How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping on People: A Positive Approach That Works

You get home from work and your dog launches at you like a furry missile. Your grandmother visits and ends up covered in muddy paw prints. Jumping on people is one of the most common behaviour complaints among Australian dog owners, and it is also one of the most solvable — once you understand why it happens and apply a consistent approach to replacing it.

Why Dogs Jump

Dogs jump to greet, and they jump because it has worked. Historically — including your dog's entire puppyhood — jumping has been rewarded, often without owners realising it. Eye contact, physical contact, even a verbal correction ("down!", "get off!") is attention. For a dog who finds human attention rewarding, which is most dogs, any response to jumping reinforces the behaviour. Puppies jump and people coo over them. Then the puppy grows into a 30-kilogram Labrador still doing the same thing, and suddenly it is a problem. From the dog's perspective, nothing has changed.

The Extinction Approach: No Response

Every single time your dog jumps, every person the dog jumps on must immediately turn away, cross their arms, look at the ceiling, and provide absolutely zero engagement — no eye contact, no touch, no speech, no pushing off. The dog receives nothing. Most dogs will initially escalate — jumping higher, harder, for longer. This is an extinction burst, and it is a sign the approach is working. Consistency through the extinction burst is critical. If anyone gives in at this point, they have taught the dog that persistence pays off.

Teaching an Incompatible Behaviour

The dog needs to learn what to do instead of jumping. The most effective incompatible behaviour is four paws on the floor or, better yet, a sit. A dog cannot jump and sit at the same time. Practice greeting scenarios repeatedly — ask the dog to sit before you open the door, have friends wait outside while you practise, reward generously when feet stay on the floor. Build the muscle memory of feet-on-floor equals good things happening.

The Consistent Household Rule

This training only works if every person who interacts with the dog follows the same rules. One household member who still allows jumping will maintain the behaviour at full strength regardless of what everyone else does. Brief your visitors, keep treats near the front door, and use a leash during guest arrivals while the new behaviour is being built. Management during learning is not cheating — it is preventing the dog from practising the wrong behaviour while developing the right one. With consistent application from every human, jumping typically decreases significantly within two to four weeks.