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Jumping when greeting is a common dog behavior problem. Not only is it annoying, but large breeds, like our beloved Great Danes, can knock people over, which is especially dangerous for children and seniors. Even small breeds can scratch your legs or get muddy paws on your clothes.
However, your dog is simply trying to say “hello” face-to-face. Plus, jumping is an effective way to get your attention. So, how do you stop your dog from jumping when it’s such a natural canine behavior?
1. Only Greet Your Dog When They Have All 4 Paws on the Floor
The most effective way to deal with problem behavior is to teach your dog an incompatible alternative behavior. Your dog will learn faster and easier if you tell them what to do rather than just what not to do. Whatever rule you choose, only greet your dog and provide attention when they are following the rule. And be consistent. For example, don’t let your dog jump on you when you’re in jeans but not when you’re in a suit.
2. Give Attention As Soon As Your Dog's Front Feet Hit the Floor
Dogs repeat behaviors that get them what they want. So, as long as your dog is following your greeting rule like front feet on the floor, provide praise and petting. Your dog wants the reward of your attention, so make sure they get it immediately whenever they’re doing the right thing, especially while they’re still learning. Don’t delay your greeting while you remove your coat and shoes. Your dog might become impatient and try something else to get you to notice them.
3. Remove Attention When Your Dog Jumps
On the flip side, the only way to stop jumping is to stop rewarding it. Never reinforce a behavior you want to eliminate. If your dog jumps on you, quickly take away what they want – your attention. Try turning your back or calmly walking away so your dog realizes jumping has the opposite effect to what they intended. But as soon as your dog is four on the floor again, turn back and quietly praise and pet them. This will help your dog see their behavior as a switch that turns your attention on and off.
4. Set Up Your Dog For Success
Ignoring jumping and rewarding proper greetings is effective, but it can be frustrating for your dog as it requires trial-and-error learning. Set up your dog for success by making it easier for them to follow your greeting rule. If that’s to sit for greetings, then ask them to sit as soon as you come in the door. If you require four on the floor, then encourage them to stay standing.
A fabulous way to keep your dog from jumping is to scatter treats on the floor. After all, most dogs can’t resist free goodies, and they can’t jump and sniff the ground at the same time. You need to be fast, but if you provide the food before your dog even thinks about jumping, you can reward four on the floor with both attention and treats. Your dog will soon figure out your greeting rule and you can start to phase out the food.
5. Always Reward Your Dog for Proper Greeting Behavior
Your dog will learn proper greeting behavior faster if their actions immediately impact your attention – front feet on the floor gains attention and jumping makes it go away. That means you should always reward your dog if they follow your greeting rule. Never withhold your attention when your dog’s feet finally touch the floor. You might be irritated, particularly if you just tolerated five solid minutes of jumping, but don’t let that impact your response. It will confuse your dog if the rule isn’t consistently reinforced.
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