Teaching Your Dog Not to Jump Up on People

The importance of this lesson may depend on the size of your dog. A dog the size of a Chihuahua jumping up on you (or visitors as they come through your door) won't create quite the same problem as a 100-pound bear of a dog. But then again, muddy paws are messy, regardless of their size. And some visitors may not enjoy being "greeted" by any jumping dog.

Teaching your dog not to jump up on people will take extra time and patience because dogs naturally greet friends and family by sniffing or licking each other's muzzles. Your "muzzle" is too high, so they try to jump up to reach it. They're not being rude or pushy; they're being sociable! We just need to train them to be sociable in human terms.

You'll need a volunteer to help you with this lesson.

Teaching Your Dog Not to Jump Up on People

Read this lesson first, and then practice it with your dog.

For Teaching Your Dog Not to Jump on Visitors:

1. Load up your pocket (or a bag or pouch) with treats.

2. Take your dog near the door where you and your visitors most often come into the house. (You and your dog will be inside the house.)

3. Ask your helper to come through the door and, as soon as your dog gets within a few feet, have your helper ask your dog to sit in a low, calm voice.

4. If your dog sits, immediately praise him and give him a treat. (Your helper makes the request, but you provide the reward for correct behavior.)

5. Repeat this exercise five times.

If your dog doesn't do what you want

If your dog doesn't sit when asked to do so by your helper, move in front of your dog (so you're facing him) and ask him to sit yourself. Immediately reward his correct behavior with praise and a treat. Practice this a couple of times: after your helper comes through the door, you step in front of your dog as he approaches the helper, face your dog and ask him to sit, then give the reward. After he sits successfully for you two or three times, ask your helper to ask your dog to sit after coming through the door.

If your dog still won't sit and keeps trying to jump up on your helper, don't raise your voice or show impatience; your dog is probably just a bit too excited about greeting your helper. Instead, when your dog doesn't sit as asked by your helper, instruct your helper to abruptly turn his back on your dog, walk outside and close the door. If your dog then turns to you, do the same"turn your back on your dog. After about 10 seconds, have your helper come back in, approach your dog again and ask him to sit" and again turn his back, walk out and close the door if your dog does not comply. Have your helper keep doing this until your dog sits as requested"then immediately reward your dog with praise and several treats for (finally!) calming down and doing as asked!

Note: If you can get more than one person to volunteer to help you with this lesson, individually at various times, your dog will more quickly learn the correct response (sitting, not jumping) for anyone who comes into the house.

For Teaching Your Dog Not to Jump on You:

1. Think of situations in which your dog is likely to jump on you, and be prepared to ask him to sit before he can do so" ideally, when he gets within six feet of you.

2. Practice training sessions where you go out and come back into the house, through various doors. Use the same methods as mentioned above: ask your dog to sit after you come in, and immediately reward the correct response.

3. Plan your practice sessions for when your dog is relatively calm.

4. Use your verbal sit command as well as your hand motion, as learned in Lesson 2. Important: Keep your voice low and calm. This may require diligence and practice on your part, especially if you're coming home after being gone all day and are used to greeting your dog with excitement and enthusiasm. Remember: the goal is to control your dog's excitement so that he's less likely to jump up on you. So try not to sound excited to see him. If you're calm, he'll calm down quicker.

5. Give praise and treats when your dog sits as requested. Tip: Have a baggy of treats ready outside your door, so you can quickly reward your dog for sitting whenever you come into the house.

6. Don't have your dog sit for long. Ask him to sit, give him the rewards as soon as he does so, and then move away and allow him to follow. Give him a chew toy or do something that takes his focus away from jumping up to greet you.

If your dog doesn't do what you want

If your dog doesn't sit when asked, turn your back on your dog, walk outside and close the door. After about 10 seconds, come back in, approach your dog again and ask him to sit" and again turn your back, walk out and close the door if your dog does not comply. Keep doing this until your dog sits as requested"t hen immediately reward your dog with praise and several treats for doing as asked.

If you're practicing in other areas and other situations where you dog might jump on you, immediately turn your back on him if he doesn't sit when asked. Don't talk to him. The point is to teach your dog that he'll lose your attention when he jumps up on you or doesn't sit when asked.

Important: When your dog jumps up on you, do not attempt to correct this behavior by pushing him away with your hands, or by bringing up your knee to block his jump or force him backwards. This is what many trainers tell people to do, but don't do it. Most dogs will perceive this action as play, and they'll get even more excited and will jump back with greater enthusiasm. This is the not the effect you want.

Instead, follow the above instructions for deterring their jumping behavior (turn your back, walk away). Being ignored by you is "punishment" enough for most dogs, and they'll quickly learn to sit as asked, rather than jump up.