In our puppy and beginner classes we immediately teach a pup or dog to love their mat. As they learn to love their mat, we start to teach the dog to stay on the mat through low to high distractions. When it is time for the dog to move off the mat we use a “release” word. The mat will help to stop your dogs from rushing the front door and jumping to greet people.
You can also teach your dog a great trick such as a spin, bow, play dead or to sit up. Ask them to perform the trick as you walk in the door or as others come inside.
Teach your dog to fetch a toy when you come in! Watch them bring it to you and happily walk around to show it off or ask you to throw it. Take the time to play a couple of games of fetch, then as a bridge to end the game, ask them to get a drink or to go outside.
As you walk in the front door hand your dog a toy. Remember not to hold it up in the air as you give it to them as this will cause them to jump up. Hand it to them low so that all of their feet are on the floor. Watch them carry it around and show it off again! You will have to remember to grab a toy before you leave the house or stop on the way home and pick one up! If you have multiple dogs, you will need multiple toys!
Teach your dog to target the back of your hand or an object when you come in. Click their nose touching your hand or the object with all four paws on the floor.
Some people like their dog to jump up and greet them; they just need to manage it a bit. When your dog jumps up, you can click and reward for the jump and then say a word such as “hugs” to put it on cue. I have one client that did this with her dog and he rarely jumps on her now unless she asks for it. If he jumped up without her asking for "hugs", he was redirected into a different behavior to get the attention and reward.
Your dog is jumping on you to get your attention and approval. You can simply walk in the door, hold their collar gently and bend down to cause them to stand on all fours. Give them the approval and attention they are looking for. This has worked great with my Basset Hound. All I have to do when she raises up to greet me is gently hold her and put her feet back on the floor. I squat down and she stands for petting. Our jumping problem is nearly resolved. For some dogs, your voice can be a trigger to push them into too much excitement. You might just pet or lower the tone of your voice and speak softer to help your dog successfully stand. If your dog is not comfortable with collar grabs, pet your dog as you work towards the collar and when you touch it or gently lift it, click and deliver a treat.
All of these ideas will work. Pick something that fits your dog’s personality then be very consistent in your training. If you only practice this every once in a while, your dog will have trouble understanding what you would like him to do. Be realistic in the time frame, for some dogs this could take weeks, months or even a year. Your consistency will also be a deciding factor in the time frame. For multiple dogs, set up training plans to work with them one at a time. Sometimes one dog is the trigger that sets the rest of them up to jump and get excited. Work with that dog first. Be patient and just enjoy the small steps that your dogs will offer you to help them reach the overall goal!
