How to Stop Your Dog Jumping Up When Greeting Guests
It’s lovely to have a dog who’s excited to see people — but not everyone appreciates a muddy-pawed welcome, especially at this time of year! Jumping up is one of the most common behaviours dog owners struggle with, especially when guests arrive. The good news? With consistency and clear rules, you can teach your dog that calm greetings get attention, not jumping.
Why Dogs Jump Up
Dogs often jump up because they want to say hello — it’s their way of getting closer to our faces and getting attention. Even a quick pat or eye contact can reinforce the behaviour. To change it, we need to make it clear that only calm behaviour gets rewarded. The #1 mistake people make is making eye contact with the dog and telling them to stop in a relatively friendly voice- to the dog, this looks very similar to praise and encouragement so the behaviour just keeps getting worse.
Step-by-Step: Teaching Polite Greetings
Set clear expectations for guests.
Before anyone comes in, explain that your dog is learning polite greetings. Ask them not to look at, touch, or speak to your dog unless your dog’s bum is on the floor- except for the one exception below…Use a simple cue — “Sit.”
When your dog greets someone, the guest can ask them to “sit” in a calm, firm voice. Once your dog sits, they can calmly give the dog attention.Ignore jumping.
If your dog jumps up, the guest should immediately fold their arms, turn away, and avoid all eye contact. No talking, no pushing — just remove the reward of attention.
After a moment, they can calmly repeat the “sit” cue. When your dog’s bum hits the floor, praise or reward them again.Help the dog to stay calm
Talking in a loud, squeaky voice or rapidly moving your arms around are great ways to get a dog excited- and excited dogs jump. When you’re ready to reward the calm behaviour make sure to speak quietly and calmly while slowly petting the dog.
Use a management tool if needed.
If your dog finds greetings especially exciting, you can clip a lead to the front of their harness or collar and stand on it. This prevents them from being able to jump.
As your dog keeps their paws on the floor, reward them with calm attention, gentle petting, or a treat. Over time, they’ll learn that staying grounded gets them what they want — your guest’s love!
Consistency Is Key
Dogs learn best when everyone follows the same rules. Make sure all family members and visitors stick to the plan — if a dog gets away with something some of the time, they’ll try their luck every time. If a visitor can’t comply with your training plan the dog needs to be in another room, their crate, or on a lead when that person come to visit so that you can make sure they don’t get rewarded for jumping up. Warning visitors in advance allows you to avoid chaos at the door and set everyone up for success.
The Payoff: Calm, Confident Greetings
Teaching your dog not to jump isn’t just about manners — it helps them feel calmer and more in control during exciting moments. Guests will appreciate the polite welcome, and you’ll enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere at home.
With patience, consistency, and a bit of training teamwork, you can turn those over-enthusiastic leaps into calm, happy hellos.
