Why does my dog jump on people?
We’ve all experienced an over-exuberant dog jumping on us when we walk in the house. It can be unsettling and a bit annoying to be pounced on every time you walk through the door – but have you ever considered the meaning behind your dog’s jumping? If you’ve ever wanted to train this behavior out of your dog, it’s essential to know the root cause. Here are a few different explanations that could answer the question why does my dog jump on people?
Welcoming you home
Most people have probably experienced a very excited dog welcoming them home at the end of a long day. Your pup probably weaves through your legs, leaps up to give you kisses, and wags their tail incessantly in their excitement. However, this is also the kind of jumping that is the most annoying to guests and can be downright dangerous. If elderly family members visit your home, having a jumpy pup can cause them to fall, which can be hazardous. Further, if you invite important guests over, your excited dog can be an unprofessional or offputting first impression.
Poor playtime manners
Jumping and romping are expected methods of play in the dog world. However, they don’t always transition well to playing with human friends. If your dog is jumping on you during playtime, like when you’re throwing a ball or running around in the grass, your dog may need education on good manners when playing with people. As is the case with jumping as welcome, poor play manners can create a dangerous situation for people who interact with your dog. Young children love to run and play with pups and can be injured if your dog knocks them over during playtime.
Establishing dominance
One of the more dangerous reasons that your dog may be jumping on you is to establish dominance. Because dogs don’t have the language to describe what they’re feeling regarding their care, they do so with their body language and how they interact with you. If your dog is jumping on you to set you off balance or push you out of the way of toys or people they prefer, they might be trying to assert dominance over you. This behavior shows that the dog doesn’t respect you as the family leader and could be tricky to correct.
Alerting you of danger
If you come home and your dog is upset when they’re jumping on you, your dog could be trying to tell you of something that frightened them. There could have been a loud noise that startled them while you were away, or they could have injured themselves while alone. Take time to check your dog to see if they hurt themselves while you were gone. This pain could be caused by a broken toenail, an overextended joint, or an injured paw, for example. Then, look through the house or environment for things that could have scared your dog. An essential thing to do after making sure there are no immediate dangers is to comfort your pup, helping them feel safe after resolving whatever upset them.
How to train your dog to stop jumping on people
Stopping your dog from jumping on people is entirely based on the reason why they’re jumping. Here is how you can train these behaviors out of your pup:
- Over-excited greeting or play. If your dog jumps on you when you come home from work or during playtime, you can efficiently train them by employing negative punishment. When your dog jumps to greet you, turn your back on them and wait for them to sit. Once your pup sits, you can reward them for patiently waiting. This training method works because you’re withholding something your dog wants, your attention, and only providing it when they do what you want.
- Aggression or dominance. If your dog is jumping to assert dominance, you need to correct it by showing your dog that you’re the family leader. Don’t challenge your dog by being mean or rude to them; instead, show them that they should respect you. You can do this by making your dog wait for your permission to do things like walk through a doorway or eat their meal. Showing that you control the environment reinforces that you’re the boss.
- Fear. The best way to stop fear-based jumping is to remove things that scare your dog and help them build confidence in themselves. Do this by first making sure nothing scary is in your home. Then, through training, you can help your dog build confidence when they encounter the world, helping them feel better about conquering their fears.
Now that you know why your dog jumps on people, you have a great way to start stopping that behavior. Feel confident in knowing that your dog’s jumping is probably just important messaging lost in translation. Training helps you and your dog speak the same language, which makes your bond stronger than ever.
