How to stop a dog jumping up on people

Q: Why does my dog jump on people?

It's a normal greeting aimed at the face, kept going because it earns attention, even a knee or a push can reward an excited dog.

Q: How do I stop it with guests?

Manage with a lead, gate or mat so the dog can't jump, have guests ignore the dog until four feet are down or it sits, then reward calm. Everyone must be consistent.

Q: Why does my dog jump up on people?

Jumping is an excited greeting that has been rewarded with attention, even eye contact or being pushed off. The dog has learned it works to get a response.

Q: How do I stop my dog jumping on guests?

Manage greetings with a lead or gate, ask visitors to ignore the dog until all four feet are on the floor, then reward calm greeting. Consistency from everyone is what fixes it.

Q: How long does it take to stop a dog jumping up?

Many dogs improve within a week or two of consistent, managed greetings. Setbacks happen when one person or one excited visitor rewards the jump.

Q: What should I do when my dog jumps on me?

Stay boring: no talking, touching or eye contact, turn away or step back so the dog earns nothing, then reward the moment it has four feet down or sits.

Q: Should I knee my dog or push it off for jumping?

No. Physical corrections can hurt or frighten the dog and often add to the excitement. Removing attention and rewarding four-on-the-floor is safer and more effective.

Q: How do I teach my dog to greet politely?

Train a default sit or a four-feet-down for greetings, practise with calm helpers, and reward heavily. Build up to more exciting people as the dog succeeds.

Q: My dog jumps on people on walks. What do I do?

Keep it on lead, step on or hold the lead so it cannot reach, ask the person not to engage until the dog is calm, and reward the dog for keeping four feet down.

Q: Why does my dog jump more on some people?

People who react with noise, movement or fuss reward the jump most. Ask everyone to respond the same calm way for consistency.

Jumping up is friendly, not dominant. The dog wants to get to your face, and every greeting where it worked taught it to keep trying. The fix is to make "four feet on the floor" the thing that earns attention, and to stop the jump from being rehearsed in the meantime.

Dog sitting calmly to greet a person instead of jumping

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Quick answer

Manage greetings with a lead, gate or mat so the dog can't reach people to jump. Remove the reward: everyone turns away and gives zero attention while the dog is jumping. Reward the alternative: the instant four feet are on the floor (or the dog sits), calm attention and a treat. Be consistent: one person letting the dog jump keeps the habit alive. Never knee, push or step on the dog.

Why dogs jump up

Puppies greet adult dogs and people by reaching for the face. We often reward it when they're small and cute, with cuddles, laughter and "hello!", then object once they're big enough to knock someone over. To the dog, nothing changed except our reaction, which is now inconsistent. Excitement and arousal make it worse: a dog that's over-aroused at the door has little self-control to spare.

The jump stops working; the polite greeting starts paying.

The plan

1. Manage so the jump can't happen

Keep a lead on for greetings, or use a baby gate or pen between the dog and the door.
Teach a station: a mat or bed near the door that the dog goes to when the bell rings, built up separately and rewarded heavily.
For the first few weeks, prevent every unmanaged greeting. Rehearsal is what maintains the behaviour.

2. Remove the reward for jumping

The moment paws leave the floor: turn away, fold arms, no eye contact, no words. Become boring.
As soon as feet are down, turn back and reward calmly.
If the dog jumps again, repeat. Most dogs work out the pattern within several greetings.
Brief the household and visitors, hand guests a treat pot and the one instruction: "ignore until the feet are down, then say hi."

3. Reward an incompatible behaviour

Teach a solid sit, then a "sit to say hello": reward the dog for sitting as a person approaches.
Or reward "four on the floor", scatter treats on the ground on approach so the dog's nose is down.
Practise with easy people first (calm adults) before hard ones (excitable children, people who love letting dogs jump).

4. Lower the arousal

Keep greetings low-key, quiet voice, slow movement. Give the dog an outlet before predictable high-excitement moments (a chew when guests are due, a walk before the school run). A dog with enough mental stimulation and impulse-control practice has more self-control at the door.

Specific situations

Situation	Adjustment
Jumping on you at the door home from work	Ignore completely on entry; greet only after the dog settles. Keep it boring.
Jumping on guests	Dog on lead or behind a gate; guests coached before entry; reward station.
Jumping on children	Always manage, lead or separation. Kids can't deliver consistent criteria. Reward the dog for calm around them.
Jumping on people on walks	Step on the lead to limit height, reward attention on you, ask strangers not to greet until the dog sits.
Jumping when you sit down	Reward settling on a mat beside you; ignore the jump-up onto your lap unless invited.

Mistakes to avoid

Kneeing, toe-stepping, leash-popping, can hurt or frighten, make greetings stressful, and the attention still rewards the jump.
Shouting "off", loud attention is still attention for an excited dog.
Only some people enforcing it, intermittent reward makes the behaviour more persistent.
Training only in calm moments, you have to practise at real greetings, just managed ones.
Rewarding the sit too late, if you wait, you may reward the jump that comes next.

When to get help

Jumping combined with mouthing, snapping, or an inability to settle at all may signal over-arousal that needs a structured plan, or occasionally an underlying anxiety, worth a chat with a qualified reward-based trainer or behaviourist. A vet check is sensible if a previously calm adult dog suddenly becomes frantic at greetings.

Where a program fits

Jumping is a textbook "teach an alternative and be consistent" problem, and a structured course keeps the whole household on the same page. Brain Training for Dogs covers polite greetings and impulse control in its games and behaviour sections using this reward-based approach.

Get the whole household consistent

Reward-based greeting, sit and settle training, plus impulse-control games. See the current offer.

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FAQ

Why does my dog jump on people?

How do I stop it with guests?

Why does my dog jump up on people?

How do I stop my dog jumping on guests?

How long does it take to stop a dog jumping up?

What should I do when my dog jumps on me?

Should I knee my dog or push it off for jumping?

How do I teach my dog to greet politely?

My dog jumps on people on walks. What do I do?

Why does my dog jump more on some people?

Related guides

References

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These references describe dogs and training in general. They are not evidence about any specific commercial program. This page is general information, not a substitute for individualised veterinary or behaviour advice. Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.