Dealing with a dog that jumps on guests and strangers can be embarrassing and frustrating for owners. This guide will help you understand why dogs jump and provide effective training techniques to curb this behavior, focusing on positive reinforcement and clear communication.
When I arrived for the training session with Moody, a German Shepherd/Border Collie mix, I came prepared with plenty of high-value treats. By holding these treats low and by my sides, I immediately redirected Moody’s attention from jumping to sniffing, setting a positive tone for our work on teaching her to stop jumping on people.
After Moody settled, I discussed fundamental dog behavior principles with her guardian. Moody’s guardian was already familiar with using a marker word from previous training but hadn’t been using it consistently. We revisited a remedial loading exercise and incorporated hand targeting to refine timing. A consistent marker word, like “yes” or a clicker sound, helps dogs better understand desired actions. When a desired behavior is followed by a marker word and a reward, dogs are more likely to repeat it, building desirable habits and boosting their confidence.
We also emphasized the importance of rewarding positive behaviors, a concept I call “celebrating.” This is crucial for dogs who jump on people. Often, owners focus on stopping unwanted behaviors without actively teaching the desired ones. This common mistake can lead to various behavioral issues, including jumping. While we might perceive jumping as rude, dogs often jump for enthusiastic greetings or during play. However, their jumping is less pronounced when interacting with other four-legged animals compared to humans who stand upright.
By rewarding Moody for behaviors like sitting, coming when called, lying down, or making eye contact, her guardian can clearly communicate which actions are appreciated and will be rewarded. Celebrating these moments is simple but requires consistent effort. It involves consciously petting and acknowledging your dog when they offer these desired behaviors.
We also explored creative forms of exercise suitable for a higher-energy dog like Moody. Incorporating snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, enrichment games like hiding treats in boxes, or scent games can help expend excess energy. A well-exercised dog often appears better behaved, but it’s primarily about setting your dog up for success.
Effective Strategies to Stop a Dog From Jumping on People
Stopping a dog from jumping on people is achievable with a clear plan and a step-by-step approach. While several tips can help, the most effective method is teaching your dog the specific behavior you want them to exhibit instead of jumping.
For dogs with a significant jumping problem, training and rewarding them for an incompatible behavior is a highly effective starting point. This essentially means teaching your dog polite greeting manners.
I utilized an exercise practiced earlier in the session to demonstrate how Moody’s guardian could chain multiple cues to teach a different behavior for when meeting new people.
If your dog tends to jump on guests, the free positive dog training video below offers a valuable technique. This method is excellent for stopping jumping on guests and works best when practiced during calm moments, not when the dog is overly excited. Practice this extensively when you’re not arriving home before implementing it at the door with visitors.
I recommend Moody’s guardian practice this hand-targeting exercise every time she enters the home. Performing 5 to 10 repetitions each time will help Moody associate the new desired behavior with the location where she typically jumps.
Habits, whether good or bad, take time and practice to form. Changing a behavior requires a similar commitment. Since it takes approximately three months for a dog to develop a new behavior pattern, Moody’s guardian will need to practice this technique multiple times daily for a few months. Its an easy exercise, taking less than a minute each time, making it a highly effective way to stop dog jumping.
It was encouraging to see how quickly Moody responded to this method for stopping dogs from jumping on strangers. Consistent practice with her guardian will lead to further improvement. I advised practicing this exercise 3 to 6 times a day in short, one-to-two-minute sessions for the next three months to firmly establish a new, non-jumping behavior.
After a week of practicing without guests, the guardian can invite a friend over who understands the process and is willing to follow directions. It’s crucial to enlist the help of people who will cooperate and follow your guidance when trying to stop a dog from jumping on houseguests.
We covered several other tips during this in-home dog behavior training session in West LA. To help the guardian remember everything, we recorded a short roadmap to success video, which you can watch below.
