Jumping, Mouthing, and Nipping: How to Calm Over-Excited Dogs

ByGavin Levenstein

By Gavin Levenstein Reviewed/Updated: 24 April 2025

Welcoming a new puppy or young dog is joyful—and occasionally chaotic. If you’re searching for how to stop puppy biting and nipping fast, how to stop your dog jumping on guests, or how to calm an over-excited puppy, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find friendly, humane, step-by-step training that works in real homes.

  • What you’ll need: soft treats, a tug or chew toy, a treat-dispensing toy, a mat or blanket, a short leash or house line.
  • Time to train: 3–5 minutes per session.
  • Method: Positive reinforcement only.
how to stop dog jumping on guests – four paws on floor
redirect puppy mouthing to chew toy
teach settle on mat step by step

Table of Contents

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Fast Fixes (90-second plan)

When excitement spikes—visitors at the door, a family member arriving, playtime going sideways—do this:

1) Stand still and be a tree. Don’t push your dog away. Say “sit” once. The moment four paws hit the floor or a sit happens, mark “yes!” and feed 3–5 tiny treats low to the ground. 2) Redirect mouthing fast. Present a tug or chew toy as your dog approaches hands, sleeves, or kids’ fingers. Praise the moment teeth touch the toy. 3) If nipping happens, pause play for 5–10 seconds. Go still and quiet. Resume with a toy. Repeat as needed—calm on, chaos off. Bonus: Park your dog on a mat behind a baby gate or on leash while you cue “settle.” Hand a treat-dispensing toy to reinforce relaxation.

Tip for visitors: Ask them to ignore the dog at first, turn slightly sideways, and toss a treat on the floor when your dog keeps four on the floor.

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Why Dogs Jump, Mouth, and Nip

These are normal, developmentally appropriate behaviors—especially in puppies and adolescents.

  • Jumping: A natural greeting to reach faces and get attention.
  • Mouthing: Puppies explore with their mouths and learn bite inhibition through feedback.
  • Nipping during play: Often a sign of rising arousal and low impulse control, not aggression.

The science bit: Dogs learn best in the “learning zone”—between low and moderate arousal. When arousal runs high, self-control drops and you’ll see more jumping, mouthing, and barky chaos. Our plan keeps your dog in that learnable range and channels energy into better choices.

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How to Stop Your Dog Jumping on Guests (Step by Step)

Time: 3–5 minutes • Difficulty: Easy

What you’ll need: treats, short leash/house line, a mat, optionally a treat-dispensing toy.

1) Pre-game: Clip a short leash before guests arrive, or station your dog behind a baby gate. Place a mat near—but not at—the door. 2) Four on the floor pays: As the guest enters, stand on the leash slack if needed to prevent launching. The instant all four paws are on the floor, mark “yes!” and toss a treat onto the floor away from the door. 3) Repeat the loop: Guest steps in, dog’s paws land, treat lands low. Keep treats coming low to prevent spring-boarding. 4) Add a sit if offered: If your dog offers a sit, jackpot with 3–5 rapid treats. Calm greeting = big win. 5) Practice micro-reps: Do 3–5 “mini entries” with the same person stepping out and in again. Short and sweet beats marathon training. 6) Graduate to real visitors: Keep the leash on, gate handy, and the mat inviting. Over time, cue “On your mat” as the door opens.

Soft CTA: Want to reinforce calm even more? Use a treat-dispensing toy on the mat to keep paws grounded. Shop treat dispensers

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How to Stop Puppy Mouthing and Nipping (Positive Methods)

Time: 3–5 minutes • Difficulty: Easy

  • Be proactive: Carry a tug or chew on you during high-energy times (kids home from school, pre-walk excitement).
  • Replace, don’t scold: Present the toy before teeth land on skin or clothing. Celebrate when your puppy grabs it.
  • “Calm on, chaos off”: If teeth touch skin, go still and quiet for 5–10 seconds. Resume play with a toy.
  • Teach “Trade”: Offer a treat at your puppy’s nose, say “trade,” and take the toy gently while they take the treat—then give the toy back.
  • Build “Gentle”: Feed treats from a flat hand; mark “gentle” when lips, not teeth, touch your hand.
  • Set up success: Add a long-lasting chew after play bursts and during the evening “witching hour.”

Helpful tools: Shop tug and chew toys • Best treat-dispensing toys for hyper dogs

Safety note: If kids are involved, supervise closely. Teach them to stand still, cross arms, and “be a tree” while you redirect the puppy to a toy.

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Teach “Settle” on a Mat (Step by Step)

Time: 3–5 minutes • Difficulty: Easy

1) Place a mat. The moment your dog even looks at it, mark “yes!” and drop a treat on the mat. 2) Reward contact: Treat for one paw on, then two, then standing fully on the mat. 3) Reward the down: When your dog lies down—even briefly—mark and feed 3–5 treats slowly, one at a time, between paws. 4) Add a cue: Say “settle” as your dog moves to the mat, then pay. 5) Build duration: Feed every 2–5 seconds at first, then every 5–10 seconds, then switch to a treat-dispensing toy on the mat. 6) Take it on tour: Practice near the door, at the kitchen, and during family movie night.

Soft CTA: Reinforce relaxation automatically with a slow-feed or dispenser on the mat. Shop treat dispensers • Try a lick mat or snuffle mat

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3-Minute Impulse Control Drill: Wait & Leave It

Time: 3 minutes • Difficulty: Easy

  • Wait at doors: Approach a door. Say “wait,” begin to open it. If your dog moves, close gently. When they pause, say “good wait,” then release: “okay!”
  • Leave it with food: Cover a treat in your hand. Say “leave it.” The moment your dog looks away or backs off, mark and feed a better treat from your other hand. Build to floor treats with your hand hovering.

Do 2 sets daily. Stop while it’s still fun.

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Signs of Over-Arousal in Dogs

  • Stiff body, whale eye, frantic panting
  • Jumping higher, mouthing harder, ignoring cues
  • Zoomies that escalate into nipping at clothes or hands

When you spot these signs, pause the game, offer a sniff break, or cue “settle” and hand a chew.

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Decompression Walks and Nose Work

Short, slow “sniffari” walks reduce stress chemicals and meet your dog’s natural foraging needs. Aim for 10–20 minutes of loose-lead sniffing on quiet routes. Indoors, try:

  • Snuffle mat scatter feeds and “find it” games
  • Lick mats for soothing, repetitive licking
  • Cardboard box “treasure hunts”

Helpful tools: Snuffle and lick mats • Treat-dispensing toys

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7-Day Calm Greetings Micro-Plan

Each day: 2–3 sessions, 3 minutes each.

  • Day 1–2: Four-paws-on-floor drills with a family member stepping in/out. Pay low to the ground.
  • Day 3: Add a sit before greetings. Jackpot quiet sits.
  • Day 4: Pair the doorbell/knock with “On your mat.” Reward a down on the mat.
  • Day 5: Run the 3-minute Wait & Leave It drill twice.
  • Day 6: Practice with a friend at the door; keep leash on for management.
  • Day 7: Real-life rehearsal. Visitors toss treats on the floor when your dog keeps four on the floor; cue “settle” and give a dispenser on the mat.

Keep reps short. Success snowballs.

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What Not to Do (and Why)

  • Don’t knee, yell, or spray. Aversives can create fear and increase arousal, often worsening jumping and nipping.
  • Don’t roughhouse with hands. Use toys to keep teeth off skin.
  • Don’t reward the jump. Even pushing can feel like attention. Freeze briefly, then reward calm alternatives.

Choose reward-based training—faster results, better relationship.

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When to Seek Extra Help

If behavior is escalating, drawing blood, or your dog can’t settle despite training, speak with your vet to rule out pain and ask for a referral to a certified trainer (CCPDT or IAABC). Separation-related issues, chronic stress, or medical discomfort can fuel over-arousal.

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Tools & Product Picks

Value-first ideas that make training easier:

Seasonal tips: “Stop dogs jumping on holiday guests,” “Back-to-school: reduce evening zoomies,” “Halloween doorbell greetings without jumping.”

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FAQs

Q: Is my puppy’s nipping normal or aggressive? A: Most puppy nipping is normal play and arousal. Concerning signs include stiff body, hard stares, stillness before a bite, and repeated escalation. If unsure, film a short clip and consult a certified trainer.

Q: What age do puppies stop biting and mouthing? A: The intense phase usually peaks between 8–16 weeks and improves by 5–6 months, with another adolescent spike around 6–12 months. Training and enrichment speed the curve.

Q: How do I stop my dog from jumping on guests right away? A: Leash or gate for management, cue a sit or four-on-the-floor, and feed treats low to the ground. Have guests toss treats behind your dog to reset focus.

Q: Do time-outs work for puppy biting? A: Yes—brief, boring pauses (5–10 seconds) teach “calm on, chaos off.” Resume play with a toy. Avoid long isolating time-outs; they can frustrate puppies.

Q: Should I say “no” for jumping? A: “No” doesn’t teach what to do instead. Reward four paws on the floor or a sit. Reinforced calm beats punished chaos every time.

Q: What are the signs my dog is over-aroused and needs a break? A: Stiffness, frantic panting, ignoring cues, jumping higher, mouthing harder. Switch to sniffing, a settle on the mat, or a chew.

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Sources & Credits

  • American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB): Position statement on humane dog training — https://avsab.org
  • IAABC (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants): Articles and resources — https://iaabc.org
  • BSAVA/American College of Veterinary Behaviorists: Puppy development and socialization insights — https://www.dacvb.org
  • APDT: Positive reinforcement training resources — https://apdt.com

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About the Author

Gavin Levenstein is part of the TailMe editorial team and a lifelong dog dad. He writes practical, positive training guides that connect modern behavior science with everyday life.

Need a hand choosing the right training tools for your dog’s age and breed? We’re here to help—reach out via TailTalk or Contact Us.

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Notes for editors:

  • Add HowTo and FAQPage structured data for the three how-tos and the FAQs above.
  • Use Open Graph/Twitter preview with a “calm greeting” image.
  • Consider a downloadable 1-page Calm Greeting Checklist for email capture.

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