Stop the jumping before your next visitor arrives

Why dogs jump (it’s not dominance)

Dogs jump because it works. When your dog was a puppy, they jumped and everyone said "oh how cute" and petted them. Now they’re 70 pounds and the behavior isn’t cute anymore, but the dog has 18 months of reinforcement history telling them that jumping = attention.

Jumping is also a proximity behavior. Dogs greet face-to-face in their world. They’re trying to get to your face. It’s social and excited, not dominant or aggressive. Understanding this changes how you train: you’re not correcting a rude dog — you’re teaching them a new way to get what they want.

Management first: stop the practice before you start the training

Every time your dog successfully jumps on someone, they’re practicing the behavior. Training takes time, but management works today. Use these tools to prevent jumping while your training catches up.

• Leash on before the door opens. Step on the leash so your dog has enough slack to stand and sit but not enough to jump. No corrections needed — the leash does the work.
• Baby gate in the entryway. Guests come in, your dog stays behind the gate until they’ve calmed down. Then invite them through.
• Tether to furniture. Clip the leash to a heavy piece of furniture near the door. Your dog can see and greet guests but can’t reach them to jump.
• Treat scatter on the floor. Before opening the door, scatter a handful of treats on the floor. Your dog’s nose goes down, which means their feet stay down.

Management isn’t cheating — it’s smart. Every prevented jump is one less rep of the unwanted behavior.

Four-on-the-floor: the replacement behavior

Instead of teaching "don’t jump," teach "keep four feet on the floor." The difference matters. You’re giving your dog something to do instead of just telling them to stop.

• Start without guests. Approach your dog calmly. The moment they start to jump, turn away and freeze. Say nothing.
• Wait. The instant all four feet hit the ground, mark ("yes!") and deliver a treat at floor level.
• Repeat. Approach, if they jump — turn away. Four feet down — treat at floor level. Most dogs figure this out in 5–10 reps.
• Gradually add excitement: walk faster toward them, use a higher-pitched voice, wave your arms. Only reward four-on-the-floor.
• Once reliable with you, add family members. Then calm friends. Then exciting visitors.

Teaching "go to mat" for the doorbell

The ultimate solution for guest arrivals is a "go to mat" cue. When the doorbell rings, your dog goes to a designated spot and stays there until released. It sounds ambitious, but it breaks down into simple steps.

• Step 1: Teach your dog to go to a mat or bed on cue. Lure them on, mark and treat. Repeat until they go to the mat on a verbal cue from 5 feet away.
• Step 2: Add duration. Ask for "mat," wait 5 seconds, treat on the mat. Build to 30 seconds, then 1 minute.
• Step 3: Add the doorbell. Have someone ring the bell, immediately cue "mat." Treat on the mat. Repeat 5–10 times per session.
• Step 4: Add real distance. Practice while you walk to the door, open it, and pretend to talk to someone. Return and treat on the mat.
• Step 5: Add real guests. Guests enter, ignore the dog on the mat, and you deliver treats for staying. Release once the dog is calm.

This takes 2–3 weeks of daily practice to be reliable. Bubbas breaks it into daily sessions and tracks your progress through each step.

Practice setups: controlled rehearsals that work

The biggest mistake in jump training is only practicing when real guests arrive. By then, your dog’s excitement is at maximum and your training is at its weakest. Set up practice scenarios instead.

• Recruit a friend your dog knows. Have them ring the doorbell and enter. Practice your management + four-on-the-floor routine. 5 entries in a row, then take a break.
• Use family members. Have someone leave and re-enter the house 3–5 times in a session. By the third re-entry, your dog’s excitement drops naturally.
• Practice at different energy levels. Sometimes the "guest" enters calmly. Sometimes they enter excitedly. Your dog needs to keep four feet down regardless.
• Film your sessions. You’ll notice improvement that you miss in the moment. Bubbas lets you log session notes to track what’s working.

Involving guests in the training

Your guests can either help or undo your training. A quick heads-up before they arrive makes all the difference.

• Tell guests: "We’re training. Please ignore the dog until all four feet are on the floor."
• Ask guests not to push the dog off — pushing is attention, and attention is reinforcement.
• Once the dog has four feet down, the guest can calmly pet them. If the dog jumps again, the guest turns away.
• Keep treats by the door. Guests can deliver treats at floor level when the dog is standing or sitting.
• For guests who won’t cooperate (grandma who insists on greeting the dog immediately), use management: baby gate stays up until the dog is calm.