Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my puppy jumping and biting when visitors arrive?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Arrivals combine two triggers at once, excitement and novelty, which pushes arousal higher than either alone would, making jumping and mouthing more likely. Manage the first minute with a lead, and practice calmer arrivals repeatedly with the same one or two people before expecting it with strangers.
Why arrivals are especially hard
A new person walking in combines the excitement of a social event with the novelty of an unfamiliar visitor, and for a young puppy without much impulse control yet, that combination often produces the most intense mouthing of the day.
Manage before you train
Keep your puppy on lead for the first minute after anyone arrives, giving the initial excitement somewhere to settle before any greeting or interaction happens, rather than expecting trained manners to hold under maximum arousal straight away.
Practice with familiar faces first
Repeated practice with the same one or two regular visitors builds the calm greeting pattern faster than trying to fix it with every new person, since your puppy needs repetition with a predictable outcome to actually learn the new habit.
Key takeaways
- Arrivals combine excitement and novelty, often producing the most intense mouthing of the day.
- Managing the first minute with a lead prevents rehearsing the unwanted behavior.
- Practicing with familiar visitors first builds the calm pattern before testing it on strangers.