How to Train Your Dog Not to Jump on Company

Many dogs jump to greet guests out of sheer exuberance. In the dog's world, jumping and licking a face is a form of saying hello. Other dogs jump on guests and their owners as a form of dominance. It is a way to establish their hierarchy in their human pack. Unfortunately, a dog jumping on a human can be painful, due to their claws, or dangerous for an elderly person or a small child. You can successfully teach your dog to stay off guests with persistence and constant training.

Things You'll Need

  • Water pistol
  • Pinch collar
  • 6-foot leather leash
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Carry a water pistol in your pocket when you enter your home. If the dog jumps on you, squirt him with the water pistol and say, "Off." Do not make eye contact with the dog; ignore the dog completely. Alpha dogs in the wild rarely acknowledge submissive dogs when returning from an outing. It is your right as the alpha human to ignore the dog and have the dog respect your behavior. Teaching the dog not to jump on you teaches him not to jump on future guests.

    • 2

      Advise all guests not to acknowledge your dog when they enter your house. Ask your guests not to make eye contact with the dog when they first walk in. If the dog jumps up on the guest, ask the guest not to pet the dog, but rather to brush him off and ignore him. The dog should not be acknowledged until the guests have been in your home for 15 minutes or more.

    • 3

      Squat on the floor to acknowledge and greet your dog when she begins to learn not to jump on people. Never encourage your dog to jump up to your level or you will be teaching her to once again use jumping as a form of greeting. Always squat to talk to your dog and to offer her a treat. The dog will learn that she does not have to jump on you in order for you to acknowledge her. She will learn that she gets a treat and praise when all four of her feet remain on the ground.

    • 4

      Praise your dog when he learns not to jump. If the dog simply walks up to you when you or a guest arrives, squat down, or allow the guest to squat down, and pet the dog. Tell him what a good dog he is for not jumping. Allow the guest to give the dog a treat.

    • 5

      Teach your dog the sit command. Once a dog has mastered the sit command in an obedience setting it can be used at home. When a guest walks through the door, tell the dog to sit. The dog should promptly sit. Tell the guest it is alright to squat and pet the dog as long as the dog remains in a sitting position.

    • 6

      Teach the off command to all young dogs so that they learn "Off" means to back off and away from you. If the puppy persists, snarl "Off," and show the puppy your teeth while saying it. Snarling is what a mother dog would do to get a puppy off of her. Push the puppy back while saying "Off." A puppy who learns this command early will normally not advance to jumping on guests.

    • 7

      Place a pinch collar and 6-foot leash on a large dog. Many large dogs have been allowed to get away with jumping on people because of their sheer size and strength. A pinch collar applies a pinching pressure around the dog's neck when the leash is pulled. When the dog lunges in an attempt to jump on a guest, sharply jerk the leash backwards in quick successive snaps. The collar will pinch and release quickly with each snap. Tell the dog, "Off." This is often the only way to teach a large dog with a bad jumping habit to stop its dangerous behavior.