We love spending time with our energetic dogs. And while playing and enjoying time with a bouncing little dog is adorable, a full-grown leaping dog that slobbers all over you and your guests can be annoying. Constant jumping and bouncing on friends and family can leave exhausted pet owners saying, “how do I stop my dog from jumping”? Plenty of dogs like to say hi up close and personal by jumping on people – here are a few ways to bring them back down to earth!

Younger dogs simply cannot contain their excitement and haven’t learned to hold it in yet. They’re so excited to see you they want to get as close and personal as possible! Adult dogs jump for mostly the same reason – they were never trained out of it as a puppy and see it as the best for of greeting. And if they continue to get attention, be it negative or positive, they’ll continue to keep up the habit.

Your dog may have too much spring in their step, and while you may be okay with some personal jumping attention, strangers and other visitors may not. It's important to establish rules and rewards when you begin to train your dog not to jump. Take a look at these tips to train your dog out of the jumping hello!

Your dog will start their jumping routine to demand attention, and unless it’s trained out of them, will continue to do so if that demand is rewarded. Instead, try doing nothing to show that this behavior will not be rewarded. Unlike when your dog is jumping on the counter, jumping over barriers, or jumping on furniture, which requires reinforcing them away, training your dog away from jumping on people by ignoring them is the best approach. Don’t touch, talk to, or scold them. Don’t even look at them, no matter how cute their begging eyes are!

When your dog’s butt hits the floor, time for a reward! By providing treats and praise when they stop jumping and sit down, this lets your dog know that sitting, instead of jumping, is the way to get the attention and affection they crave.

There’s only one exception when it comes to training jumping out of your dog. After they’ve reinforced the command for sit, give the command before they start jumping (or after, if they’re quick about it!). As soon as they sit, it’s time for a reward!

If guests are on the way and your dog hasn’t quite mastered sitting over jumping, leashing or crating your dog until they’re calm and ready can prepare them to properly greet your new guests. This can be a great opportunity to reinforce training "place" or "bed" as well to make sure your pet knows there's a specific place to be when guests come in!

Dogs are often more responsive to hand signals than they are to just verbal commands. By pairing your dog’s “sit” command with a simple hand signal, you can reinforce the command and stop their jumping without having to give them the attention they’re seeking.

A strong “don’t” when it comes to training your dog out of jumping is all that's necessary - avoid punishing your dog in response. Negative reinforcement of jumping will only make them more anxious and confused – jumping is a natural behavior, and negative reinforcement can create tension and even more jumping!

Like all training, this is just a foundation - continue to train your dog not to jump on people, and you'll be able to train them away from jumping on counters, furniture, and more! Similar hand signals can be used to reinforce multiple trainings at the same time.

Some Thrive Pet Healthcare clinics offer options for behavior training, consultations, and even training during boarding sessions! This is a great opportunity to reinforce the solid foundation you've already built while attempting to find out if there's a root cause. Some dogs begin jumping after spaying or neutering, some because it was never trained out, and some because they can't handle the excitement of seeing you again!

No matter the cause, our Thrive Pet Healthcare veterinary professionals are here to help.

Do you have more questions about being a pet owner? Be sure to check out the Thrive New Pet Owner Guide weekly to get the answers to your most popular questions. For specific questions and routine care, book an appointment at your local Thrive Pet Healthcare Clinic. Our veterinarians are here to provide exceptional and essential care for your pet.