How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People

While an excited dog jumping to greet you might seem endearing, it can be dangerous—especially with large dogs, children, or elderly visitors. Here's how to teach your dog to keep four paws on the floor.

Why Dogs Jump

Dogs jump because:

• They're excited and want attention
• Jumping has been rewarded (with petting, eye contact, or verbal responses)
• It's a natural greeting behavior—dogs greet face-to-face

The Foundation: What NOT to Do

• Don't push your dog down: Physical contact is often perceived as play or attention
• Don't knee your dog: This can cause injury and damage trust
• Don't yell: Negative attention is still attention

Training Method: Four on the Floor

Step 1: Remove the Reward

When your dog jumps:

• Turn away immediately
• Fold arms and avoid eye contact
• Say nothing
• Wait for all four paws on the ground

Step 2: Reward the Right Behavior

The instant your dog has four paws on the floor:

• Turn back and calmly praise
• Offer a treat at their nose level
• Pet them calmly

Step 3: Practice at Home

Set up training sessions:

1. Leave the room briefly
2. Return calmly
3. If your dog jumps, turn away
4. When they're calm, reward
5. Repeat multiple times daily

Advanced Training: Teach "Sit" as Default Greeting

Once your dog stops jumping, teach them what TO do:

1. Ask for a sit before greeting
2. Only pet when sitting
3. If they jump up, turn away and reset
4. Practice with increasingly exciting scenarios

Training with Visitors

• Keep your dog on leash when guests arrive
• Ask visitors to ignore jumping
• Have guests only greet when your dog is calm
• Provide treats for guests to reward sitting

Management While Training

• Use a baby gate to prevent access when you can't supervise
• Put your dog in another room before guests enter, then bring them out calmly
• Keep a leash by the door

Consistency is Key

Everyone in the household must follow the same rules. One person rewarding jumping will undermine all your training efforts.

With patience and consistency, most dogs learn polite greetings within 2-4 weeks. The key is making sure jumping is never rewarded while consistently rewarding calm behavior.