One of the most common challenges new dog owners face is jumping. Puppies often leap up out of excitement, to grab our attention, or simply because they don’t know what else to do. While it may seem harmless at first, failing to address the issue early can lead to problems later on. In this guide, we’ll show you how to teach a puppy not to jump, using management and training strategies that encourage calm and polite greetings.
Puppies jump for a variety of reasons:
Excitement when greeting people
A way to seek attention
Stress or uncertainty about how to behave
Whatever the reason, the key is to stop your puppy from jumping by preventing the behavior in the first place and teaching them what to do instead.
When teaching a new behavior, management plays a huge role. At the beginning, you’ll need more structure to prevent jumping, and as your puppy learns, you can slowly reduce it.
Here are some effective management strategies:
Use a barrier: Keep your puppy behind a baby gate or playpen when guests arrive.
Leash control: Have your puppy on a leash during greetings to prevent jumping.
Physical shield: Allow your puppy’s paws to land on something you can easily ignore, rather than on people.
These strategies set your puppy up for success while you train them how to greet politely.
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The Treat Down! This method is a powerful way to teach your puppy calm greetings and get your dog to stop jumping up.
Place a few treats on the ground and move away while your pup eats.
As they finish and head toward you, mark “yes” and drop more treats on the floor before they have a chance to jump.
Repeat until your puppy begins anticipating that approaching calmly will earn rewards.
Delay the marker slightly so your pup learns to stay calm as they move toward you. Reward sitting, lying down, standing with four paws on the ground, or even walking calmly away.
Leave a small trail of treats back to you.
Shorten the distance between you and your puppy at first.
If your puppy jumps, calmly ignore, step aside, and wait until all paws are on the floor before resuming.
If your pup gets too excitable, pause and take a break.
Consistency is key. With time, your puppy will learn that calm behavior earns attention and rewards.
Once your pup understands the basics, it’s time to practice in more realistic scenarios:
Have a friend help by acting as a guest while you manage your pup on a leash.
Add excitement by talking energetically, moving quickly, or patting your legs while still rewarding calm responses.
Practice controlled greetings at the door. As you or a guest enters, mark “yes” and reward before your puppy has the chance to jump.
This gradual increase in difficulty helps your puppy generalize the behavior in everyday life.
Need a little extra support? Book a complimentary call with one of our dog experts
Learning how to teach a puppy not to jump takes patience, consistency, and a two-pronged approach: prevent the behavior through management and reward calm alternatives. By following strategies like the Treat Down! Method and controlled greetings, you’ll not only stop your puppy from jumping but also teach them polite ways to seek attention. With regular practice, your dog will learn that keeping all four paws on the floor is the best way to get love and praise.
Our team of certified trainers and behaviorists brings over 50 years of combined experience, and every expert is personally vetted, Fear Free certified, and deeply committed to helping dogs (and their people) thrive at home. Need help with your pup? Talk to a dog expert today.
