How to Stop a Dog from Jumping on People

Why Dogs Jump—and What They’re Trying to Say

Jumping is often a form of communication. Puppies instinctively jump on their mothers’ faces to seek attention or food, and many carry this behavior into adulthood when trying to engage with humans. When your dog jumps on you, they’re usually saying, “Hi! Look at me!” They want connection, attention, or excitement—and because jumping has worked before, they keep doing it.

Some dogs jump out of pure enthusiasm, while others do it due to stress or overstimulation. In some cases, dogs jump because they haven’t been taught any alternative way to greet people. The behavior becomes self-reinforcing—especially if people pet or talk to them while they’re mid-leap. Understanding the motivation behind the jumping helps you address the root cause instead of just the symptom.

Why Saying “No” Isn’t Enough

It’s a common instinct to shout “No!” or push a dog down when they jump. However, this attention—even negative—is still attention. To your dog, even being pushed or yelled at may feel like a form of engagement. Worse, physical responses can turn the greeting into a chaotic or intimidating experience, which doesn’t teach your dog what to do instead.

Rather than scolding or pushing, the more effective path is teaching your dog a behavior that is physically incompatible with jumping—like sitting or standing calmly. This allows you to turn every greeting into a moment of training, clarity, and connection.

Teach an Alternative Greeting Behavior

One of the most successful techniques for stopping jumping is teaching your dog to sit when greeting people. A dog cannot jump and sit at the same time, so you’re replacing the behavior rather than suppressing it. Start by practicing in low-distraction environments. When your dog approaches, ask for a “sit.” As soon as they comply, offer praise, treats, or gentle petting.

Repeat this routine until your dog reliably sits when approaching you. Then gradually increase the difficulty by practicing around friends, family, and eventually strangers. It’s important that every person who interacts with your dog follows the same rule: no attention for jumping, full attention for sitting. Consistency creates clarity, and clarity is what drives behavior change.

Use Management Tools to Set Your Dog Up for Success

While training is the long-term solution, management is how you prevent unwanted jumping in the meantime. Using a leash when greeting guests helps you maintain control and redirect energy before it turns into leaping. Placing your dog behind a baby gate or in a crate as guests arrive allows you to manage excitement and slowly introduce greetings only when your dog is calm.

You can also use tethering—attaching your dog’s leash to a sturdy object during greetings—to allow people to approach the dog on your terms. If your dog gets up, the greeting stops. When they sit or remain calm, the greeting resumes. This teaches your dog that good manners lead to more interaction, while jumping leads to nothing.

Reinforce Calm Behavior with High-Value Rewards

Dogs thrive on clear consequences, especially when they’re rooted in reward. When your dog successfully greets someone without jumping, make it a party! Offer a high-value treat, verbal praise, and gentle petting. This makes the calm greeting far more rewarding than the previous jumping habit.

It’s important to deliver the reward immediately—within seconds—so your dog makes the right connection. Over time, your dog will begin to offer polite greetings on their own, hoping for that consistent, positive response.

Train Greeting Scenarios in Controlled Environments

To solidify the training, set up practice sessions with family or friends who can help simulate guest arrivals. Ask them to approach your dog calmly. If your dog starts to jump, have the person immediately turn away and ignore the behavior—no eye contact, no speaking, no touching. If your dog sits, the person can step forward and offer attention.

This structured setup gives your dog the repetition and consistency needed to rewire their habits. Practice makes polite—especially when the reward is a successful human interaction.

Address Underlying Excitement or Anxiety

Jumping can sometimes be a symptom of a deeper issue, such as anxiety or overexcitement. If your dog is overly stimulated by guests or new people, adding mental and physical exercise before greetings can help. A long walk, training session, or puzzle toy before guests arrive can release pent-up energy and make your dog more receptive to calm behavior.

For particularly anxious dogs, slow introductions and desensitization may be necessary. Encourage guests to ignore the dog initially, allowing them to approach only when the dog is calm and confident. For very high-energy breeds, daily structured activity—both mental and physical—is often the missing ingredient.

Be Consistent—With Everyone

The biggest mistake owners make when training dogs not to jump is inconsistency. One person might encourage jumping (“I don’t mind—it’s cute!”), while another discourages it. This mixed messaging confuses your dog and stalls progress.

Make sure that everyone in your household, along with regular visitors, is on the same page. Let them know that attention is earned through calm, grounded behavior—not excited bouncing. The more consistent the message, the faster your dog will learn what’s expected.

Don’t Give Up—Celebrate the Small Wins

Changing ingrained behavior takes time, especially if your dog has been jumping for years. You may see progress one day and regression the next. That’s normal. The key is to remain patient, persistent, and positive. Celebrate each successful greeting, each moment of restraint, and each day with fewer jumps than the last.

Small wins add up. Over time, your dog will learn that polite greetings are more fun, more rewarding, and more consistent than the old jumping habit ever was. The behavior will fade not through force, but through training, trust, and teamwork.

From Jumping to Joyful Manners

There’s something wonderful about a dog who eagerly greets people while keeping all four paws on the ground. It speaks to a deep level of training, respect, and communication between dog and owner. With the right approach, you can guide your dog from chaotic greetings to calm confidence—transforming those bouncy leaps into eye contact, tail wags, and well-earned attention.

Remember, your dog isn’t being “bad”—they’re just doing what’s worked before. It’s your job to show them a better way. With patience, positive reinforcement, and a consistent plan, you’ll soon have a dog who impresses guests, respects boundaries, and makes every greeting something to look forward to.