A dog’s jumping behavior can be a real nuisance. Jumping on people will annoy them, knock them down, ruin clothes, or frighten—even hurt—a child. Also, jumping your fence puts your dog in a position to be harmed or harm others.
So how do you stop a dog from jumping the fence or jumping on people? First, you need to understand why the dog is jumping, then address the cause by training them and instilling acceptable alternative behavior.
Why is My Dog Jumping on People?
Greeting People
It’s natural for dogs to jump on people because that’s how they greet and play with other dogs. And they’re excited to see you! Dogs often sniff each other’s faces when greeting, so since humans are taller, they have to jump to reach yours.
Getting Your Attention
Your dog wants your attention, one of their most-coveted rewards. They will repeat whatever gets a response from you, even if it’s a horrifying squawk and a loud “NO!” when they jump on your grandmother. They may see that action as a fun game if you grab them and push them away.
Responding to Your Encouragement
If your dog jumped on people as a puppy, and you thought it was funny or cute and gave lots of attention, you encouraged the behavior. But when they’re fully grown, it’s definitely no longer appealing.
Expressing Dominance
For some dogs, jumping on people is a means of gaining dominance over someone who has invaded their territory. The dog may be experiencing stress or anxiety, and jumping on people is an attempt to get some control over the scenario.
Why is My Dog Jumping the Fence?
For some dogs, a fence is nothing but a hurdle. They have needs beyond that fence, and they are going to get to them!
Chasing or Greeting a Dog or Person
There is another dog just beyond the fence. Maybe there are a few people out there. Your dog wants to meet them, play with them, or let them know they are encroaching on their territory. They may be looking for a fight.
Boredom or Separation Anxiety
If you frequently leave your dog alone for hours at a time, they can get bored, lonely, or anxious. These pack-oriented animals are not good at being alone for long stretches of time. A bored dog will seek interests outside of your property. An anxious dog will try to find you or escape the fears associated with being alone in the yard.
Pursuing a Mate
Your dog may feel the mating instinct’s pull, especially if they are not spayed or neutered. Males will wander far and wide in search of a mate and get into fights with other dogs along the way. Likewise, females will attract those males, who will try their best to get beyond that fence to reach them.
Protecting the Territory
If there is a lot of activity near your fence—neighbors playing, other dogs, delivery people—your dog may feel the need to protect their territory. They want to determine whether there are threats nearby. The dog can become dangerous if they decide there’s a threat to eliminate.
Hunting Prey
Some dogs have a high prey drive and are alert for something to chase. Smaller animals such as squirrels, cats, and birds must be chased, and the fence will not stop the pursuit.
Solutions for Dog Jumping
Meeting Your Dog’s Needs
Dogs jump on people and over fences to get something they don’t already have, such as your attention, a mate, or relief from anxiety. Start by taking inventory—are you taking care of everything they need, such as exercise, mental stimulation, spaying/neutering, and socializing? Can you spend more time with them? Consider a dog sitter/walker or daycare.
Ignoring the Jumping
If your dog is expecting your attention when they jump on you, ignoring them makes the act useless. You can simply turn or walk away from them when they jump. Give your attention only when they stop jumping and can stand or sit calmly.
Using the Leash
Keep your dog on a leash and interrupt them when they start to jump to teach them that jumping on people is unacceptable. You can reward your dog when they stop trying.
Teaching Commands
Make sure your dog knows the “Sit” and “Stay” commands, and call them when they start to jump on someone. Reward them when they obey. You may need to repeat this often.
Also, teach the “All Four on the Floor” command. By putting treats on the floor when someone enters, they gradually learn to keep all paws on the ground while greeting people.
Desensitization and Counterconditioning
These methods are helpful for some problematic behaviors. Desensitization gradually reduces the sensitivity to a trigger, while counterconditioning changes a negative response to the trigger to something more acceptable, desirable behavior. This way, a stressor or problematic situation is linked to something rewarding instead.
Strengthening Your Fence
Make your fence harder to jump. For example, add PVC pipes to the top of the fence to make it slippery for paws, or put an additional barrier a few feet in front of the fence so they can’t get close enough to jump.
Remote Collar Training
A remote collar, or shock collar, delivers an unpleasant sensation when the dog does something unacceptable. Professional trainers have used them with much success, but we don’t recommend beginners use them. Mistakes can traumatize or hurt the dog, and it can damage the trusting relationship.
A Parting Reminder
Whether your dog is jumping on people or over fences, you need to take charge and teach the dog that this is unacceptable. Once you’re sure you’re meeting the dog’s needs, you can use one or more of several methods to modify the behavior.
Whichever method you choose, it’s important to reward good behavior and be consistent. Make sure everyone in the household, as well as guests, knows not to reward what you don’t want. If you need help, you can contact us at K9 Basics. We will get to the core of the problem and teach you how to keep all four of your dog’s paws on the ground. In the meantime, make sure to check out our blog for more information on dog training!