10 ways to stop your dog from jumping up on people.

Carey and puppy Leo

As frustrating and embarrassing as it can be, understand the reason behind the behaviour: Dogs jump up to greet people and as a way to express their excitement. It is essential to understand that this behaviour is natural for dogs and not necessarily a sign of bad manners and trying to dominate people.

1. Do not reward the behaviour: When a dog jumps up, it is seeking attention make sure that you are not unintentionally rewarding the behaviour by talking to the dog, touching the dog, or throwing a toy or treat to interrupt the jumping. For a reminder of rewards visit our blog here on positive reinforcement.

2. Remove your dog from the environment If your dog cannot, the more the dog jumps up and is rewarded for doing so, the more it will practice this behaviour. Leash your dog, put it behind a baby gate, in a crate, in another room etc.

3. Teach an alternative behaviour: Teaching your dog an alternative behaviour, such as sitting and staying, is an effective way to redirect the dog's energy and stop jumping up. Reward the dog for performing the desired behaviour, and do not reward the jumping up. Ensure that you practice the sit in a calm environment with minimal distractions first, then advance to distractions of other people and moving and exciting items. Remember to reward duration as well – give multiple rewards in a row.

4. Consistency is key: Consistency is key when it comes to training your dog. Everyone in the household should use the same commands and techniques when interacting with the dog.

5. Training in different environments: It is essential to train your dog in different environments, such as the park or at home. This will help your dog to generalize the behaviour and understand that it is expected in all situations.

6. Communicate and be patient: Training takes time and patience. Don't expect your dog to change their behaviour overnight. Be patient and consistent with your training, and you will see results. Communicate with friends, family and even people on the street.

7. Seek professional help: If you are having trouble training your dog, consider seeking the help of a professional dog trainer. A professional can evaluate your dog's behaviour and provide personalized training advice.

8. Remember that prevention is better than cure, so train your dog early to prevent bad habits from forming.

9. Be consistent with the commands/cues and rewards you use for good behaviour, and don't give in to your dog's jumping behaviour. Remember that jumping is a natural behaviour for dogs and it will take time and patience to train them out of it.

10. Practice impulse control games that tempt your dog to jump up, but are only rewarded when your dog remains seated. Door manners and cues like leave it and take it can also help create a calmer dog.

Jumping up is typical behaviour among dogs, but it can be stopped with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement training. Remember to understand the reason behind the behaviour, never unintentionally reward the behaviour or allow others to do so, teach an alternative behaviour, use positive reinforcement, be consistent, train in different environments, seek professional help and above all, be patient. With time, your dog will learn that jumping up is not a welcomed or rewarding behaviour and will offer alternative behaviour like sitting if you have taught them right.