You open the door with a bag in one hand, and your dog launches up your legs. They may be delighted to see you, but they can still knock you or someone else over. Don't try to teach the entire lesson while you are balancing bags in the doorway.
Set up the entrance first. Put your things down where the dog cannot grab them, or use a secure gate so you can enter without a collision. For a dog who has previously bitten or who jumps high enough to injure someone, arrange individual help from a qualified, reward-based trainer. A sudden change in behavior or unusual distress when you return should also prompt a veterinary check.
Reward the greeting you want
Practice when you are not arriving after a long absence. Step through the door calmly and reward your dog as soon as all four paws are on the floor. Keep your greeting low and brief. If they jump, pause attention and wait for a moment with paws down, then reward. A scatter of treats on the floor can give an excited dog a safer job as you come in. Do not shove them down or knee them in the chest.
Ask everyone who enters regularly to use the same simple routine. If your dog is too excited to respond after hours alone, begin with a gate between you and greet them after a minute of settling, rather than repeatedly trying to get a sit amid the rush. Practice short exits and returns at easy times.
A good greeting can still be warm. You are teaching your dog how to say hello without needing to jump into your arms. For more on making arrivals predictable, see the doorway arrival guide. Your dog can greet you without rushing the doorway.
Does one of these sound like yours?
Choose what fits. Nothing is saved or submitted.
Sources & care notes
Sources: Dogs Trust: How to stop your dog jumping up at people. Dogs Trust: How to prepare your dog for visitors.
This article is general education, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, is in pain, or something changed suddenly, call your vet. If it could be an emergency, do not wait.
Frequently asked questions
What do I set up first?
Put your things down where the dog cannot grab them, or use a secure gate so you can enter without a collision.
How do I greet?
Step in calmly and reward your dog as soon as all four paws are on the floor, keeping the greeting low and brief. If they jump, pause.
Do I need to practice when I have not been away?
Yes. Practice when you are not arriving after a long absence, so the routine is learned before the big homecomings.
What if they are too excited to respond?
Begin with a gate between you and greet after a minute of settling rather than through the open door.
