How do I train my dog not to jump on strangers?

When you first start you may find your dog jumps up more. This is because jumping up has been rewarded previously, so your dog might think they just need to work harder to get your attention. The trick is to teach your dog that jumping up isn’t an effective way to get your attention. When your dog next jumps up at you, turn your back and completely ignore them. Don’t say anything and try not to make eye contact. Be patient and wait until all four of their paws are back on the ground. As soon as this happens, turn around and reward your dog with positive attention. You will need to turn away every time your dog jumps up. This may feel a little repetitive, but consistency is essential. As well as being consistent yourself, you need to ensure that every person who interacts with your dog follows the same rule and ignores your dog’s jumping up behaviour. To make sure your dog doesn’t get to practice jumping up at strangers at places like the park, you can use a longline. Before someone says hello to your dog, try and ask your dog to sit, and ask the person not to give them attention until they do it. When your dog sits, reward them with treats or attention. In the same way you can use a longline when out and about at the park, you can do the same at home using a houseline. As visitors arrive, keep your dog in a different room or behind a baby gate. Once the visitors are settled and therefore a bit less exciting for your dog, bring your dog in to the room on the houseline. Use treats to keep your dog focussed on you and ask them to sit as they greet the visitors. As always, make sure that they get rewarded for appropriate behaviour.

If your dog does jump up at you then don’t react at all. You should stay calm, quiet and wait for them to stop. You can then reward them when all four paws are back on the floor. Your dog needs to learn that they won’t gain anything by jumping up. Instead, it’s keeping all four paws on the floor that will get your attention. Make sure you reward your dog with praise when that's the case, especially at times when they’d be most likely to jump up. You can prepare yourself by making a list of all the situations in which your dog might usually jump up. Be quick to interact with them before they do. Don’t tell your dog off for jumping up, as discouraging your pooch from jumping up by telling them off or saying “no, get down” could be rewarding for some dogs as they are getting attention. Do persist with your training, whenever you stop responding to any behaviour the way your dog is expecting you to, they’re likely to try that same behaviour with greater intensity. Teach your dog to sit when meeting people, ask a friend or relative to walk towards you and your dog, when you get close to them, stop a short distance away and ask your dog to sit. Have some extra tasty treats ready to reward them with, continue to reward your dog for as long as all four paws remain on the floor, giving them a treat every now and again while you talk to your helper.