20/03/2026
Jumping up has been a huge topic in this week’s puppy class 🐶
The first thing we talked about is that jumping up is completely normal dog behaviour. Dogs often jump because they’re excited, curious, or trying to get closer to our faces to say hello. Sometimes it can also happen when a dog feels a little overwhelmed, stressed, or even uncomfortable. And for many puppies, it’s simply because they don’t yet know what to do instead.
The good news is that this is something we can gently teach them.
This week we’ve been helping our pups learn “sit to greet.” Instead of jumping up to say hello, we show them that sitting calmly makes the greeting happen. When a puppy sits, they get attention, smiles, praise, and sometimes a treat. Over time they start to realise that sitting works much better than jumping.
Why this helps:
🐾 It gives your dog a clear behaviour that works
🐾 It helps greetings stay calm and predictable
🐾 It prevents muddy paws and accidental knocks
🐾 It builds confidence and good manners
Remember — puppies aren’t being naughty when they jump. They’re just doing what comes naturally. Our job is simply to show them a better option and reward it.
Every calm sit is a small success. And with a bit of practice, those calm greetings quickly become a habit 💛
If your pup struggles with jumping, don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone. It’s one of the most common things we see in class, and with patience and consistency, it’s absolutely something dogs can learn.
Keep celebrating the little wins. Your pups are doing brilliantly 🐾
Riverside Dog Training IMDT
