If you’re constantly apologizing for your dog jumping on people, I get it.
It’s frustrating, exhausting, and even a little embarrassing—especially when you’ve tried to fix it, but nothing seems to stick.
In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to train your dog not to jump on people—without yelling, pushing, or scolding.
Whether you’ve got an enthusiastic greeter or puppies jumping up with those deceptively cute little paws, I’ll help you understand what’s really going on and walk you through how to train a dog not to jump in a way that actually works.
In this episode, we’ll cover:
- Why puppies jumping up becomes a habit so quickly—and why it’s often something we’ve unintentionally rewarded…
- The three things most pet parents do that accidentally reinforce dog jumping on people (yep, you’re probably doing one of them)…
- My go-to 4-step method for how to train your dog not to jump on people—and why it’s more about what you do want than what you don’t…
- How to set up training scenarios that teach calm greetings before guests come over…
- Why I don’t rely on the “off” cue—and what I teach dogs instead when I’m working on how to train a dog not to jump…
If you’re tired of being tackled every time you walk through the door, or you just want calm greetings without your dog jumping on people, this episode is for you.If you’re constantly apologizing for your dog jumping on people, I get it.
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Connect with Staci Lemke:
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:
Staci Lemke 00:00:00 Dogs jumping up on people is one of the most common annoyances pet parents face, and I don’t really even want to call this a behavior problem. And I’m inserting air quotes there because it’s a normal dog behavior that, like so many other things that dogs do, just doesn’t fit into the human world. And don’t misunderstand me, I’m not defending jumping dogs. I know that jumping can be frustrating or even dangerous, depending on the size of the dog. As a dog trainer, I get jumped on a lot, so I know it can result in muddy paw prints, ripped clothes, scratch skin bruises, and or being completely knocked over. So it is something that we need to teach dogs not to do. And that brings me to the topic of today’s episode of the Well-mannered Mutt podcast, Why Dogs Jump on Us, how we can teach them not to jump, and how we often reinforce jumping without even knowing it. Welcome to the Well-mannered Mutt podcast. I’m Staci Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of manners for Mutts Dog training.
Staci Lemke 00:01:05 With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends. From private lessons to online courses. I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding. I believe in training that is kind, fun, and scientifically proven. Positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do, because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond. Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving, you’re in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. So first, let’s explore why dogs jump on us. And the main reason that dogs jump up on us is attention seeking. Dogs are social animals, and attention from their humans is incredibly valuable, so much so that they’ll do just about anything to get it. And jumping is a fast, reliable way to grab our focus. Jumping is often a learned behavior for dogs in order to get noticed.
Staci Lemke 00:02:14 If jumping results in any kind of attention, even if that attention is negative, it reinforces the behavior. So here’s the thing. The attention doesn’t need to be positive to be reinforcing. If your dog jumps on you and you look at them, that’s attention. If your dog jumps on you and you say no or off even in frustration, that’s attention. If you push them off of you, that’s touch, which is also attention to your dog. Any of those reactions confirms yes. This worked. I got noticed, and this is especially true if they’ve been bored or waiting for you to come home. Even a negative response can be exciting and validating. Dogs repeat what works and for many, jumping works really well. Dogs will also jump up in excitement or as a greeting behavior in dog to dog interactions. Greetings often happen at eye level, face to face or nose to nose, and that’s kind of their natural style. So when your dog sees you walk in the door, they’re just trying to get close to your face.
Staci Lemke 00:03:15 They’re thinking, oh goody, you’re back. Let me smell your breath. Let me lick your nose, I missed you. If your dog is especially excitable, the burst of joy when someone walks in is hard to contain. Their entire body shows it. Tail wagging, ears perked. Jumping, spinning. It’s all part of their unbridled enthusiasm to welcome you home. Then there’s the lack of training or a set of clear boundaries. Many dogs simply don’t know that jumping is something we don’t want. If it hasn’t been taught or replaced with a more appropriate behavior, dogs will just assume it’s fine or even encouraged. Again, sometimes we accidentally reinforce jumping by laughing, petting, or letting them do it in certain situations, like when we’re wearing old clothes or in a playful mood. The result? The dog gets mixed messages. They don’t understand why it’s okay to jump on you at home, but not on grandma when she comes to your home. Without clear, predictable rules, Dogs will default to what feels good and what has worked in the past.
Staci Lemke 00:04:16 Jumping included. And finally, jumping has often been reinforced in the past. Jumping often starts in puppy hood when dogs are small, cute, and irresistible. Most people don’t mind a wiggly £8 puppy launching into their arms. They laugh, scoop the puppy up, coochie coo all over them. That’s a lot of rewarding feedback for a puppy. Fast forward six months and you’ve got a £60 adolescent dog doing the exact same thing, and suddenly it’s not so cute anymore. But from the dog’s point of view, nothing has changed. They’re doing what always got them love and attention. Even if you’re trying to discourage it now, the habit will be deeply ingrained, and that early reinforcement makes it much harder to break the pattern. So now that we know the why of jumping, let’s talk solutions. Because yes, you can teach polite greetings. And no, you don’t need to be harsh to do it. But before we talk about how to get your dog to stop jumping on people, I want to make you aware of an important doggie trait.
Staci Lemke 00:05:17 I’ve talked about this before in previous podcast episode, but it bears repeating. Dogs do what works for dogs. Dogs are masters at doing what works for them. If a behavior gets them something that they want attention, food, play, or gets them out of doing something that they don’t like, they’re likely to repeat it. It’s not personal. It’s not defiant. It’s just a good survival strategy. That’s why in training. Consistency and clarity are important. If sitting calmly gets them a treat, attention or opens the back door. They’ll do more of that. If jumping gets them what they want. Well, we all know how that ends. You got a puppy dreaming of fuzzy snuggles and sweet puppy breath. But instead, you and all your possessions are full of teeth marks. Sound familiar? What if I told you raising a puppy doesn’t have to be like this? Join me in my online course. Help! My puppy is biting me! To get step by step instructions on how to teach your puppy what’s appropriate to bite and chew on and save your hands and arms.
Staci Lemke 00:06:22 Don’t sacrifice another pair of your favorite shoes. Go to manors for mutts. Com backslash puppy Biting to sign up now. So how do we teach our dogs not to jump on people? Step one remove the reward for jumping. The most important step is to stop giving your dog attention for jumping. That means no looking at the dog, no touching the dog, no talking to the dog. You can turn your body away, fold your arms, walk out of the room briefly, or remove the dog for a short time out. The message is jumping gets you nothing. Remember that behavior that is rewarded will continue. Behavior that is not rewarded will eventually stop happening. Step two reward what you do want the dog to do. And this is where we can really make change happen. When your dog is sitting or has four paws on the floor, that’s when you give praise, petting, and treats. Teach them to sit, to say hello. Sitting and jumping can’t happen at the same time. It’s physically impossible.
Staci Lemke 00:07:30 In this case, you’re replacing jumping with a more acceptable behavior. Sitting. It’s not about saying no. It’s about showing them what yes looks like. One of the very first things that I teach young puppies is how to get our attention by offering us a default sit, which is just a sit without being cued or being asked. I teach them that if you want something, sit and I will give it to you. Step three. Be consistent. And this is really the hardest part for us. But consistency is everything. Everyone who interacts with your dog needs to follow the same rules, and this is especially hard when it comes to strangers. Strangers don’t want to help you train your dog. They just want to interact with and play with your dog, so you have to manage the situation. Either you don’t allow your dog to greet people until they are more well trained, or you use a leash to prevent the dog from jumping when he does greet someone new. Now, I’m going to interject a caveat here.
Staci Lemke 00:08:29 If you have a shy dog that is not really interested in meeting new people, never, never, never trap your dog by holding them in place for a stranger to touch them. Shy dogs should always be allowed to move away from things that make them uncomfortable. So this advice is only going to be for if you have one of those super happy. I can’t wait to meet you kind of dogs. If you don’t want the jumping, you have to be consistent all of the time, not just when it’s convenient. Otherwise, it’s like playing a slot machine. Slot machines promise an eventual payoff, so we keep playing in the hopes that the next pull the arm gets us a win. If your training is inconsistent, dogs learn that sometimes jumping pays off, so the dog keeps trying in the hopes that the next jump will pay off. And step four you’re going to practice calm. Greetings. Don’t wait for your dog to mess up. The worst time to train your dog is when you need them to perform a certain behavior.
Staci Lemke 00:09:26 You have to set up training scenarios ahead of time so that you can practice. Set up short sessions where someone walks through the door and you reward calm behavior. Use a leash if you need it to prevent jumping. Gradually increase the challenge by making greetings more exciting as your dog gets better at staying grounded. People often ask me why I don’t just teach the dog and off command. Well, I do teach dogs off, but it’s more for getting them to get off a piece of furniture or something that they’re sitting or standing on. For me, off means get your feet off of something. But for jumping on people, if I have to use the off cue, that means that my dog has already jumped on them and I’m just telling him to get his feet off that person. I would rather be more proactive and teach my dog to do something else besides jump in the first place. At the end of the day, jumping isn’t about dominance or disrespect. It’s communication. It’s enthusiasm. It’s a dog who’s thrilled to see you.
Staci Lemke 00:10:26 Our job is to help them express that joy in a way that works for everyone, especially Grandma. So remember, your dog is not trying to make you unhappy. They’re just doing what comes naturally. Remove the reward for jumping. Teach and reinforce an alternative behavior. Be clear, kind, and consistent. Your dog will learn. And one day, instead of bracing for impact. You’ll walk in the door to a calm, happy four on the floor. Welcome. And that’s a win. Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well mannered mutt. If you’ve got questions about today’s episode, or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about, let’s connect. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at Manners for mutts. Also, be sure to visit mannersformutts.com for links, resources, and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend.
Staci Lemke 00:11:32 Talk to you next time.
