Why Does My Dog Jump On Me While Walking

It is common for a dog that has not been well-trained and socialized to be feeling nervous or excited when he is out for a walk in a busy street or a dog park. He will jump on you to get you to hug him (if he is feeling nervous) or to express his happiness (if he is feeling excited).

But are those the only explanations? Let’s find out from this post.

He Is Demonstrating His Dominance

When your dog jumps on you while walking, it’s an expression of dominance. He is showing you that he is in charge of the walk, and you should follow him.

A dog will do this if he is a dominant dog or if you have not trained him correctly. To stop your dog from jumping on you, you will have to start him on obedience training and make him look upon you as his pack leader.

Dogs with a dominant personality are more likely to be aggressive and can be very territorial and protective. He will want to show you that he is your Alpha and you should be submissive to him.

He will want to lead the walk and make you follow behind. If you outwalk him or take the lead, he will jump on you, telling you “I’m the boss, and you should walk behind me!”

He wants you to be under his control at all times and follow his directions obediently.

Here are some signs that your dog wants to dominate you :

  • Barking excessively at you.
  • Sitting on the couch or getting on the bed without being invited.
  • Nudging, whining, and mouthing you in an attempt to get your attention. 
  • Protecting his food or toys from you.
  • Blocking your way and refusing to let you pass.
  • Be the first to pass the door.
  • Taking the lead during a stroll.
  • Sitting on your lap and rubbing on you (to spread his scent on you and mark you as his property).

To address this behavior, you should start him on obedience training. It is important that you train him to look upon you as a pack leader so that he will respect you and listen to you.

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There Is Something Exciting Happening

Your dog will jump on you on a walk if he is feeling enthused by what he has seen and is trying to tell you “Hey, did you see what I saw?”

His gesture is a sign that he wants to tell you about the amazing things that he just saw.

Usually, this happens to a dog who is poorly socialized. It is easy for him to overreact to what is happening in his surroundings and jump on you out of excitement or anxiety.

He might be seeking your protection as he is feeling nervous and unsure of how to handle the situation.

There is a good chance that your dog is not used to being around other dogs and strangers on a walk.

He needs to be taught how to react to stimuli such as people, animals and things around him. This is especially so if your dog is still a young puppy (less than 12 months old).

It is common for puppies to become overstimulated since they are not used to being around people. This can lead to them jumping and acting out.

You can start your dog on socialization training once he is 8 weeks old.

It could also be the case that this is the first time that he is going for a walk without a leash, and he is expressing his happiness by jumping on you. 

This is his way of saying “I love running around with freedom while going for a walk”.

He Is Just Being Playful (Inviting You To Play)

Your dog jumps up and bites on you during walks because he sees you as a playmate or someone that he wants to interact with. You are his source of entertainment, or it is a way to make himself more “interesting” to you.

Therefore, the act of jumping on you may be a form of play, and your dog may be doing it to invite you to play with him.

Particularly if your dog has been “trapped” in the house for a long time and when he gets a chance to go for a walk, he will be eager to stretch his legs and muscles and get you to play with him.

You may also notice your dog starts chasing after pets such as cats or dogs on the walk as he is too energetic.

If your dog is an active breed such as Siberian Husky, Golden Retrievers and Border Collies, it is important that you provide an outlet for him to release his pent-up energy before going for a walk.

Playing games such as tug of war and fetch with him are great ways to keep your dog’s energy in check before the walk.

It is recommended that dogs get at least fifteen minutes of exercise twice a day. Of course, this is just a general guideline, and you should monitor your dog’s activity level.

Factors such as your dog’s breed, age and health status play a role in determining how much exercise he needs.

By keeping your dog’s energy in check, he is more likely to behave himself during the walk.

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A Rewarding Experience For Your Dog

If you have been rewarding your dog with your attention whenever he jumps on you, this will make him associate this act with positive experience and develop a strong association between that undesirable behavior and a reward.

That’s going to be the signal that he’s getting from you that jumping on you is fun and acceptable, and it will encourage him to continue doing so.

And as dogs love to please their owners, your dog will want to do what makes you happy. This will result in more “jumping” behavior from him.

Therefore, if you want to avoid any unwanted behavior, stop rewarding any undesirable conduct.

The way to do this is not to reward him with your attention whenever he does this act. Turn your back on him and ignore him when he jumps.

In time, he will learn that this behavior isn’t going to get him anywhere, and he will stop doing that.

It is important to reward your dog when he is walking calmly and quietly, as that will send a signal to him that you like this behavior.

It might take a bit of practice to teach your dog that jumping on you is something you don’t like, but eventually he will understand.

Keep in mind that it is NOT okay to acknowledge your dog’s playfulness (jumping on you), as that will send a wrong signal to him that you love him performing this behavior.

Your Excitement Triggers His Frantic Jumping

It is well known that dogs are able to sense the emotional state of their owners and react accordingly.

That is why if you are feeling excited (maybe this is the first time that you are bringing your dog out for a stroll), your dog could be reacting to your excitement by jumping on you.

This is very common in dogs, and can lead to unwanted behaviors.

This is why when you are walking your dog, you need to keep your energy level steady. Your excitement can stimulate your dog as well. This could result in him jumping up and trying to get a closer look at you. If this happens, just take a deep breath and calm yourself down.

Let your dog feel your calm energy, and he will remain relaxed and at ease on the walk.

Lack of Proper Training in Obedience

Dog owners often take their dogs for walks without any formal training. This is a big mistake. Not only does it cause the dog to misbehave, but it also causes the owner to become frustrated with his dog’s behavior.

An untrained dog will often respond with excitement and anxiety when he is in an environment that is full of mental simulation such as unfamiliar scent, sight, people and pets around him when he is out in the street.

This is even more prominent when there are thunderstorms and other weather phenomena that happen during the walk, and he may jump on you for protection. 

Therefore, you should not expect your dog to behave well naturally when you take him out for a walk without any training.

It is important to teach your dog how to handle new situations and experiences, as well as how to cope with his excitement and fears.

You will certainly need to start him on some basic obedience and socialization training. Focus on some essential commands such as “Sit”, “Down”, “Come”, “Stay”, “Off”, “Drop it”, “Leave it” and “Heel”. 

These commands will come in handy when you need to teach your dog some basic manners and to make him behave in public places.

Obedience training is a very important aspect of dog ownership. It teaches your dog to follow your commands and to behave in a specific manner. It also helps your dog to learn how to respect you and how to behave in public places.

If your dog is having trouble controlling his emotions or acting appropriately, you should also start him on a socializing training program. 

He will need to learn to control his reactions to stimuli and become comfortable around people and other animals. This will help you avoid situations where he becomes anxious and overreacts.