It’s cute when your dog greets you with excitement—but when that excitement turns into jumping all over your guests, it’s a problem. Whether your pup is large or small, jumping can be surprising, messy, and even dangerous. The good news? You don’t need to yell to fix it.
Teaching your dog to greet people politely is one of the most useful and appreciated behaviors you can train. Here’s a calm, effective way to help your dog keep all four paws on the floor—without raising your voice.
Why Dogs Jump on People
Dogs jump to say hello, get attention, or express excitement. In the dog world, face-to-face contact is normal—so jumping up makes perfect sense to them, especially when it earns them attention (even negative attention!).
To change this behavior, you have to teach your dog that polite greetings bring the best rewards.
Step 1: Manage the Environment
Before you train, set your dog up for success. Use baby gates, leashes, or crates to control greetings until your dog learns new habits. Let guests know ahead of time that you’re training and may need their help or patience.
Tip: Calm greetings start with calm arrivals. Ask visitors not to excite your dog when entering.
Step 2: Reward Calm Behavior Before the Jump
Catch your dog being good! If they approach calmly or sit when someone walks in, reward immediately with treats or praise. The goal is to reinforce what you do want before they have a chance to jump.
Timing matters: Rewards should happen before the jumping starts—not after.
Step 3: Teach a Competing Behavior (“Sit”)
Train your dog to sit as their go-to greeting position. Practice at the door with a friend or family member, rewarding every time your dog chooses to sit instead of jump. Sitting and staying earns attention—jumping does not.
Pro tip: Use high-value treats and short sessions to build strong sit habits at the door.
Step 4: Ignore the Jumping
If your dog jumps, turn your back and say nothing. No eye contact, no talking, no pushing them down (that can actually be reinforcing!). Wait until they have all paws on the floor, then reward calm behavior.
What to avoid: Yelling or pushing. Even negative attention can be exciting and reinforce the behavior.
Step 5: Practice with Controlled Guests
Once your dog has practiced at home, invite friends over to help. Have guests ignore jumping and reward sitting or calm greetings. Keep practice sessions short and always end on a positive note.
Tip: Use a leash at first to prevent success from becoming a free-for-all.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Inconsistent rules—everyone in the house should respond to jumping the same way
- Petting or praising your dog while they’re mid-jump (even if it’s cute!)
- Waiting too long to reward polite greetings
Reinforcement Tips
- Reward calm behavior even when no one is at the door
- Practice daily for just a few minutes at a time
- Use different people, locations, and times of day for training variety
Final Thoughts
Jumping is a natural behavior—but it doesn’t have to be a lifelong habit. With consistency, clear communication, and plenty of positive reinforcement, your dog can learn to greet guests politely and confidently.
And the best part? You’ll never have to apologize for muddy paws on someone’s shirt again.
