Jumping Up Dog Behaviour

Whilst jumping up is natural for dogs, it can be problematic, especially if the dog is large, or if the person is young, old or uncomfortable with dogs.

We often allow our puppies to jump up on us as it is cute, but this sets the dog up thinking this is the correct way to greet, only to get confused when they are older and bigger, and the jumping begins to be a problem.

Preventing and treating this behaviour requires understanding why dogs do it and by using consistent and kind training methods to teach them more appropriate and alternative ways to greet people.

Whenever your dog greets someone calmly without jumping, reward them with praise, treats, or affection.

If your dog approaches you without jumping, immediately reward them before they even think about jumping. This reinforces the idea that staying on the ground leads to good things.

Why Do Dogs Jump Up on People?

Seeking Attention: Dogs learn that jumping up gets a response from humans, whether it positive (petting, talking) or negative (pushing them away or scolding). Any form of attention reinforces the behaviour.

Excitement: Dogs, especially puppies, may jump up because they’re excited to see someone and want to get close to their face, which is a common way dogs greet one another.

Greeting Behaviour: Dogs often greet each other by licking faces. It is thought jumping up is a way to get closer to a person’s face, mimicking this natural greeting behaviour.

Lack of Training: If a dog has never been taught not to jump, it may simply not know that jumping up is inappropriate.

Seeking reassurance. If a dog feels threatened or anxious in a situation it might jump at its owner to communicate this and seek reassurance. Rather than training the dog not to jump, it is better to avoid whatever is stressing the dog until it has been resolved.

Prevention.

Prevention is better than trying to undo the behaviour once it has become a habit. Whilst ignoring the jumping behaviour is advised, this is best combined with training the dog an alternative and incompatible behaviour such as sitting. Only give attention when your dog is calm and has all four paws on the ground! Sometimes it helps to get down to the dog’s level and try not to wave your hands around above the dog prior to petting as the dog will naturally jump to meet your hands.

Be consistent! Everyone in the household and any guests must follow this approach. Inconsistency can confuse the dog and make training less effective.

If your dog tends to get overly excited, provide them with some enrichment and an outlet for their energy before greeting people. A short walk, a game of fetch, or giving them a chew toy can help release excess energy and make them more likely to greet calmly.

Never push your dog down or punish them for jumping up!

Pushing your dog down when they jump can be seen as attention, reinforcing the behaviour. Some dogs may also see this as play, encouraging more jumping. Shouting or using negative reinforcement can frighten and confuse your dog and may worsen the problem.

Positive training methods are much more effective for addressing jumping behaviour!