Nothing can uplift the spirits than when your beloved dog runs to you as soon as you get home. What most pet owners don’t appreciate, however, is when their dog jumps too much on them and other people. Not only can their dirty paws ruin perfectly clean clothes, but they can also scare visitors too.

To know how to stop your dog from jumping, first, you should know why they do that.

Why Do Dogs Jump on People?

Contrary to what most people think—that dogs jump as a form of greeting—dogs actually jump on people to seek reward. This reward doesn’t necessarily mean treats. Oftentimes, your dog jumps on you to gain attention. It’s their form of saying “hey, look at me!”.

How to Stop Your Dog from Jumping

Here’s how to train your dog to stop jumping up.

1. Don’t give your dog attention when he jumps on you.
   Attention is exactly what your dog wants. When you reward it with attention, he will think of jumping as good behavior. Turn your back when it jumps on you.

2. Reward your dog’s good behavior with treats.
   When the strategy of paying your dog zero attention when he jumps on you seems to be working, give him the treat to reinforce that good behavior.

3. Incorporate the “sit” command.
   If your dog already knows how to “sit”, use it to your advantage. Before getting inside, command your dog to sit and don’t give up even if he tries to jump at first.

4. Let family and friends in on the training.
   With all the training, your dog might finally stop jumping—on you! But it might still do that to guests so, have friends come over to practice with your dog.

5. Keep practicing.
   Think of this as a new trick your dog has to learn; it needs a lot of practice and time to finally get it right. Be patient with your dog through this training.

Some dogs take longer to learn or unlearn, a behavior as each pup is unique in his own way. Give your best buddy enough time to practice and he’ll be the best-behaved doggie in the neighborhood in no time.