How To Train A Dog Not To Jump (And How You Could Be Instigating It)

Quick Summary

• The simplest way you can train a dog not to jump is by turn your back on your dog as soon as he jumps up, then only pay attention when he has all of his four paws on the ground. 
• Dogs jump on people to get their attention, so by noticing him or reacting to the behavior, you are basically encouraging it. It is important to be firm with this rule and teach your friends and family to do the same when your dog jumps on them.
• If your dog specifically jumps on you when you come home, practice a more quiet entrance without looking, touching, or saying anything to your dog. Turn away when he starts to jump, and just keep repeating this process.

Learning how to train a dog not to jump is basically ignoring the habit or walking away from it when it happens. Dogs jump on people because they want attention, so by ignoring them, they will soon learn that this behavior will not reward them with anything. I’ve treated my dogs this way as early as puppyhood, so they never developed the bad habit.

Jumping on something or someone is a natural behavior for a dog in most cases, and it often has been unintentionally rewarded since you brought your pup home. That cute little puppy that once jumped up excitedly to get your attention has now grown into a large dog that can knock you over when you walk in the door. This is why it’s very important to know how to train a dog not to jump.

Jumping on people is a way for a dog to get its owner’s affection and attention. This is a sweet gesture on your dog’s part, which is often viewed as an annoying behavior and a jumping dog can potentially harm older people and young children. You can stop this behavior through consistent training and prevention, and while it’s better to teach a dog not to jump when he’s young, it can also be taught to older dogs. Follow my guide below.

Why Does A Dog Jump on You?

Most dog trainers will say that a dog will jump up on you because jumping up is a reinforcing behavior for him. A dog may also do a more exaggerated form of any type of behavior that may get him what he wants. So, if you have a dog that is jumping up on you, more than likely he is trying to communicate his desire to get your attention and play with you, so if he gets any type of interaction from jumping, he will continue to do it. 

As a dog grows up, he finds that jumping up has become a larger problem, so it is best practice to teach him when he’s young to greet humans politely. If your dog is older, it’s not too late. An adult dog can still be taught good manners through consistent training.  

The Source of the Jumping Behavior

When your pup jumps up on you, whether he is greeting you when you get home from work or wants a dog toy or food, it is due to his knowledge that jumping up on you will get him what he wants. When you respond to his jumping by giving him what he wants, then you are reinforcing the behavior and teaching him that is the right way to get the treat or toy.

To keep your dog from jumping, you will need to de-incentivize and challenge the behavior by not giving him what he wants when he jumps. This will make him less likely to continue to repeat the behavior. Keep in mind that your reaction to his jumping is feeding his behavior and is the first thing that needs to change to see a difference in your pup’s behavior. 

Teaching Your Dog Not To Jump Up

Remember there is no technique that is completely fool-proof when training dogs to not jump up on people since not every dog will respond in the same way to a training method. You might need to try a few different methods in order to meet your dog’s individual needs to get him to stop jumping.

Management

When we say management, we mean that you need to control the situation to keep your dog from having the opportunity to jump up on you or someone else. Here are a few management techniques that you can use until your pup is properly trained to not jump up on people. 

For example, if you want to manage your pup’s behavior if he likes to jump up on visitors, here are a few ideas of ways to manage the situation:

• Put him in his dog crate
• Leash train your dog and ask him to sit when the visitor enters and make sure to reward his good behavior 
• Confine him in another room or use a baby gate

These steps will stop your dog’s jumping behavior as he learns his manner around humans. 

Training

It’s important that you teach a dog that he won’t receive any attention when he jumps on you or anyone else. Basically, you need to turn your back on your dog when he jumps up and only pay attention to your dog when he has all of his paws on the ground. 

You will want to teach your pup something that is no compatible with jumping up on you like sitting. Obviously, a dog can jump and sit at the same time, but if he isn’t sitting, then he won’t get any attention. Remember, you need to be consistent and everyone in the house needs to follow the same pet training strategies at the same time. It’s also important to remember that you cannot let your pup jump up on you in certain circumstances and not others.  

Jumping On Other People

• Ask a friend or family member to help you with the training. This assistant should be someone that your dog likes and wants to play with. Remember that a dog shouldn’t be forced to play or greet someone that scares them. 
• Next, tell your dog the sit command, which he needs to already know. 
• Your assistant should approach both you and your pup. When your dog jumps up, the assistant needs to turn immediately and walk away. 
• Repeat the sit command and have your assistant approach your dog again. 
• Repeat until your pup stays seated when your assistant approaches him. 
• When your dog does stay seated, your assistant should give him the treat to reinforce the behavior. 
• When you are out with your dog and you encounter a person that your dog wants to greet, you need to manage and train your dog at the same time:
• First, stop the approaching person and tell him that you don’t want your pup to jump on him. 
• Give the person dog treats or keep some in your hand ready to reward your dog for his good behavior.
• Ask your pup to sit and tell the person that they can pet the dog and give him treats as long as he stays seated.
• You will often get someone that says they don’t mind a dog leaping onto him, particularly if you have a dog that is a puppy or little and fluffy. Just tell him that you mind since you need to be consistent in your training. Stick to your training if you don’t want your dog to continue to jump, and if you have someone that encourages your dog to jump, just simply tell him no thank you when they attempt to greet your pup.  

Jumping Up When You Come Home 

• Keep your greeting to your dog low-key and quiet. It is important to encourage a calm behavior.
• Ignore your dog if he jumps on you, then turn and walk out the door.
• Come to the door again and repeat the exercise. You might have to do this a few times before your pup understands that he will only get your attention if he keeps all his feet on the floor. 

Jumps Up On You When You Are Sitting

• When you sit on the couch and your dog jumps onto you, do not talk to your dog or even push him away. Make sure to ignore him until he has all four of his feet on the floor. 

Four on the Floor

Four on the Floor is a method that requires you to ignore your dog for all behavior besides having all four of his paws on the floor. When your dog tries to jump up on you, fold your arms and look up all the while avoiding looking at your pup. When your dog places all four of his feet on the floor, then you can give him a reward for his good.

Make sure you do not excite your dog when giving him the reward since this can cause him to jump up on you again. Tell your guests to ignore your pup as well when he jumps upon them. Consistency is important with everyone that your dog interacts with if you want the process to be successful.

Use a Leash

When you train your pet to not jump up with a dog leash, it makes it easier to control him when you have your assistant come to the door. When your assistant rings the bell, attach the leash to your pup. Harnesses are most helpful in providing more control of his entire body. Walk your dog to the door and tell him to sit. Then, when your dog is actually sitting should you open the door for your assistant. 

There may be times when you have to step on his leash to keep him from jumping up. After your assistant comes in the door, tell him to ignore your pup if he tries to jump up. An extremely excited dog may need to be taken out of the room to quiet down before he will be able to sit calmly. After he is quiet, then you can bring him again to greet your assistant using the same process. 

Tell your assistant to only acknowledge your pup after all his feet are on the floor. This reinforces the behavior that he needs to keep all his feet on the ground when a guest comes into the house if he wants to be greeted by them. 

Dogs That Need Extra Help

There will always be some dogs that will need extra when it comes to calming themselves in a social setting. If the methods we have mentioned don’t work for your particular pup, then you can try using a toy near the front door to help redirect his attention. Using the toy as a distraction when a guest arrives can be a way to channel his excitement. Sometimes, just holding a toy can be enough to distract certain dogs and will also help to eliminate their jumping behavior. 

Tips for Training Success

• Encourage correct behavior with positive reinforcements, which can consist of treats, praise, play, and attention. Remember that your dog is using the jumping behavior to get attention, so only getting his attention when he has all his paws on the ground is the most powerful reinforcement!
• Always stay consistent in every situation and remember that if you don’t want your dog jumping up on you, don’t confuse him by letting him behave this way in specific circumstances.
• Remember to exercise your dog. Tired dogs are better-behaved dogs, so if your dog has a lot of energy, then he will be more likely to have an extreme reaction that you can prevent with appropriate daily exercise and play.
• Do not yell or raise your voice since this can scare your pup and make him scared of both you and your visitors.  
• Don’t get discouraged: and remember that the behavior won’t change overnight. You need to practice correct behavior frequently until his jumping up behavior stops. If all else fails, seek the help of a certified professional dog trainer.

FAQs

How do I train my dog not to jump on visitors?

When training your dog, it’s important to remember to reinforce the good and ignore the bad. Always reinforce good behavior, like not jumping, with treats, praise, and affection. Ignore the bad, like jumping up on you and your guests. Not giving your dog attention, which is what he wants, is a big deterrent and a great way to train him.  

You also want to be consistent and not allow him to jump for some things, but then not expect him to jump for others. For example, he can’t jump on guests when they arrive, but you allow him to jump on you when you get home from work. 

A simple way to train your dog is using a friend as your assistant to repeat the training. Make sure your assistant understands the training process so that he also ignores your dog when he jumps upon him when he comes over and praises or gives him treats when he doesn’t. If your dog doesn’t get it at first, keep practicing until your dog understands the concept. 

How does Cesar Millan teach a dog not to jump?

Cesar Millan feels that ignoring the jumping behavior is only part of the training process [1]. You also need to give positive reinforcement your dog when he doesn’t jump. After your dog has calmed down and kept his paws on the floor, then you can give him a reward and praise.

How do you stop a puppy from jumping up?

To teach your dog to stop jumping on you, keep the times you leave the house and come home uneventful. This is the most common time that puppies will jump, so it’s important not to make this a very exciting time. 

Dance with your dog when he jumps up on you. Grab his front paws and dance him around. Many dogs hate dancing so much that they will stop greeting you when you come in. You can also play a game when you come home like fetch that will keep him running, so he won’t have any time to jump.