#4: Feeling frustrated
‘What could my dog be frustrated about during a walk?’ you ask yourself.
Well, the frustration could be triggered by the presence of another person or a dog.
This happens mostly when your dog is leashed. They get frustrated due to the fact that they’re restricted.
Even if your dog expresses certain interest in a fellow canine or another human being, they have limited freedom to act based on that.
So, your dog can’t go to them or has limited time to smell them and interact. Then, before you know it your dog starts jumping on you or pulling the lead with their mouth.
And this is how your dog manages to express their frustration on the matter.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog did not always jump on your back, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as learning that the behavior is rewarded, suddenly giving it less attention or if you started getting very emotional around it causing it to become very reactive.
It would also help to consider if there is a certain time that your dog tends to do it more. For example, if it only does it when you arrive home, it would be more likely to be due to something such as excitement or separation anxiety. In this case, it would help to give it positive reinforcement training as shown below.
Why does my dog jump on me while walking?
The most common reason why your dog could jump on you while walking is to get your attention. It might be because they want to play, they’re anxious, frustrated, overstimulated, and were previously rewarded by you for jumping. Jumping also shows a lack of training typically stemming from puppyhood.
I HAVE to get this dog to STOP BITING & JUMPING! REALITY Dog Training.
Dogs jump for all kinds of reasons: attention, excitement or not knowing what else to do when they see a person.
Does your dog jump on you as if theyve got springs on their feet? Like it or not, we humans are to blame. We not only permit this behavior, we encourage it. We know we shouldnt encourage jumping, but a fuzzy puppy is just too cute to resist. We forget that cute behavior in a puppy can become a real nuisance when they grow up.
Allowing your dog to jump on people can be dangerous too. You can end up scratched and bruised. A child or frail adult can be knocked down and seriously injured.
Solving a behavior problem like jumping requires both management of the situation and training your dog.
Management means you must control the situation so your dog doesnt have the opportunity to jump up. Use management techniques until your dog is adequately trained not to jump.
As an example, lets take the dog who jumps on visitors. To manage your dogs behavior, you could do one of the following before your guest arrives:
Teach your dog that they receive no attention for jumping on you or anyone else. You can turn your back and only pet your dog when all four paws are on the floor.
Teach your dog to do something that is incompatible with jumping up, such as sitting. They cant sit and jump up at the same time. If they are not sitting, they get no attention.
It is important to be consistent. Everyone in your family must follow the training program all the time. You cant let your dog jump on people in some circumstances, but not others. Top 10 tips
Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about caring for your pet, including training techniques and answers to frequently asked questions.