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Is it bad to let your dog jump up?

5K views 9 replies 10 participants last post by  Artdog 
#1 ·
I don't mind that my dog gets excited and jumps all over me, I think it's cute even though she's huge. But my friend made a comment that its letting the dog think he's dominating me...
I disagree as I'm training him and he's doing great. But was wondering what everyone thought. It isn't a problem for me and whoever wants to pet my dog is forewarned he jumps up. Lol.
 
#2 · (Edited)
I don't know about dominance but it isn't cute if you get jumped on by someone else's large bouncy dog with muddy paws - or get your clothes torn in the process.. Plus some people are scared even of little dogs. So personally I don't think warning people is sufficient and he should be taught not to jump up at others. People should be able to say hello without being pounced on. Your friends would have to co-operate in this and not encourage him.
As for you yourself having a play with him, I once had a dog that knew the difference but which also knew it was by invitation only. Some dogs might get confused though.
I'm sure someone with more expertise than me on this will be along to comment. :)
 
#3 ·
I agree with pineapple, I don't think it is a dominance display either. Also agree with pineapple's comments about not jumping on other people. Over time as this continually happens, people will back away from your dog and not want to give your dog any attention and I could see fallout from this repeated behavior if allowed. I agree with the idea that one can fairly easily teach their dog when it is allowed to rough house and jump on them and times when all four pads stay on the ground. IMHO, teaching the dog not to jump on people will make the long run a ton better.
 
#4 ·
Not a dominance display and totally worth training your dog to know when to jump and when not to. It will give him more freedom. For example I have to keep my dog away from elderly relatives because she jumps* and she'd love to go say hi but can't be trusted.

Have you tried to teach him to not jump? What were the results? Depending on why he jumps it can be a tough one.

*it's a work in progress for her.
 
#5 ·
My dogs jump up on cue, either a pat to the chest and an "up" or "paws up" cue, or when we are doing agility work, if I toss the toy they run back, and I turn to the side and they jump up on my hip.

Those are the only times they are allowed to jump, because I also think it is adorable. However, I am fully aware most people will NOT appreciate a dog jumping all over them, so they don't. My dogs are 35 and 60 pounds. :)
 
#6 ·
As someone who has had back surgery, then some years later, another accident that resulted in two more disks being compromised, plus a leg that was injured... I Dread it when I see some dog rush at me like it's going to slam into me or jump on me - and it has happened and it Hurts! Even if I brace myself, or turn to deflect a full frontal jump, it hurts.

When I was younger and prior to my back issues, I use to have dogs that I taught to jump up so I could hold them, but they were never allowed to jump up on me or my friends /guests. I think it should just be basic doggy manners for every dog to learn.

And as other mentioned, even if someone isn't prone to back pain, or getting toppled over due to weak legs or whatever by a dog jumping on them, there's the risk of ripped, snagged clothes, dirt or mud getting on clothes, arms or chest getting scratched by claws, and even some people that are fearful of dogs and having one jump on them, it could be traumatic for them.

I hope you can work on teaching your dog to jump when you want her too, and not allow her to do such a thing to others unless they want it to happen also. Someday, your dog could end up jumping on a stranger and hurting them or causing damage, and that person could say they were 'attacked' which could get you into legal trouble as well, even to the point that animal control takes your dog away.

Stormy
 
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#8 ·
If you want your dog to jump up to greet you that's fine, it's not a dominance display, it's just an excited dog saying hi in a way he's learned is allowed.

There's a catch though, if you allow him to jump on you whenever he wants do not fuss at him when you are wearing nice clothes, when you feel sick, when you have your hands full of something, and he decides that's a good time to jump. I speak from experience, I allow my 10lb dog to jump up at my legs, in the winter when I'm wearing pants it's not such a big deal, in the summer when I'm wearing shorts his claws hurt when they rake down my legs, and I cannot fuss at him because I spent the winter allowing him to behave that way.

You'd do best to teach him to either jump beside you, and not on you, or to jump on you when you ask but otherwise keep 4 paws on the ground. 2 of my past dogs were trained that way. They'd both bounce all around me but knew that if they jumped on me they'd be getting no attention. The larger of the 2, she was tall and 44 lbs, would put her paws on my chest if I patted my chest, the other one was very short and only 24 lbs so he just bounced around me.

I never let any of my dog's jump on people, unless the person is very well known to both me and my dog, and I know the person likes the behavior. There are other, cuter, behaviors you can teach your dog as a greeting. One of my favorite is shake, having the dog sit and offer it's paw.
 
#9 ·
its not about dominance at all so thats phooey

but i personally dont want your dog jumping all over me, and it can be a hazard to others if your dog is off leash around others. if your dog takes out someone with mobility issues, someone who is elderly, a small child, etc - that can be pretty bad and could end up getting someone injured.

if you really like your dog jumping on you i would recommend training a cue to jump up and not allowing it on others / the rest of the time.
 
#10 ·
Most dogs jump up because they want something, often it's the only way to get a rub or attention, it's a solicitation for affection, which makes it the opposite of dominance.
If you can give your dog affection before the jump, the jumping may stop.
To simplify, scritch, rub, scratch, whatever your dog loves when they still have four on the floor.
I too put 'jumping up on cue' because I think it's cute, but it MUST NOT HAPPEN to other people, strangers, even friends and family may not be nice to your dog when they get jumped on, it's not safe, and it's incredibly rude to not care.
Your dog will suffer if he 'jumps up' on the wrong person, one way or another, yelled at, kicked, confused or accused of aggression or even injury if he knocks someone down, so please protect your dog by not allowing him to do that except when invited. A leash is a useful tool.
 
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