Leaping at passers by

[justgivein]

My four month old is finally walking well to heel and generally well behaved with people and dogs on walks.I get out every day and we pass many people,some get down giving him a head cuddle which he has no trouble with but he's only lately less nervous with other dogs and has gone nose to nose with them.However three or four times he's suddenly jumped at people seeming to aim at their heads ,luckily I've caught him mid air but it is such a shock that I tell him No quite firmly but I don't think I'm doing the right thing.I've taken to holding him tight because I never know how he will react to passers by now which I'm sure will not help with socialisation.

Any help would be great thanks.

Puppy training classes is a last resort I really want to train him myself which I'm really enjoying,because my wife likes me occupied too and its certainly a full time job.Really thanks for all the advice it has really helped with loads of ideas to be going on with.

It’s becoming an acknowledged thing that dogs wearing yellow are nervous and shouldn’t be approached. Getting him a yellow lead with nervous written down it might help stop people approaching him. Then you will have half the problems!

OP what breed is he?

I highly recommend a properly APDT accredited trainer. The best money I have ever spent. I have done about 8 x 1 to 1's and a series of 6 weeks puppy class. So good. You won't know half the cues you are training and you will progress better with someone guiding you.

An adult dog may be ok left for that long.
A puppy should never be.
Training classes should not be a last ditch effort to train. It should be a positive thing for you and your dog. Giving you the skills to deal with things like these issues.

Ok he's not totally alone I have a teenager upstairs but he only emerges every couple of hours to go to the toilet because he's not working.

Another thing which is helpful is that 'No' is a pointless thing to say! Dogs have no idea what it means, or why you are saying that word. Much better to ask them to do something (down, sit etc) than to just say 'no' when the unwanted behaviour has already happened - this way you are communicating positively with an instruction rather than a simple reprimand.

He sounds like he's settled in with you very well, this is a great time to be instilling the behaviours you do want (with yourself AND your dog!) so yes if he's going to be a big lad, you won't be creating issues for yourself in a year's time!

He's a Daly.I walk him before and after I leave him which wears him out .I make no fuss leaving and when I get back which I learnt on here.He sleeps alot and I have checked after I've left him and he is always asleep in the hall.He has plenty of toys and he's only eaten a bag of treats , a remote and chewed a few shoes which are all up high now.I would probably think twice about leaving him so long if he was totally alone but he sleeps with my other dog on the couch aswell when we're here.

Yes I've learnt this too from here and praise him when he's good and rarely say No.It was the shock of it really because he has been so close when he's leapt at people.

I have a dog that is in training for this very thing. I have a personal trainer. I went to dog training with my old dog and it was largely hopeless: a village hall full of dogs is the last place any normal dog is going to concentrate (yeah, yeah, we all know those who have the most perfectly-behaved dogs who never even glance at anyone except their owner… meanwhile back in the real world….)

Anyway, I too suffered from Cute Puppy out and about syndrome. About 80% of people hurled themselves at him, even crossing the road to come and see him. Of course he learnt that everyone is his friend and wants a cuddle. No they don’t! And as for the 20% who think all dogs are rabid beasts…. I think most dogs do get there and learn to walk past people calmly, but puppies are exuberant and it’s a long slog training them to be more aloof.

As for the sofa, it is tempting! My dog likes to get on my lap, snuggle up and put his paws round my neck. He is also big and hairy and going to get bigger and hairier, so I am trying to resist his charms and order him back onto the floor.

He's off for a long walk now ,thanks all he'll be alright with me and his new training is starting today🙂

He likes to stick his nose in my face which I fend off and to lick my ear.I thought he's a puppy ,that this is ok it's a bit of fun .But he also clambers all over my wife when she first sits down

You've taught him that's an acceptable game to play with friends. Then when passing strangers act friendly towards him, he plays the game you taught him. He jumps up at their face.

You've created a bad habit and now you have to break it, starting at home. Do not let him jump up at your face or wife's face, ever.

Out in public, use a fixed lead (not extending) attached to his neck collar (not a body harness) because that gives you maximum control of his range and movements to prevent him jumping up at people.

Puppy classes are for socialisation (with other dogs) not obedience training.

Try telling that to the Kennel Club….

Nope. There are lots of basic obedience, polite puppy classes that build basic obedience skills. I've just finished one where the basics are done. You can build on these with your own training or one to one.

Depends on the class.

Personally I think the ones for "socialisation" are an awful idea as getting a bunch of untrained puppies in a room together is not the best way to socialise a dog!

Very good if managed properly. Impulse control and polite meet and greet. Socialisation is really the learning of the owner at this point as they control the contact.