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How to Train a Dog not to Jump on People

How to Train a Dog not to Jump on People

We love when our dogs get excited to see us, and it’s equally as adorable when they’re excited to greet our guests. What’s not so exciting, though, is the habit that many dogs get of jumping on guests when they arrive. While it may seem harmless and even a little cute when your puppy is jumping for joy at you when you arrive home, this behavior will soon become less adorable as your puppy grows up in age—and size. Since jumping up on you and your visitors will soon become an annoyance, and possibly even dangerous with some large breeds, it’s best to train your dog to not partake in this behavior from puppyhood.

petco dog training classes

Why do puppies jump?

Before you begin training, consider why puppies jump in the first place. “Our trainers get asked questions daily on how to curb very specific, undesired behaviors like barking, pulling on a leash and, of course, jumping,” notes Darris Cooper, CPDT-KA, and the instructor at Petco’s Dog Training Mentor University. “When you think about the act of a dog jumping on a person, it can happen for many reasons. Nine times out of 10, your pup is just super excited to see their favorite person.”

husky on a walk

Some of the main reasons a puppy usually jumps include:

  1. They are greeting their favorite people
  2. They are very excited
  3. The jumping behavior has somehow been reinforced, or not deterred, in the past

How to stop a dog from jumping

Petco dog training class

Although it may seem like jumping is a natural tendency that’s impossible to teach your dog not to do, it actually is possible, and can be fairly easy. Remember to keep the following things in mind when training your dog to stop jumping:

  1. If your puppy jumps—either on you or a visitor—simply turn away. Don’t provide any verbal or physical corrections, just ignore them.
  2. After a few seconds, try to approach your puppy again, this time asking them to “sit” first. Repeat the turn-away maneuver if necessary.
  3. Set your puppy up for success by avoiding activities that cause them to jump. This includes three important steps: management, training and proper exercise.
  4. Provide plenty of positive reinforcement through rewards when your puppy keeps all four paws on the floor when someone new arrives, or whenever they repeat a desired behavior, like sitting or lying down. After all, it can be easy to focus on the behaviors that are deemed as “wrong” or “bad,” said Cooper. But it’s very important to give feedback to your dog on what they are doing that is right.

With a little patience and persistence, any dog can be trained not to jump. If you’ve gone through the training steps, however, and think you could use a little more information—or to find a professional trainer to provide further guidance, book a positive reinforcement dog training class at your local Petco.

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