The AKC calls jumping up "a natural canine behavior. Dogs get to say hello face-to-face when they jump. Even better, it's guaranteed to get attention." Humane World for Animals says the habit often starts early: "a fuzzy puppy is just too cute to resist. We forget that cute behavior in a puppy can become a real nuisance when they grow up." The AKC's breed page describes the Dutch Shepherd as "a lively, athletic, alert and intelligent breed" and gives it a 5 out of 5 for energy. Here is why dogs jump, the two greeting rules the AKC teaches, and how to handle the front door, guests and the sidewalk.

Dabo, working-line Dutch Shepherd, sitting on a wooden porch between potted plants, ears up and tongue out
Dabo on the porch. A sit is a hello with all four paws down.

Why dogs jump

"Dogs often jump because they're excited and want attention," the AKC says, and jumping "can become a habit that's unintentionally reinforced when people talk to, touch, or otherwise acknowledge them." Another AKC guide puts it simply: "Dogs repeat behaviors that earn them rewards. And few things are more rewarding to your pet than your attention." Humane World is blunter: "Like it or not, we humans are to blame. We not only permit this behavior, we encourage it."

It is more than muddy paws. The AKC warns that people, "especially seniors and children, can be knocked over," and Humane World says "a child or frail adult can be knocked down and seriously injured." Keep one more AKC line in mind while you train: "your dog is usually attempting to greet you, not misbehave deliberately."

Tell them what to do instead

The AKC's core advice is to teach a behavior that can't happen at the same time as jumping. "Your dog will learn faster if you tell them what to do rather than just what not to do." Pick one greeting rule:

Whatever you choose, only greet your dog when it's following the rule. Ignoring the jumping helps, but the AKC says ignoring alone falls short: "every person you encounter in your home or on the street isn't going to know those rules," and learning by trial and error "can be frustrating for some dogs."

Teaching "four on the floor"

The AKC's method rewards your dog before it has a chance to leave the ground. You need a helper.

"The trick to this technique is being fast with the treats," the AKC says. If you're late and your dog jumps, the helper turns and walks away as you stop feeding. Your dog learns that four paws on the floor bring attention and treats, and jumping brings nothing.

Teaching a sit for greetings

The AKC's version starts with you as the greeter:

Humane World runs a similar drill with a helper, and adds a rule worth keeping: the helper should be someone your dog likes and wants to greet. "Your dog should never be forced to greet someone who scares them." When your dog stays seated as the greeter approaches, the greeter can give it a treat.

The sit has to be solid first. "There's no point in teaching sit for greetings if your dog is still struggling to sit without distractions," the AKC says. "Sitting should be your dog's way of saying 'please.'" Ask for a sit before going outside, before dinner and so on. The AKC's breed page also notes that the Dutch Shepherd "does better with shorter training sessions (with little repetitions)," so keep greeting practice in short sessions.

Azul, Dutch Shepherd, in a harness, sitting on a log in front of an old wooden rail bridge, with a longboard beside her
Azul holding a sit. A dog can't sit and jump at the same time.

At the front door

Mistakes that keep jumping going

Guests and strangers

Until your dog knows the rule, don't let it practice jumping on visitors. The AKC and Humane World both suggest managing the door:

Walks are harder, because strangers don't know your rules. The AKC suggests skipping greetings with strangers until your dog has them down with friends and family. Get your dog's attention with a "watch me" cue or a squeaky toy, and let people walk past. When you're ready, Humane World's routine is to stop the person, explain you don't want your dog to jump, ask your dog to sit, and let them pet and treat your dog only while it stays seated. Some people will say they don't mind. "But you should mind," Humane World says, and you "can simply say no thank you."

Your Dutch Shepherd doesn't need to greet every stranger at all. The AKC's breed page puts the breed in the middle of its Openness to Strangers scale, and Humane World says a dog should never be forced to greet someone who scares it. A dog that watches you while a stranger walks by is doing just fine. Our socialization guide covers building calm around new people.

The question to ask before you apply

The AKC and Humane World both come back to consistency. The AKC's breed page adds that "without training, this breed will become very independent and will start to make its own decisions, so obedience training is highly recommended." A greeting rule only works if every person in the house enforces it, every time. It's why our application asks for your training plan, and whether all the adults in your home agree to a high-drive breed.

The short version: dogs jump because it gets attention. Pick one greeting rule, four paws on the floor or a sit, and greet your dog the moment it follows the rule. Turn away when it jumps. Don't push, grab paws or use a knee. Keep hellos calm, manage the door with a leash, gate or crate while you train, and ask everyone, family, guests and strangers, to follow the same rule.

More manners for the first year: loose-leash walking, coming when called and puppy biting.

Sources