Jumping can be dangerous - especially around kids and the elderly!

Jumping Dogs

Along with the barking dog, the jumping dog is also a major issue. Not only is it irritating when your dog jumps up on your guests and gets their clothes dirty, it can also be a safety hazard to a child or elderly person. Puppies and small dogs often jump just to get closer to your face, and it’s hard to discourage getting a kiss from your dog. Training them from the beginning to stay down is the best way to prevent problems in the future.

If your dog has developed a jumping problem, it can be fixed, but it will take some consistency on your part. One of the best ways to address this common behavior is to train the command PLACE so that they are focused on being calm. This also keeps them away from you when you are entering the front door – a common jumping time. Keep them on PLACE when visitors come to the door and when children are running around. Do not give them the opportunity to jump – unless you are playing fetch and they jump to catch the ball!

The second way to address this behavior issue is to punish for bad behavior in a variety of ways. You want to your dog to know that jumping is not an acceptable behavior. You still love them, but you don’t love their jumping habit.

If you have tried everything you can think of – reach out to us at DognPooch. We can still help! Sometimes, just a simple demonstration of how to prevent jumping can help. If that doesn’t work, then enroll you pooch in our Board & Train program and we’ll work on this issue for you. But it will be up to you to keep training at home!

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FAQ

1. Why do dogs jump on people in the first place?

Jumping is most often driven by excitement and attention seeking rather than disobedience. Dogs learn that jumping brings eye contact, physical touch, or verbal interaction, which reinforces the behavior. Without clear boundaries, jumping becomes a habit that dogs repeat during greetings or moments of high energy.

2. Can training completely eliminate jumping behavior?

Yes jumping behavior can be eliminated through structured training that teaches alternative responses. Dogs are shown how to greet calmly by sitting or holding a stable position. When calm behavior is consistently rewarded and jumping is ignored, dogs naturally choose the behavior that brings positive outcomes.

3. How is jumping addressed in professional training programs?

Professional training focuses on repetition and consistency across different situations. Dogs practice calm greetings with trainers and gradually with new people, helping the behavior generalize. This approach ensures that jumping does not return when the dog encounters unfamiliar environments or guests.

4. Do puppies and adult dogs jump for different reasons?

Puppies typically jump out of excitement and lack of impulse control, while adult dogs jump because the behavior has been reinforced over time. Early training helps puppies learn appropriate greetings before habits form, while adult dogs require structured retraining to replace established behaviors.

5. How can owners maintain progress after jumping behavior training?

Owners maintain progress by responding consistently and reinforcing calm behavior every time the dog greets someone. Clear rules and predictable responses help dogs understand expectations and prevent jumping from resurfacing.