Why do dogs jump up at us

Dogs often don’t realise their own size and jumping up at you, your friends and even strangers can become a nuisance. But how can you stop your dog from doing it?

In the wild, mother dogs would carry food in their mouths. They would bring it back to their gathered pups that would excitedly lick her face and lips. In time, this behaviour became a traditional way for dogs to greet each other – by licking each other’s faces.

So, with this in mind, it is not surprising that dogs jump up at us, is it? When we humans, who are much taller than they are, walk through the door they have to jump to greet us.

Yet, for humans, this behaviour can be unpleasant. We don’t like our faces licking and sometimes, especially for larger breeds, it can be intimidating to be set upon by a jumping dog.

Particularly for those of us inexperienced with dogs it can be a scary experience. We may feel uncomfortable, but the dog is also left confused as in their mind they are just saying hello.

The best way to deal with jumping is to teach your dog that it is not the way we greet each other. And while you may not be able to teach your dog to shake hands with you just yet, you might teach them that jumping is frowned upon.

Using positive reinforcement works wonders. Next time you see your dog jump up at you ask them to ‘sit’ and if they ignore you then move aside or ignore them right back. If they do sit then be ready with a treat.  This should teach your dog that if they stay on the ground they will get a reward which should keep them grounded.

For more practical tips on dog care, training and behaviour therapy please visit our articles page which is full of free advice.