Jumping up.

[AvonleaAnne]

My 5 month old puppy is normally very good but today on our walk she jumped up on a man. I feel terrible about it. I apologised and put her straight on to her lead. But he was very angry and abusive - understandably. It is the first time that this has happened as I normally call her back when I spot people coming to make sure she is focussed on me and under control.

It is completely my fault because we had just reached the little field we play in and I thought there was nobody there so I let her off the lead but this man was hidden in the trees and I didn't see him until it was too late.

How should I make sure this doesn't happen again? She doesn't normally bother about strange people unless they are dog owners so it really took me by surprise. I just keep thinking that it could have been a child standing behind the tress who would have been very scared by a dog suddenly arriving and jumping up on them. She is a springer/cocker cross and is a very lovely dog (normally).

Thank you in advance for your help.

Honestly I think the man overreacted. Sure not everyone likes dogs and no one wants to get muddy paw prints all over them but it was an accident, you didn't see him. What good is yelling going to do?!

Are you still going to training classes? My dog is 2 years old and is still very energetic (!) he has approached people a couple of times so I always call him back now so he doesn't annoy anyone. Impossible to predict when there will be a man hiding behind a tree though!

She has done puppy classes and starts her bronze obedience in two weeks. She is normally very good. I think I was shaken up by the man's reaction. Especially as we were by ourselves in the middle of nowhere.

I think I will stick to more open areas where I can see what's around until I can be certain she won't jump up.

She is very gentle but I can see how a dog jumping up at you suddenly out of the trees would scare even an adult.

I agree, this does sound like an overreaction. Just put it down to experience and carry on with training. Puppies get excited, and if they love people jumping up happens. Im trying to break my dog of the habit. He only started to jump up when he was about 8 months - never me, just other people. I am getting him to sit every time someone is about to stroke him. No sit, no stroke. If he jumps up at any of your friends, pre brief them to act like a post, just stand stiff with arms folded and turn away. Trouble is of course, you can't brief strangers standing behind trees!

i agree, sounds like he got out of bed the wrong side.
I'm continually training our 6 month old to not jump up and most days at some point during a walk, i will tie him up, walk a few steps back, approach him and as long as he doesn't jump up, give him a treat or some fuss and strokes. If he jumps, I fold my arms and turn my back.
I also go to a busy dog walking area and ask other people if they would mind helping. Always the same. They approach and if he stays four feet to the ground then he gets a treat or a stoke and bit of fuss. I do it at the golf club too - most of the members love helping us.
His jumping up is down from 85% to about 2%.
Good luck with your training.

To be fair to the man, there could be all sorts of reasons behind his reaction.

Could be terrified of dogs for all we know, people often do act aggressively out of fear.

He could have an injury or disease and the dog jumping could have caused him pain.

Could have been on his way to a job interview and didn't want hair and muck over his suit.

At the end of the day, he shouldn't have to tolerate a dog jumping on him really.
Unless your a doggy person, your reaction probably would be shout I imagine so I don't think he overreacted personally.

Perhaps get s recall line until she reliably ignores people maybe?