Just because you love dogs, it doesn’t mean everyone has to. Many people are scared of them, and if they had a bad experience as a small child it’s hardly surprising that they might be – at the very least – wary of an over-exuberant dog.
Meanwhile, if your dog jumps up at a small child or a frail pensioner, then there is the real risk of that person being hurt or, in the case of the child, becoming traumatised for life by the event.
So if you’ve got a dog that likes to jump up at anyone they come across – even if they’re trying to be nothing but friendly – others might find it alarming or scary. And, if that person starts shouting or screaming as a result, that’s when dogs can become even more excitable or even aggressive.
As you never know how strangers are going to react when a dog jumps up at them, if that’s what your dog is doing, the best thing you can do is to train it out of them. But first, let’s take a look at why dogs jump up at people in the first place.
Why does my dog jump up at strangers?
Quite simply, when your dog jumps up at strangers – or, indeed, anyone – they’re in all probability just looking for attention. It’s behaviour learned from a very young age – if you’re a young puppy and you’re competing with a number of siblings for attention from your mother, it’s the natural thing to do.
And the more you react to it – even if that’s shouting at them to stop, or trying to push them away – the more they are likely to view it as mission accomplished. You may see it as you being annoyed at them, but they see it as getting them the attention they want. If you give them something to eat or some other kind of treat to draw them away, well, that really is only going to encourage them.
As with any doggy behaviour you want to change, the only way to do it is with some sensible dog training and lots of patience.
How to stop a dog jumping up
If your dog is trying to get attention by jumping at people, then the best way to make them stop is not to give it to them.
If your dog jumps up at you, turn your back on them, cross your arms over your chest (so that they cannot interpret anything as you reaching out to pet them) and stay silent. If they run round to face you, just turn your back on them again. Alternatively, just leave the room; give it a few minutes then try again – if they still jump up, go out again, and repeat until your dog calms down. When that happens, you can reward them with a treat to encourage that good behaviour.
Stopping your dog jumping up at others will require the assistance of a friend or family member. Assuming your dog already responds to a ‘sit!’ command, make sure you start with them sitting, then ask your friend to slowly approach. If your dog stands up at their approach, they should immediately walk away and you need to get your dog back down in the sitting position. Repeat until your dog stays sitting as your friend approaches, who should then reward your dog with a treat for their good behaviour.
Things not to do
Don’t raise your knee to your dog’s chest to ward them off – this is a tactic that is actually recommended by some people, but it could do harm or the dog might interpret it as the attention they crave. You also want to avoid punishing the dog as far as possible – a reward for good behaviour is a far better incentive!
Here at Green Lane Farm Boarding Kennels, we’re experienced at looking after all kinds of dogs, whether that’s for a week or two while you’re away, or just for the day so they don’t get lonely while you’re at work.
We’re easily accessible from the areas around Chessington and Kingston in Surrey, so if you need some caring and experienced people to look after your dog, get in touch with our friendly team today.
