Why does my dog go crazy when he sees people?

The Greeting Explosion

Dogs are social animals. Some more than others, sure, but at their core, most dogs love being around people. And when they see someone new (or someone they already know), they get a rush of energy. That energy has to go somewhere.

What you’re seeing isn’t aggression. It’s not disobedience. It’s often just your dog having zero impulse control and too much enthusiasm.

That excitement builds like pressure in a soda can. And when your dog sees a person? Pop. The top explodes.

Overexcitement Isn’t Cute Forever

A puppy jumping up to say hi is adorable. A 70-pound adult dog launching into someone’s chest? Not so much. Especially when it’s an elderly person, a small child, or someone who just doesn’t want muddy paw prints on their clothes.

Some dogs greet everyone like a long-lost best friend. That’s not necessarily a problem—unless they haven’t learned how to do it calmly.

Letting your dog say hello to people without rules teaches them one thing: go big or go home.

Free e-book designed to improve your dog’s ability to pay attention to you despite distractions, click HERE

What’s Behind the Crazy Behavior?

There’s more than one reason your dog might go nuts when people are around. It usually falls into one of these buckets:

Overstimulation

For some dogs, seeing a person is like flipping a switch. Their brain floods with energy and emotion. That high arousal state makes it hard for them to listen or focus.

Think of it like a kid who’s just eaten five cupcakes and now sees Mickey Mouse walking toward them. Their excitement turns into a full-body meltdown.

Poor Socialization

Dogs who didn’t grow up meeting different types of people may find every new person fascinating—or terrifying. Both of those feelings can lead to big reactions.

If your dog lived a sheltered early life or didn’t get much exposure to strangers, the sight of someone new can be overwhelming.

Fear or Uncertainty

Not all excited-looking dogs are happy. Some bark, lunge, or act wild because they’re scared. And they’ve learned that making a big scene makes the scary thing go away.

Fear-based reactivity often gets misread as friendliness or hyperactivity. But the body language is different—stiff tail, hard eyes, tense posture. It’s not joy. It’s anxiety dressed up like excitement.

Reinforced Behavior

Dogs are excellent students. They notice what gets them results. If jumping on someone leads to petting, attention, or even eye contact, they’ll do it again.

Even yelling “NO!” or pushing them away adds to the drama. It confirms their belief that this is the way to get people’s attention.

What We Accidentally Teach Them

Sometimes we’re part of the problem. Here’s how:

• We talk too much. Saying “calm down” fifty times just makes your dog think something big is happening.
• We let them jump “just this once.” And dogs don’t understand exceptions.
• We pet them when they’re being wild, because we feel bad or think it’s cute.
• We avoid training around real distractions and expect them to behave when it counts.

The result? A dog who thinks people = party.

Training A Polite Greeter

Teaching your dog to be calm around people isn’t just about obedience—it’s about emotional control. They need to learn how to feel differently when they see people.

Here’s how to start shifting that energy.

Build Impulse Control

Before you worry about the jumping or barking, you need to teach patience. That starts with basic obedience:

• Sit and stay
• Down and stay
• Look at me (focus cue)
• Leave it

These aren’t just tricks. They’re tools to help your dog control themselves.

Practice these in low-distraction areas first. Then slowly move to busier spots. Your dog can’t master calm behavior on a crowded sidewalk if they haven’t even learned to sit in the backyard.

Work Below Threshold

Every dog has a limit. A point where they go from alert to overstimulated. Your job is to train under that threshold.

If your dog loses it when someone is 5 feet away, start at 20 feet. Reward calm behavior there. Slowly decrease the distance over time.

Free e-book designed to improve your dog’s ability to pay attention to you despite distractions, click HERE

This prevents meltdowns and keeps your dog in a state where they can actually learn.

Reward What You Want

Don’t wait for your dog to explode and then try to fix it. Catch the calm moments before the storm.

• Dog sees a person and stays calm? Treat.
• Dog looks at you instead of lunging? Jackpot.
• Dog sits quietly while a person walks by? Praise.

This is how new habits form.

Set Rules for Saying Hello

If you want your dog to greet people, do it with structure.

• Only greet when on leash.
• Person only approaches when dog is calm.
• No jumping = petting.
• Jumping = person walks away.

It’s simple cause and effect. Calm gets what they want. Chaos gets nothing.

Play the “Look at That” Game

This game helps change your dog’s emotional response to people.

1. Your dog sees a person.
2. You mark it with a word like “Yes” or click a clicker.
3. Your dog turns to you = treat.

Soon, seeing a person becomes a cue to look at you instead of reacting.

What If My Dog Is Too Intense?

Some dogs are just a lot. And that’s okay. But it means your training has to be more structured.

If your dog is pulling you across the street, barking at everyone, or showing signs of fear or aggression, it’s time to bring in help. A professional trainer—ideally one who uses positive reinforcement—can make a huge difference.

Trying to tackle serious behavior issues on your own can be frustrating and even dangerous. Get guidance. It’s worth it.

Breed and Personality Matter

Some dogs are more people-crazy than others. You can thank genetics for that.

• Retrievers? Born lovers.
• Herding breeds? Hyper-aware and sensitive to motion.
• Terriers? Alert and intense.
• Guardian breeds? Naturally suspicious.

Breed doesn’t excuse behavior, but it helps you understand what you’re working with.

The key is adjusting your expectations and training plan to fit your dog—not trying to turn them into something they’re not.

What Not to Do

Let’s keep this short. Don’t:

• Yank or jerk the leash
• Use shock or prong collars to “correct” greetings
• Knee your dog in the chest
• Shout or punish unpredictably
• Let people pet your dog when they’re clearly overstimulated

You can’t punish the excitement out of a dog. But you can teach them how to channel it.

Free e-book designed to improve your dog’s ability to pay attention to you despite distractions, click HERE

Summary: Your Dog Isn’t Being Bad

That over-the-top reaction to people? It’s not defiance. It’s not disrespect. It’s often a mix of joy, nervousness, and confusion about what’s expected.

The goal isn’t to crush your dog’s spirit. It’s to help them be their best self around people. Calm, confident, connected.

And the more consistent you are, the faster they’ll get it. The dog who once pulled you into traffic to say hi can become the one who walks calmly past distractions, tail wagging, eyes on you.

It’s not magic. It’s training. It’s practice. It’s patience.

And it’s absolutely doable.

Thanks for your reading.