Jumping up when greeting is a common behavior problem that many dog owners face. It can be not only a nuisance but also a safety concern, especially with larger breeds that can inadvertently knock over children or seniors. Even smaller dogs can cause discomfort with muddy paws or scratches. While your dog’s intent is often just to say a friendly “hello” face-to-face, and jumping is an effective way to get your attention, establishing polite greeting manners is essential. This guide provides ten effective tips to help your dog learn appropriate greeting behavior, ensuring they know how to say “hi” in a way that is safe and respectful.
Establish a Clear Greeting Rule
The most effective approach to modifying unwanted behavior is to teach your dog an alternative, incompatible behavior. Instead of solely focusing on what not to do, guide your dog toward what to do. For jumping, this means teaching them to keep all four paws on the floor, as they cannot simultaneously jump and maintain all feet on the ground. Alternatively, you could train them to sit or lie down for greetings. Whichever rule you choose, consistently apply it by only providing attention and greeting your dog when they adhere to it. Consistency is key; avoid allowing jumping on some occasions but not others.
Reward Paws on the Floor Immediately
Dogs are motivated to repeat behaviors that yield positive outcomes. Therefore, as soon as your dog demonstrates the desired greeting behavior, such as keeping their front paws on the floor, offer immediate praise and petting. Your dog seeks your attention, so ensure they receive it promptly when they do the right thing, especially during the learning phase. Avoid delaying your greeting by attending to other tasks like removing your coat or shoes, as this can lead to impatience and a return to jumping.
Withdraw Attention When Jumping Occurs
Conversely, the only way to effectively curb jumping is to stop reinforcing it. Never reward a behavior you wish to eliminate. If your dog jumps on you, promptly remove the desired reward – your attention. This can be achieved by turning your back or calmly walking away, signaling to your dog that jumping has the opposite effect of what they intended. As soon as all four paws are back on the floor, turn back and quietly offer praise and petting. This teaches your dog that their behavior acts as a switch to turn your attention on and off.
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Set Your Dog Up for Success
While ignoring jumping and rewarding proper greetings is effective, it can be a trial-and-error process for your dog. To facilitate their learning, proactively set them up for success by making it easier for them to follow your established greeting rule. If the rule is to sit for greetings, ask them to sit as soon as you enter the house. If the rule is four paws on the floor, encourage them to maintain a standing position.
A helpful strategy is to scatter treats on the floor. Most dogs find it difficult to resist treats, and they cannot jump and sniff the ground simultaneously. By providing food before your dog even considers jumping, you can reward the desired four-on-the-floor behavior with both attention and treats. Your dog will soon learn your greeting rule, and you can gradually phase out the food rewards.
Consistently Reward Proper Greeting Behavior
Your dog will learn proper greeting behavior more quickly if their actions have an immediate impact on your attention. When their feet are on the floor, they gain attention; when they jump, attention is withdrawn. Therefore, always reward your dog when they adhere to your greeting rule. Never withhold your attention once your dog’s feet touch the floor, even if it follows a period of persistent jumping. Inconsistent reinforcement will confuse your dog.
Avoid Grabbing or Pushing Your Dog Away
Remember that your dog’s jumping is an attempt to gain your attention. Even negative responses, such as grabbing their paws or pushing them away, still constitute attention and thus reward the jumping behavior. This can paradoxically lead to more jumping in the long run. Furthermore, physical interactions can be misinterpreted by some dogs as an invitation to roughhouse play, potentially escalating the behavior and leading to more intense jumping.
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Refrain from Using Your Knee as a Block
While some suggest using a knee to block your dog’s chest when they jump, this tactic can be perceived as attention or a wrestling match by some dogs, leading to the opposite of the intended effect. More concerningly, it can erode the human-canine bond by creating distrust. Your dog is simply trying to greet you, and using your knee can be interpreted as a punishment, potentially causing injury. A lack of trust can manifest in other behavioral issues, such as not coming when called.
Maintain Low-Key Greetings During Training
A dog’s excitement upon seeing their owner can make it challenging for them to control the urge to jump and obey a new greeting rule. To assist them, keep greetings calm and subdued. Dogs are sensitive to our emotions, so if you are excited, they will likely mirror that excitement. Remain calm and quiet, even when offering praise. As your dog begins to grasp the new behavior, you can gradually increase your enthusiasm until it matches theirs.
Prevent Jumping on Guests
Your dog’s inappropriate greeting behavior may also be reinforced by family members, guests, and even strangers. To manage this, implement strategies like using a leash to prevent your dog from approaching the door freely. Alternatively, send your dog to their designated place, such as a mat or bed, or secure them in their crate until guests are settled. A baby gate can also be effective in blocking the entryway.
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Enlist Guest Cooperation for Greeting Rules
Do not hesitate to communicate your dog’s training needs clearly to guests and strangers. While your dog is still learning, ask others to ignore your dog entirely unless you give them permission to interact. It is advisable to avoid interactions with strangers until your dog has mastered greetings with cooperative friends and family. Employing cues like “watch me” or distracting your dog with a hand touch or toy can help manage their excitement as strangers pass by.
For personalized advice from experienced trainers or if you have further dog training questions, please visit the AKC GoodDog! Helpline page for online chat options or to enroll in the program. The AKC GoodDog! Helpline is celebrating its tenth year of assisting dog owners. Whether you’re dealing with housetraining a puppy or addressing unwanted behaviors in senior dogs, their experts are available via phone or video to provide support. Join the nearly one million dog owners who trust the AKC GoodDog! Helpline.
