How to Train Your Dog To Stop Jumping Up
Why Dogs Jump Up
When a dog jumps up, they’re usually trying to get closer to our faces and engage with us. It’s their way of saying, “Hey! Look at me!” Unfortunately, when we push them down, scold them, or even talk to them while they're jumping, we’re often giving them exactly what they want — attention. And that teaches them: "Jumping = attention."
The Key: No Attention for Jumping
To stop jumping up, we have to remove the reward. That means zero attention when the dog jumps — no touching, no talking, no eye contact.
Here’s what to do instead:
Turn away completely.
Fold your arms.
Avoid eye contact.
Wait for all four paws to be on the floor, then calmly give attention or praise. If the dog returns to jumping up, rinse and repeat!
This approach works for the majority of dogs — but only if everyone who interacts with your dog is consistent. That includes family members, visitors, delivery drivers… everyone! If even one person rewards jumping (intentionally or not), it can slow your progress.
Teach an Incompatible Behaviour: Sit!
Another great tactic is to teach your dog to sit when greeting people. A dog who’s sitting can’t jump up at the same time. Plus, sitting is a polite behaviour that people naturally want to reward with pets and attention.
Practice short greetings with your dog on leash:
Ask for a sit.
Let someone approach or say hello.
If your dog stays seated, they get attention!
If they get up, the greeting ends — no attention until they sit again.
What If Guests Won’t Ignore Your Dog?
If someone can’t (or won’t) help by ignoring the jumping, there are still ways to prevent the behaviour from being reinforced. You can shut the dog in another room or their crate- people aren’t entitled to interact with your dog, especially if they won’t help with your training plan- but if you’re worried about this causing conflict between you and your guest heres an alternative:
Attach a lead to your dog’s collar or the front clip of their harness.
Stand on the lead as the guest arrives — leave just enough slack so your dog can stand or sit comfortably but not enough to jump up.
This simple management strategy makes jumping physically impossible and gives your dog the chance to succeed. Guests can greet your dog without accidentally reinforcing jumping, and you can reward your dog for keeping their paws on the ground.
Consistency is Everything- Especially With Teenage Dogs!
Like all training, preventing jumping takes time, patience, and consistency. But with clear communication and a bit of management, your dog will soon learn that four paws on the floor is the fastest way to get the attention they’re looking for. Jumping up is especially common in teenage dogs (6-24 months) because they lack impulse control but as long as you’re consistent they WILL get there eventually!
