Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my dog jumping on guests?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Manage the moment before you train it away, using a lead or a baby gate to control the first thirty seconds of any arrival, since that is when excitement peaks. Ask guests to ignore jumping completely and only greet once your dog has settled with four paws down.
Control the first moments
Keep your dog on lead or behind a gate for the first minute after anyone arrives, giving the initial burst of excitement somewhere to settle before any greeting happens. Trying to train through that first surge rarely works as well as managing it.
Brief guests before they arrive
Ask visitors to turn away and ignore jumping entirely, without pushing the dog off or making a fuss, since any reaction, even a stern no, can still function as attention that keeps the jumping going.
Reward the calm version
Once your dog has four paws on the floor, invite guests to crouch down and greet calmly. Practicing with the same one or two visitors repeatedly builds the new pattern faster than expecting it to transfer to every stranger straight away.
Key takeaways
- Managing the first minute of an arrival with a lead or gate prevents most jumping.
- Even a stern correction from a guest can act as rewarding attention, so ask for full ignoring instead.
- Practicing calm greetings with familiar visitors first builds the habit before testing it on strangers.