Understanding the Behaviour Behind the Bounce - 6 Reasons Why Dogs Jump Up
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Preventing jumping is often a priority for caregivers, particularly when it involves muddy paws, sharp claws or the potential for injury.
However, understanding the underlying reason for the behaviour is key to changing it effectively. From a dog’s point of view, jumping serves as a form of communication. It can be driven by emotion, habit or simply what’s worked for them before.
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Understanding why it’s happening is the first step to preventing the behaviour.
This is also why the common advice to “just turn your back” doesn’t work for many dogs. For some, it increases frustration or confusion and can even cause distress, as it doesn’t address the underlying cause or emotional state driving the behaviour.
Responses to jumping often vary depending on the dog’s size. Larger dogs are usually managed more closely due to safety concerns, whereas smaller dogs are often allowed to jump until it becomes inconvenient such as when they’re muddy or attempting to jump on a stranger. This inconsistency makes it harder for dogs to understand what behaviour is expected.
Jumping isn’t limited to interactions with people, either. It can also occur in dog-to-dog contexts at times, where it may be part of play, appeasement or mounting behaviour.
Before you can help a dog change this behaviour, it’s important to understand what’s motivating it. Some of these reasons might not be immediately obvious.
1. Jumping up as a greeting
Many dogs jump up when greeting people because they are excited or relieved, particularly after a period of separation. In canine social behaviour, greetings often involve face-to-face or mouth-area contact, which may explain why some dogs try to get closer to a person’s face.
This behaviour is frequently encouraged early in life when it’s perceived as cute, and later often met with disapproval when the dog grows or becomes muddy.
2. Jumping up as appeasement
Some dogs offer appeasement behaviours, such as jumping up or licking, to reduce tension or avoid conflict.
This is particularly common in dogs who are sensitive to human emotions or who have experienced inconsistency or aversive handling in the past. Rather than being defiant, the dog is showing behaviour intended to calm tension..
3. Jumping up when uncomfortable
Dogs experiencing anxiety, uncertainty or social conflict may jump up as a displacement behaviour - a physical outlet that helps them manage internal tension.
It can occur when the dog is unsure how to respond or when the situation feels overwhelming.
Sometimes this is directed toward familiar people, as proximity to them may have previously provided safety or relief. Contexts might include being approached too quickly, having another dog come too close, or feeling cornered.
In such cases, the behaviour is an emotional response to stress rather than a bid for attention. Helping the dog feel safer and providing space often reduces this behaviour naturally.
4. Jumping up as a request
Dogs learn quickly through association. If jumping up has previously resulted in stroking they like, food, or play, the behaviour may be repeated because it has been reinforced.
The dog is not being demanding but simply using a learned behaviour that has worked before.
5. Jumping up during play
Jumping can occur during play when arousal levels rise too high. For example, if toys are held above the dog’s head or waved about, this can trigger leaping, mouthing or grabbing.
Overly long or intense play sessions can also lead to frustration. In natural play between dogs, breaks are something that people often forget to include in interactive games.
6. Jumping up to increase distance
Some dogs jump toward people or other dogs as a way to create distance when they feel uncomfortable or threatened. This is often a learned response that develops when earlier, more subtle body language such as turning away or showing tension has been overlooked.
Over time, the dog discovers that jumping or lunging is the only behaviour that reliably increases space. This can often be seen in puppies a lot mistaken for them wanting to say hello to everyone.
Summary
Jumping up is not about bad manners or defiance. It’s a behaviour that communicates something about how the dog feels or what has worked for them in the past. By recognising the context and underlying motivation, we can guide dogs toward calmer, more appropriate ways of interacting, helping them feel more comfortable and confident.
Why does my dog keep jumping up even when I tell them off?
Telling off can trigger the appeasement response which increases jumping up and putting the dog in more conflict.
Should I turn my back when my dog jumps up?
Turning away can sometimes help reduce reinforcement, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. For some dogs, it increases frustration or anxiety, especially if they’re jumping due to stress or appeasement. It’s more effective to teach an alternative behaviour, such as keeping four paws on the floor, while ensuring the dog feels calm and safe.
How can I stop my dog from jumping up on guests?
Identifying why your dog jumps up is key for this, it’s uncertainty, especially when people head straight toward them through the front door. Teach your dog to go to a safe space where they’re not being approached head-on and practise before visitors arrive. Avoid greeting when you get home in the hallway to prevent rehearsal, and keep your own greetings calm with gentle chest or shoulder strokes for feet on the floor. Ask guests to stay neutral and walk through calmly rather than stopping and fussing, offering quiet attention only when all four paws are on the ground. If needed, use a lead or baby gate to help manage space and reward your dog for waiting next to you calmly it’s not for correcting behaviour.
Why does my small dog jump up but my big dog doesn’t?
Smaller dogs are often unintentionally encouraged to jump because people find it less concerning or even cute. Larger dogs, on the other hand, are managed more strictly due to safety concerns. This inconsistency teaches dogs mixed messages. Applying the same boundaries and rewards across all dogs helps prevent confusion.
Can jumping up be a sign of anxiety or discomfort?
Yes - jumping up is often a way for dogs to create distance. Give them more space, let them choose when to approach, and practise in calm environments. Build confidence with games around perceived threats, back off at subtle signals and avoid pressuring them to interact. Be their advocate.
About the author
Nurse Joanna
Jo Hinds – DipCABT
Jo is a COAPE-Certified Animal Behaviourist, an accredited Training Instructor with the APDT, and is one of their official assesors. You can often find her sharing her experience in our Very Important Dog Facebook group.
