Train your dog to not to jump up on people
To show you just how happy they are to see you, your dog may like to jump up on you. This is a natural canine behavior, as dogs prefer to “say hi” face-to-face. However, this enthusiastic greeting could cause injury or scare visitors, so it’s a good idea to train your dog to keep all four paws on the floor.
While you probably nudge your dog down when they jump on you, they may interpret this as playful behavior—which only encourages them to continue jumping! Instead, when your pet jumps up, don’t respond by looking, reprimanding, touching or otherwise interacting with your dog. Simply walk by your dog and tell them to sit.
To train your dog not to jump, the first step is teaching them to sit (or lie down) and stay in various areas of your home, including the front doorway. You can use positive reinforcements such as treats to reward your dog when they obey your commands.
The next step is to practice making your dog sit and stay as you and family members enter your home. Once your dog learns to do this, you can progress to having familiar people and then new visitors enter your home. If your dog stands up during this training, gently have them sit again. Be sure to reward your dog for their calm behavior.
Another way to train your dog not to jump is to use a collar and leash when people visit. Tell your dog to sit and stay, and then have the visitor enter your home. If your dog obeys, the visitor can give them a treat. But if your dog gets up, usher them to a sitting position. This may need to be repeated four to six times for every visitor to better ensure your dog learns this new behavior.
As a way to encourage your dog to keep up the good work, you can put a treat jar with a bell on it near your front door. When your dog hears the bell they will associate it with a reward treat, which will make them more motivated to sit and stay—and not jump for joy!
