Training Puppies How to Greet People

Puppies often jump up in an attempt to smell our breath, lick us and elicit attention. When they are puppies, people often find it cute! However, your puppy is going to get bigger and stronger as they grow, which means when they jump up, it can evolve into quite an issue. Every time you reward your puppy by giving them attention, they are learning that jumping up on people is a great way to say “Hi”. To teach your puppy a better way to greet you and your guests, follow the steps below.

What you’ll need: 4-6 foot leash attached to an appropriate collar or harness Lots of extra tasty treats Helper (Someone to be Greeted) Patience, Practice, Persistence and Praise!

How to make it happen Greeting You:

1. Start by practicing at the door or wherever your dog greets most people.

2. Walk in the door armed with a handful of treats. You can already anticipate your dog will likely jump on you to say hello! Prevent this by immediately tossing several treats on the floor in their direction. Doing this, you can redirect their initial enthusiasm. The moment your dog stops and goes for the treats mark and then toss a few more in their direction. You are marking the fact that your dog stopped their forward progress towards you.

3. When your dog goes to greet you after chasing and eating their treats, immediately mark as they approach. Here you are marking that they are keeping all four paws on the ground as they greet you.

4. When your dog does jump up, say your No Reward Marker (“Eh-Eh”) and turn your hip into the dog. Looking, talking, touching and motioning to, ALL REWARDS BEHAVIOR. Do not say anything else except your no reward marker once your dog jumps up. As soon as all four paws are on the ground, pay attention to them!

5. You can also mark and reward all impulse control as well. When your dog does that quick little stutter-step but keeps all four paws down instead of jumping up, mark and reward! This time we are marking the fact that your dog made the decision to not jump and instead, they tried to compose themselves.

6. Eventually your dog will begin to sit in anticipation of a treat, attention or a valued toy! Delay your reward marker during the greeting until your pet offer to sit instead of jumping as they improve with impulse control.

7. You can also use a gate to give you some extra control during the greeting with your dog on the opposite side. Approach the gate. If your dog jumps up, stop moving or take a step backwards. Once your dog has all four paws on the floor again, continue to approach the gate. If your dog sits, or continues to keep four on the floor, you can mark and reward by tossing a treat behind them, giving you a chance to reset the exercise and reward four on the floor or sitting once they re-approach you at the gate.

8. Practice! Consistency is always the key. Make sure that anytime your dog jumps up when they are not invited to, do not give them any attention.

Greeting Guests (Here's where your helper comes in handy!):

1. Set up a tether near the front door. Have a container of treats ready as well as your reward marker!

2. Invited a friend over to help you practice. Have a pizza/dog training party as enticement for your friends and family to come help. Let them know that the goal is for your dog to keep all four paws on the ground during greetings with people. This means that if at any time should your dog jump, they should remove all attention, turn away or even step back outside.

3. Have your friends knock or ring the bell. Your dog will likely run barking to the front door, calmly follow him. Bring your dog over to their tether and leash them up. Then move yourself into a position so you are between the dog and the door with your back to the dog.

4. Wait until the dog calms down a little. He will likely do this because positioning yourself between him and the door you have shown him you are taking responsibility for the situation. This is referred to as “splitting” and dogs will often do it with each other to avoid conflict or to make clear that one dog will handle the situation.

5. Grasp the doorknob. Open the door a few inches at a time, stopping every time your dog barks or lunges. Stand still until your dog is quiet again.

6. As you allow your guests to enter, make sure that your dog is not jumping or lunging, if they do, instruct your guest to take a step back and wait about ten seconds before trying again.

7. When your guest approaches and your dog is able to keep four paws on the floor, mark and toss some treats and give them attention. You can also have your guest reward your dog with some treats and attention as well.

8. Do this several times so your dog learns that calm behavior is what gets him rewards and attention. Practice this with as many different people as possible. The more people you practice with, they better your dog with generalize this behavior with anyone you allow into your home.

Training Tips: Practice with Mock Guest set-ups. It will be helpful to introduce the tether beforehand, giving your dog lots of treats and attention when they are not pulling on the tether. Go through the same steps as greetings people but without a guest at the door.

Practice obedience cues like Sit, Down, Stay and Targeting around the entrances to your home to help your dog respond to cues in those problem areas. If you are unable to actively train when a guests comes over, place your dog in their crate or away from the entrance so they cannot engage in any unwanted behavior like jumping. Looking, talking, touching or motioning to, all rewards behavior. If your dog continues to jump, eventually someone will pay attention to them. Be sure to instruct anyone who greets your dog to pay no attention to them when they try to solicit attention by jumping. Dogs learn by association. If they are allowed to jump on their owner to say hello then they will do the same thing with a small child or even an elderly person. Games like Go Wild and Freeze can help increase impulse control. Practice makes perfect!