Dog trainer shares simple tip to ‘instantly’ stop pets from jumping

Dogs can be easily excited, and it’s not uncommon for them to jump up at you when you walk through the door after a day at work.

This excitement can also appear when you have visitors over. You may be more vocal and excited yourself when someone comes to visit, so when they first come in, your dog might want to greet them with a lot of energy.

However, not all people like being jumped on by dogs, and it can make some nervous. It can also reinforce other bad behaviour in our furry friends, so it’s often a good idea to train your dog not to jump up at people.

But how can you stop your dog from jumping? One dog trainer has claimed it doesn’t need to be complicated and can actually be taught just by following one simple rule.

In a video shared on TikTok by Jamie Diaz, a certified dog trainer with 15 years of experience, she claimed that one of the most effective ways to get your dog to stop jumping is to simply “ignore” them.

She demonstrated the effect of not giving your dog attention when the jump with a dog she was training named Lily. When she walked in the door, Lily immediately jumped up at her to greet her, but Jamie stood still and did not reward the dog until she’d stopped jumping.

The expert said: “You want to make sure you’re not giving them any attention. No eye contact, do not say no. Even when you’re correcting a dog, you’re giving them that attention.

“I’m going to wait for Lily to make a good choice. You can train your dog without saying a word.”

Jamie stood and waited for Lily to sit down on her own without saying anything, and then gave her a treat as a reward. After eating the treat the dog stood up and walked around, and when she came back to sit next to Jamie again, the expert gave her another treat.

Jamie then left the room and came back in again, simulating what it is like when she comes home. This time, Lily jumped up at her twice but soon realised she would need to sit down before she got any attention.

She said: “We don’t want those initial jumps at all, but if you keep reinforcing her sitting when you come in, that is what she’s going to do when you come in. Every time you come in, make sure there’s no attention unless they make that good choice.”

According to the Dog’s Trust, dogs tend to do “whatever works out well for them”. This means that if you give them attention when they jump up, they’ll keep doing it as they know it gets results.

Dog’s Trust also advocates for ignoring your dog when they jump, as they state you should remain “calm, quiet, and wait for them to stop”. Then, once all four paws are back on the floor, you can greet them or give them a treat.

How to stop a dog from jumping

According to the Dog’s Trust, there are some key things you should remember when training your dog not to jump up at you or at strangers. You should never tell your dog off when it jumps up, as this can be just as rewarding for some dogs as getting positive attention. In fact, they’re more likely to learn that jumping up gets you to look at them, talk to them and touch them.

For others, being told off can be distressing, and they might become anxious or confused. This anxiety could cause them to jump up even more in an attempt to make the situation better. So, make sure you stay calm and don’t respond.

When meeting new people, you should teach your dog to sit. Have a friend or relative walk toward you, and when they get close, tell your dog to sit and reward them with treats when they comply.

This will encourage your dog to learn that they should sit when meeting people, instead of allowing them to get excited and jump in the hopes of getting some attention.

For more help and advice, visit the Dog’s Trust website.