How To Stop A Dog From Jumping

Although leaping up is a natural way for dogs to greet people, it’s important to learn how to stop a dog from jumping for the sake of politeness and to avoid potential injury. This goes for dogs of all sizes, but larger breeds could cause more harm when they jump at people. Teaching your dog to control her behavior when she greets people also serves as form of impulse control. It’s not easy for her, but with enough practice she’ll learn to act calmly.

To stop your dog from jumping, you'll need:

• Treats

Steps

1. Ignore your dog when she jumps. Keep still, cross your arms and stare in front of you instead of looking at her. Make eye contact with her and pet her gently as soon as all four of her paws touch the floor. Ignore her if she jumps again and pet her the moment she stops. This teaches her that she’ll only get attention from you when she’s calmly standing or sitting. 
2. Make your dog sit. When your dog starts jumping, look ahead, hold still and cross your arms. Tell her “off” then turn around so she can’t see you. Give the “sit” command and watch her out of the corner of your eye. As soon as she sits, turn around and stoop down to pet her. Repeat this technique if she jumps again. This helps her learn to sit patiently and wait for attention when you enter the room.
3. Leave the room. To stop your dog from jumping when you walk into a room, back out of the room and shut the door almost all the way. Give the “sit” command and watch your dog through the open space. When she sits, reenter the room and gently pet her. If she jumps, leave the room again and repeat this technique. She’ll soon learn to stay calm while you approach her. 
4. Teach her how to greet guests. Invite friends or relatives over and explain to them beforehand to turn around and walk back out the door if your dog jumps up to greet them. Have them knock or ring the doorbell when they arrive. Tell your dog “sit” before opening the door. Make sure they follow your instructions if she jumps on them. Give her a treat and let your guests pet her if she remains in the sitting position. Getting a reward will encourage her to behave when you have visitors. Practice this technique several times with different people.

Tips: If your dog is large or pushy and you’re having trouble controlling her, contact a Certified Professional Dog Trainer for help. If your dog lunges towards you or other people while baring her teeth or growling, contact a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Certified Professional Dog Trainer or veterinary behaviorist for help as soon as possible. Working with aggressive dogs can be dangerous and challenging, so you’ll need professional assistance. Stay calm when you walk into a room. If you greet your dog with excitement, she’ll respond by becoming hyper. Avoid yelling or trying to grab her since this only increases her excitement. Never use physical means to stop your dog from jumping, such as stepping on her paws, shoving her away or kneeing her chest. Causing her pain will make her frightened of you and could lead to fearful, aggressive behavior.