When dogs jump at strangers, it is usually a cry for attention and is due to a lack of training. It is one of the most common complaints among dog owners, but compared to instinct, it is relatively easy to break the habit.
It only becomes dangerous if the dog jumps at older people and children. Because they could fall over and possibly injure themselves.
At the same time, people's clothes are often soiled or even cracked by dirty paws. But is it really the owner’s fault?
Yes, without exception. Not only can every dog trainer confirm this, but it is also anchored in the German Civil Code. [1]
For this reason, you have to pay any fines and not the dog itself. The good news? With a few tips, high jumping can be easily trained.
Nevertheless, I advise you to always take out liability insurance as a precaution. The cheapest insurance starts at just under €2 per month and is definitely worth the money.
Below you will first learn about the 10 most common causes and then about 14 tips for breaking the habit. Let's go!
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The 10 most common causes
Why dogs jump at strangers depends primarily on the respective situation. Below you will find the most common causes in descending order.
Even adult dogs need about the same amount of attention as a small child. If this falls short, then they intuitively begin to demand it.
Dogs learned this behavior when they were puppies. At this age they often jump up on their mother to beg for food or milk. [2]
Many dog lovers don't mind if a dog jumps up on them. On the contrary! They are happy and even play with their four-legged friend.
The problem? Dogs always repeat rewarded behavior. This means that your dog will also intuitively jump at strangers to get attention.
Basically, you can remember: the more trusting and loving a dog is, the more jealous he is. And this is often expressed in greetings.
If only the owner gets attention and the dog is ignored, this can lead to a defiant reaction. These include barking, jumping and whining.
In young puppies, jumping up is usually perceived as “cute”. Many people start laughing and even give the dog a pat.
Dogs therefore associate jumping with a reward. It usually only becomes a problem when the dog gets bigger.
Have you ever noticed that dogs rarely jump at other dogs and much more often at strangers?
This is because dogs are usually at the same eye level. For this reason, small breeds jump up on people more often than large four-legged friends. [3]
Parents are said to believe that the teenage phase is the hardest time for children. Why? Because in this phase children test their limits no matter what.
This phenomenon also occurs in dogs. Depending on the breed, this phase usually takes place between the 6th and 18th months.
- 7) Accidental training error
Dog owners often use the “sit” command to stop strangers from jumping at them. In principle there is nothing wrong with that.
However, if the dog is rewarded for first jumping and then sitting, then he will continue this behavior in that order in the future.
If dogs don't get enough physical and mental activity, they are much more likely to exhibit hyperactive behavior.
You can recognize this, for example, when the dog starts digging in the apartment, constantly jumps up on people or even chews on furniture.
In particular, small dog breeds that have not been adequately socialized are often put off and become afraid by larger animals.
Here jumping up is a protective reaction and a sign of insecurity. This makes the dog appear larger and more dominant than it actually is.
If your dog growls, raises his fur or even starts to snap before jumping up, then this is usually because his territory has been threatened.
This instinct is most pronounced in protection and guard dogs. Strangers are usually the trigger here. But this can be solved through socialization. [4]
14 tips for quitting the habit
The good news first? Jumping up on people is not an instinct, but a learned behavior. That makes things a lot easier.
The following 3 factors are essential for this:
- Don't give any reward for jumping.
- Reward other behavior during which jumping is not possible.
- Consistent behavior from everyone involved.
The earlier you start training, the easier it is. However, this is no excuse for older dogs – they can also easily break the behavior.
Important: Not all of the following tips are suitable for every dog. So pick out the ones that sound most promising for you and your dog.
- 1) Introduce the “sit” command
On the one hand, it's important to show your dog clearly what he shouldn't do. On the other hand, this confuses many dogs because they don't understand what to do instead.
And this is exactly where commands come into play. How you want your dog to greet strangers is up to you. Regardless of whether you are sitting (“seat”) or lying down (“down”).
Lying down is generally considered more effective because dogs are less able to jump up from this position than when sitting. [5] Personally, I prefer sitting.
If there is attention behind jumping up, then you should refrain from doing exactly that. Cross your arms and turn your back to your dog while training.
Also, refrain from talking to your dog until he calms down. If he doesn't jump up anymore, you can reward this behavior.
- 3) Treats as a distraction
When training, throw a few treats on the floor before greeting a person so that your dog is occupied for a few seconds and can be greeted in the process.
The person should then leave the dog and turn their back to it. This causes dogs to associate a greeting with a reward on the ground.
With regular training, dogs automatically search the floor for their treats when greeting them instead of jumping at strangers.
- 4) More physical activity
Basically: A tired and busy dog is a calm and non-jumping dog. The aim here is to prevent any kind of boredom.
For example, you could arrange regular playdates with the neighbor's dogs so that they can let off steam with each other.
In addition, many dog toys (like ours) and other pets help as play partners. A private garden is also ideal for this.
This technique is based on the principle that you associate sitting with a reward and not sitting with no reward. For training, give your dog the “sit” command.
Then run away a few meters. If the dog gets up, repeat the command. If he should stay seated, walk up to him and greet him calmly while sitting.
If he gets up during this, start again from the beginning. This will help your dog learn over time that he will only be greeted if he stays seated. [6]
- 6) Choosing the right leash
I strongly recommend using a leash for training. This means a very short leash, which means you have a much better grip on your dog when jumping.
If your dog is already sufficiently trained, you can use a long leash. Retractable lines, on the other hand, provide the least amount of control.
- 7) Train with friends
As the owner, you are usually your dog's alpha. This is the case when he listens to your commands much better than to other people's comments.
Friends, visitors or strangers, on the other hand, are usually classified by your dog as “Deltas” and “Omegas” – i.e. much further down the hierarchy.
For this reason, it is important that you include outsiders in the training so that over time your dog no longer even jumps at strangers.
- 8) Avoid pressing down
Many dog owners, out of shame, start to grab their own dog in such a situation and hold it on the ground with their hands.
Instead, it triggers an ancient play instinct that dogs inherited from wolves. Specifically, this means: Instead of avoiding jumping, you actually encourage your dog to do so. [7]
If your dog jumps up when the doorbell rings, he will most likely jump up at the people waiting.
You can minimize this by only opening the door when your dog is sitting obediently to the side. If it jumps open when you open it, close the door again.
This teaches your dog that you only open the door and leave it open when he sits well. And at the same time, your visit will be spared a four-legged surprise.
- 10) Family involvement
Consistency is key in dog training. For this reason, it is essential that the entire family behaves the same way when the dog jumps up on people.
The same also applies to friends and regular visitors. Let them know what you are currently working on and how important consistent behavior is here. [8]
- 11) Positioning as Alpha
Wolves and wild dogs always have a hierarchy among themselves. At the top is the Alpha, followed by Betas, Deltas and, last but not least, the Omegas.
If your dog does not currently see you as the alpha, he will ignore any commands as soon as any instincts are triggered.
You can learn how to become a leader yourself in Johanna Esser's online dog school. I can warmly recommend the course to you.
If your dog is a very small breed or your dog is generally rather anxious and shy, kneeling down often helps.
With this submissive gesture, strangers can remove any fear and therefore any incentive if the dog would otherwise jump up due to dominance problems.
- 13) Other distractions
For many playful breeds, it is often enough to unpack their favorite toy shortly before greeting strangers.
Jumping on strangers could cause the toy to fall. For this reason, dogs usually stay on the ground and wag their tails at it.
Important: This strategy only works if your dog tends to be playful and it is…