Why do dogs jump up? It can be such a dog problem and starts from when they are just a puppy. At any event in the humdrum of everyday life, it is normal for a dog or puppy to become excited and jump up to greet a visitor. The scenario is all too common!

You are trying to let the visitor in. You are trying to open the door (and not let dogs out in the process). In the midst of all this you may even have your visitor saying ‘Oh it’s ok – I love dogs’ and actively encouraging the dogs to leap about. All very well for them perhaps, but the next visitor might be someone who is not keen. Or it may be you, dressed up and ready to go out!

Puppies are of course very hard to resist. It’s easy to ignore when the dog is cute, fluffy and tiny. We all know in our hearts that dogs do not stay puppies forever. In less than a few months they are angular, elbowing adolescents.

So – we have gone from a fluffy puppy (or, ‘fluppy’ as I call it) that jumps up to an adolescent dog that jumps up and smothers you in love. And dog hair. And doggy drool.

Here are 5 tips to stop your dog jumping up!

1. Physical measures:
   Close a connecting door, use a lead or houseline, or get a stairgate across your hallway.These are training measures – not permanent ones. First of all you have to stop rewarding the dog for doing it. It is a little unfair to ask your visitors to deal with it all alone! Only allow the dog to be greeted (or greet) when they are calm. If they go crazy again, keep them on lead or houseline until they calm down.
2. Teach door manners!
   How many of our dogs go crazy around the door when it’s time for a walk? The trigger is the door opening (if not the lead beforehand). Teach the dog that they always stay calm around the door or – nothing happens. No walk. No door opens. No freedom, no social event!
3. Teach the ‘off’ command.
   ‘Off’ means back away and wait. The reward comes to you!
4. Teach a ‘placement cue’
   This is where you associate the doorbell or a knock at the door with ‘go to your bed’. Or place a mat in a corner of the hallway and teach the dog to go there. They can sit on it, lie down, anything you choose but they HAVE to be there or the door simply will not open.
5. Practice, practice, practice.
   Get the same visitor to come in, go out the back door, go round, come in the front door… etc.

Jumping up can be tackled in a very straightforward way and I have written a complete guide – ‘Stop your dog jumping up’, which includes the ‘off’ training. It’s on my website, costs only £2.99 and has plenty of detail and support.

Wave bye bye to Tigger the bouncing nutcase and greet your dog calmly and happily like you’ve always longed for.