Dogs jump up to say hello, quite simply. They don’t know how humans prefer to be greeted, and it never occurs to them that they might knock us over or ruin our clothes. Thankfully, consistent training can quickly solve the problem for good.

When you arrive home.

• Open the door a teeny bit. If your dog jumps up, close the door.
• Repeat until you can step through the door without your dog jumping up.
• If he jumps on you, turn away. If he keeps jumping, go back outside and start again.
• Whenever your dog keeps four paws on the floor, praise and pet him.

Inside your house.

• When your dog jumps on you, turn your back to him.
• When he stops jumping, turn around to face him. If he jumps again, turn your back to him again.
• Repeat until he stops jumping. Then pet and praise him.
• If your dog keeps jumping up when you turn your back, walk away from him, ignoring him completely. If he follows and jumps again, give him a time-out. Either close a door between you or put him in his confinement area for a minute or two.

 Visitors come to your house.

• When someone comes to the house, put your dog on leash before you open the door.
• Open the door and invite the visitor in. If your dog jumps up walk him away from the visitor. Once he calms down, let him try again.
• Leave the leash on your dog during the visit. You don’t have to hold it the entire time, but if at any point during the visit your dog jumps up on your visitor, grab the leash, and walk him away.
• Remember to praise and reward him with pets and attention when he keeps four paws on the floor.

Anti-jump training when you meet people on the street.

• If your dog jumps up on someone approaching you on the street, walk a few feet away. When he settles, try again—if the person is willing.

Once your dog can keep four paws on the floor in the above situations (and you have trained sit), begin to ask for a sit before he says hello. With time and practice, your dog will automatically sit when he wants to greet people. Look for a pain & free trainer!