

3. Train an Incompatible Behavior

It's much easier to tell a dog what to do than what not to do. Teach your dog that sitting is the only way to say hello. A dog physically cannot jump and sit at the same time.

When you walk through the door, wait for them to sit (or cue them to sit). Only offer your greeting and affection while their bottom is planted on the floor.

Managing Guests

Guests often accidentally sabotage this training by saying, "Oh, it's okay, I love dogs!" when jumped on.

Management is key here: Keep your dog on a leash or behind a baby gate when guests arrive. Only allow your dog to approach the guests once the initial excitement has died down, and ask your guests to only interact with the dog if they are sitting calmly.

A Calm Doorbell and Visitor Routine

In apartments and busy homes, delivery staff, neighbours, and guests can create many chances to practise. Before opening the door, give your dog a simple job such as settling behind a gate or sitting on a mat. Ask visitors to pause attention until all four paws are on the floor, then reward the calm greeting. Rehearsing this routine with familiar people makes it easier when a real visitor arrives.