How to Stop a Dog from Jumping on Guests

Dogs jump on people for one reason: it works. Somewhere along the way your dog learned that jumping earns eye contact, a laugh, or a pat. Breaking the habit means making jumping boring and making four-on-the-floor rewarding.

The plan is simple but requires everyone to cooperate:

• Ask your dog to sit before anyone greets them, and reward the sit.
• When your dog jumps, turn your back and cross your arms. No eye contact, no pushing, no talking.
• Tell guests the same rule ahead of time. One person encouraging it undoes a week of training.
• Keep a training lead on for the first few greetings so you can step on it and prevent the jump from landing.

Most dogs catch on within a couple of weeks if the rule is truly consistent.

Worth asking

Why does my dog only jump on visitors? Visitors are new and exciting, and strangers often reward the jumping without meaning to.

Should I knee the dog in the chest? No. It can hurt and makes the dog wary of people. Turning away works better and is kinder.

What if my dog jumps on kids? Manage closely with a leash and practice calm greetings. Kids are the hardest for a dog to resist.

Written by the Furaly Pet Care Team · Updated September 2026