When you are out walking your dog and you meet someone, does your dog jump up on them? Do they jump up on you when you come home? Some people do not really mind and I have to say I am one of them but they are my dogs. If you look at it from a visitors point of view they really do not want to be jumped on by your dogs as soon as they enter the house. Especially if they have muddy paws. There clothes would get dirty and maybe even torn if their claws catch them.

When your dog jumps up on people it could mean that your dog is too friendly or it could be a show of aggression. It can be a frightening experience when a dog suddenly jumps up on you especially if you have never met the dog before. You don't know their temperament. When a dog does this it is because it has not been taught that this in inappropriate behaviour.

As a dog owner I have returned home and the dogs have jumped up on me. I really do not mind this but it is not good for me to allow it and expect them not to do this when a visitor comes to the door. We are in the process of training the dogs that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

If your dog is jumping up in an aggressive way or dominant way then this is more serious and it might be wise to engage the help of a professional dog trainer.

A few tips that may help when your dog is jumping up on you or anyone else:

• Do not greet your dog with too much enthusiasm. This will cause the dog to get excited and it will not be able to learn what you are trying to teach it.
• Do not yell at your dog as this will further excite it.
• Do not push it away as it will think of it as a playful action. Tell the dog in a firm tone to 'Sit'.

My youngest dog Kerri, is way too friendly. She thinks everyone should pet her. She goes up to other dogs without any fear and just assumes they will be friendly towards her. She is so trusting but we are afraid that she will probably encounter a 'not so friendly' dog at some point and this could change things for her. She is the first one to come running and jumping up on me as soon as I open the door with her tail wagging ten to the dozen. We are working on it though!