Jumping up is one of the most common unwanted behaviours Australian dog owners want to address. It’s especially problematic with larger breeds, elderly visitors, or young children. The good news: jumping is easily corrected with consistent, positive training. Here’s what actually works.
Why Dogs Jump Up
Jumping is a natural, social behaviour in dogs. Puppies jump to reach their mother’s face to solicit food and attention. As dogs grow, jumping becomes a greeting ritual — they want to get closer to human faces for interaction. In short: your dog jumps because it has worked before. Someone gave them attention (even negative attention like pushing them off) and the behaviour was reinforced.
The Single Most Important Rule
Jumping must never be rewarded — even accidentally. This means:
- No eye contact when jumping
- No pushing off (this is an interaction and actually reinforces jumping)
- No verbal “no” or “off” unless you’ve taught that as a specific command
- No attention of any kind until all four paws are on the floor
Everyone in the household and all visitors must apply this consistently. One person who thinks jumping is “cute” and pets the dog while it jumps undoes all training progress.
Training Methods That Work
Method 1: Turn Away (Extinction)
The moment your dog starts to jump, immediately turn your back. Cross your arms. Say nothing. When all four paws touch the floor, turn around and calmly greet your dog. If the dog jumps again, turn away again. This removes the reward (your attention) from jumping entirely.
Method 2: Ask for an Incompatible Behaviour
Teach your dog to sit for greetings. As your dog approaches, ask for a sit. Reward the sit with calm attention and a treat. A dog can’t simultaneously sit and jump. Over time, “someone approaching = sit” becomes the default behaviour.
Method 3: Teach “Off” as a Command
If you want to use a verbal cue, teach “off” specifically. When the dog jumps, say “off,” lure them to four feet with a treat lure downward, then reward when they land. Practice repeatedly until “off” reliably produces four on the floor.
Managing Visitors and Greetings
- Brief visitors before they enter — give them the turn-away instructions
- Put your dog on a lead when visitors arrive, so you can prevent jumping entirely and reward the sit
- Practice “go to your mat” as an alternative greeting behaviour — send the dog to a designated spot when the doorbell rings
- Consider a baby gate to give your dog access to see guests while preventing jumping
Frequently Asked Questions — Dog Jumping
Why does my dog only jump on some people?
Because those people have previously rewarded the jumping — even accidentally. Dogs are excellent discriminators: if jumping on Person A gets attention but jumping on Person B doesn’t, they’ll keep jumping on Person A. Consistency across all people your dog encounters is essential.
How long will it take to stop my dog jumping?
With 100% consistent application of the turn-away method, most dogs show significant improvement within 1–2 weeks. Inconsistency dramatically extends the timeline — the dog is being intermittently rewarded, which is the most reinforcing reward schedule possible.
Should I knee my dog in the chest to stop jumping?
No — this is an outdated, punitive technique that can injure dogs (especially smaller breeds) and damage the trust relationship. Positive methods (removing attention, rewarding four on the floor) are both more effective and kinder.
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