This post is part of our weekly Q&A series — where I answer real Cavapoo owner questions every Tuesday.
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Cavapoo Question of The week:
How We Stopped Our Cavapoo Jumping Up on Visitors (Without Treats or Shouting)
I recently watched a fantastic webinar from a brilliant dog trainer all about recall training — and how you can build it up in just a few minutes a day.
It reminded me just how important consistency, patience, and a simple plan are when training Cavapoos — especially when it comes to the everyday behaviours that can drive owners up the wall.
Like this question I got from a Cavapoo Crew subscriber last week:
‘How do you stop your Cavapoo from jumping up on people when they come to the house?‘
It’s a common problem — and one I remember all too well from when Arlo was younger.
What Didn’t Work
- Saying “No!”
- Pushing him down
- Locking him in another room
We meant well… but honestly? None of it helped.
What Did Work (And Fast)
Eventually, we tried something different — and it worked like magic.
Here’s the 3-step method that helped us stop Arlo’s jumping-up habit:
- Ignore
- Wait
- Reward
Simple. But powerful.
The Key: Consistency from Everyone
This only works if everyone sticks to the plan. That includes visitors, family members, kids — everyone.
Here’s Exactly What to Do
- When your Cavapoo jumps up, say nothing.
- Don’t touch them, look at them, or speak.
- Turn your back and wait.
- Once your dog stops jumping and calms down — reward them with calm praise, a gentle stroke behind the ears, or even a treat.
Repeat this with every person who enters your home. Over time, your Cavapoo will learn that calm behaviour = reward.
It only takes a few minutes each time, but the long-term result is a calmer, more polite dog.
Bonus Benefit
This method also tends to reduce other unwanted behaviours by reinforcing calmness as the default.
Final Tip
If you’re thinking, “This won’t work for my Cavapoo” — ask yourself:
Have you really tried it… with everyone and for a full month?
Because when you do — it tends to work.
🐶 Want More Help Like This?
My Cavapoo Compendium goes into exactly these kinds of everyday issues — and how to solve them gently, calmly, and effectively.
It’s packed with 63 bite-sized rules I wish I’d had when I first brought Arlo home.
👉 Check it out here — it’s still available at the early access price (for now):
https://cavapoocrew.com/cavapoo-compendium-compendium/
Got a Cavapoo question you’d love me to answer in a future post?
Leave a comment below, become a Cavapoo Crew (free) newsletter subscriber or email me directly — I’d love to help.
Speak soon,
Colin & Arlo 🐾
