Glossary
Jumping up
A dog's habit of putting its paws on people when greeting them, usually kept going by the attention it gets.
Also called: jumping on people, greeting jumps, jumping behavior
Dogs jump up to reach people's faces, the way puppies greet adult dogs. It is natural, and it usually continues because it works: people push, speak or laugh, and any attention can be a reward.
The cure is to make jumping unrewarding and another behavior rewarding. Ignore the jumping, turn away or step back, then reward the dog the moment all four paws are on the floor. Teaching sit, or sending the dog to a mat, for greetings gives it a clear job. Everyone who meets the dog has to follow the same rules, or the habit continues.
Kneeing or stepping on a dog's toes is outdated and can hurt a dog or teach it to fear people. A large dog that jumps can knock down children and older adults, so manage greetings with a leash or gate until trained.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026