Nothing spoils the mood quite like muddy dog paws all over you, your friends, and passing strangers on the street. While an enthusiastic and friendly dog is a joy to interact with, the habit of jumping up on people is one that you’re probably eager to break them of.
Many dogs jump up on people, and it’s easy to get frustrated if your efforts to teach them not to aren’t working. So why do dogs jump on people? And how can you teach them not to while encouraging a good relationship with your dog? In this article, we will explore your options for helping your dog kick this bad habit once and for all.
It seems almost like an impossible to ignore impulse in some dogs: they see one of their human friends (or a new potential friend) and immediately go back on their hind legs, trying to greet you at eye level. There’s a very good reason for this: dogs like to greet each other face to face, and they also love attention. Your face is out of reach when they’re down on the ground, so jumping up gives them a chance to greet you properly.
Unfortunately, most dogs also get into the habit from a young age. When a small puppy jumps up at you enthusiastically, it can be hard to resist giving them a cuddle. As they get older and bigger, this jumping behavior can be more of a problem, but they’ve already learned that you will show them affection when they jump on you. When well-meaning strangers also show them positive attention on the street, it also teaches your dog that their vertical greeting is very welcome.
Younger dogs and high-energy breeds can be more apt to jumping up due to their excitable natures. And some breeds can get quite a lot of vertical height. Border Collies, for example, have been recorded to jump as high as six feet in the air, and even the more petite Jack Russell Terrier can get as high as 5 feet.
You may try to discourage your dog by pushing them away from your body (and nice clothes), but that can be interpreted by your dog as a game. Dogs love wrestling, so they may believe you’re trying to play. So, you must use another method to handle this behavioral issue.
Dogs learn to repeat behaviors that get them the results they want. If they receive attention and some form of (what they interpret as) play from you and others when they jump, they will continue to do it. You have to show your dog that jumping has the opposite effect: it delays them receiving what they want. Training dogs to break bad habits requires patience and consistency from you.
You might also train your dog to have an alternative greeting. If they naturally want to say hello and get some attention, you can work with them to develop a replacement to jumping up. You can teach them to bow or offer their paw to people instead. Even simply learning that they should sit or lie down to make someone’s acquaintance can be helpful.
Giving your dog clear instructions about what to do, rather than just what not to do, will be easier for them to remember and help curb any anxiety. “Sit down and offer your paw,” is easier for your dog to manage than just “don’t jump.” They know exactly what they should be doing and can channel their energy toward that task, rather than wondering what to do with themselves.
If you have a young and energetic dog, you might need to work on managing their energy day-to-day. One method for this can be crate training. This can help you temporarily create a calmer space for a dog, but it’s important to remember that it’s not a permanent solution. Your pup needs plenty of exercise and socialization to grow into a happy and healthy dog.
If you are having guests in your home, you may place your dog in their crate or a quiet room so that the excitement of people coming in doesn’t trigger them, letting them out after they are calm. You might bring them into the room with the guest on a leash at first, to allow them to see and smell the new people in your home. Have your dog sit and allow the guests to approach.
If your pup starts jumping up, have your guest stop and wait until the dog settles into a seated position again. Your dog won’t get a proper introduction until they can keep all four paws on the ground.
Make sure all your guests know the plan and will stick to it, no matter how cute your canine family member is. You can tell them all to use the technique of turning their back if the dog gets jumpy at any point during their visit.
Some dogs also can’t resist jumping up on their owners when they come home from work. You can go slowly with them in this situation too. Slowly open the door partway and stop if your dog starts jumping or getting overly excitable. Wait for them to grow calmer before opening the door any further. Continue slowly opening it, pausing any time your dog starts to get stirred up.
You can also enter the room quietly, ignoring them, and if they fail to settle, turn and walk back out, then start the process again.
Food-motivated dogs can get very excited at mealtimes (don’t we all), but jumping up at you while you’re preparing your food or theirs is unacceptable. If it happens, put the food aside so it is inaccessible to your dog. Then, walk away. Wait until they are back to a neutral position, then continue preparing their bowl.
Of course, when you’re taking your dog out for walks, you don’t have the option to crate them when they are going to see new people. If your dog is high-energy, plenty of exercise is essential to curb excitable behavior, so a jumpy dog needs plenty of walks and playtime. A tired dog is a calmer dog. Inevitably, though, you will encounter other people who may not know how you’re training your dog, and they can be tempted to allow them to jump.
You may choose to walk your dog on a harness to give you a bit more control, so they can’t easily veer off toward any passing stranger. When strangers approach, let them know that your dog is being trained and ask the person to wait until your dog sits, then they can approach.
If your dog is very food-motivated, you can also place a few treats on the ground in front of your dog when a new person approaches. While your dog enjoys their snack, let the person approach and pet them. As the dog learns this pattern, you can wait to give them a treat until after they have been greeted. Be careful with this technique, however, if your dog has issues with food aggression.
If the sight of your dog’s favorite toy spurs them upwards, don’t keep playing. Instead, put the toy away or simply set it on the ground and step away. It might be tempting to give your dog a pass during playtime, but you should be consistent in training them how to behave.
It’s natural that you feel happy when your dog expresses excitement when they see you, but no matter how cute your puppy is, if you don’t want to have jumping behavior become an issue when they get older, you should begin training it out of them right away. Some breeds may be more excitable and sociable than others, but with patience and consistency, you can train any dog to avoid this behavior.
You shouldn’t have to choose between loving your dog and having clean clothes. There are plenty of techniques you can use in all the different situations that may trigger your pup’s jumping instinct. With a little work from you, your dog will be able to interact with you and the wider world while observing good etiquette.