How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People A Guide for Dog Owners

Jumping on people is one of the most common — and frustrating — behaviors dog owners deal with. While a small, excited puppy jumping up may seem cute at first, it often turns into a serious problem as the dog grows: dirty clothes, scratched skin, frightened guests or children.

But here’s the good news: your dog isn’t doing this out of spite. Jumping is usually a way to express excitement, seek attention, or greet someone. And even better — this behavior can be corrected with calm, consistent training.

In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons behind jumping and offer practical steps to stop it for good.

Why Do Dogs Jump on People?

1. Excitement and joy — they’re thrilled to see someone and don’t know how else to show it

2. Seeking attention — if jumping has worked before, even with a negative reaction, the dog learns, “This gets me noticed!”

3. Lack of self-control — especially common in puppies and adolescent dogs

4. No alternative behavior — the dog simply doesn’t know what to do instead

What DOESN’T Help

• Yelling, pushing, or scolding — this can be seen as part of the game or as extra attention

• Punishing after the fact — dogs live in the moment and won’t connect punishment with the behavior

• Ignoring without guidance — if you only ignore the behavior but don’t teach an alternative, progress will be limited

How to Correct Jumping the Right Way

1. Teach an Alternative — “Sit”

One of the most effective solutions is teaching your dog to “Sit” when greeting people. A dog can’t sit and jump at the same time, so it replaces the behavior with a calm one.

Practice:

• Walk up to your dog → say “Sit” → dog sits → give a treat, praise, or pet

• Repeat often, especially during exciting moments like when you come home

2. Completely Ignore Jumping

If your dog jumps up, turn your back, don’t speak, don’t touch, and don’t make eye contact. The moment all four paws are on the ground, reward them with attention or a treat.

Important: Even negative attention can reinforce the behavior. Total lack of reaction shows the dog that jumping gets them nothing.

3. Practice with Guests

Ask friends or family to help:

• Guest enters → dog jumps → guest immediately turns away or leaves

• Guest enters → dog stays calm or sits → guest greets and rewards the dog

Your dog will learn that only calm behavior leads to attention and praise.

4. Build Self-Control

Work on impulse control through games like “wait” before meals, leashing up, or walking out the door. Dogs with better self-control are far less likely to jump out of excitement.

Conclusion

Jumping isn’t about dominance or being “bad” — it’s simply a habit formed by excitement and lack of boundaries. By teaching your dog a clear alternative, staying consistent, and rewarding calm behavior, you’ll eliminate jumping in a positive, respectful way.

With patience, structure, and reinforcement, you’ll raise a polite, well-mannered dog who knows exactly how to greet people the right way.