Jumping!

[DominoRules]

I have a nearly 2 year old Springer, he’s pretty typical for the breed - loving, loyal, intelligent and full of energy. He’s never had much interest at all in other people or dogs on walks.

He is mostly off lead, has great recall, we have plenty of walks near us in good open spaces etc

One issue I cannot sort is jumping at me when other dogs approach. If they come over calmly for a sniff he’s totally fine and either has a brief sniff back or ignores them and carries on sniffing/pottering.

However if they come bounding over, try to engage in boisterous play, are a lot bigger he gets quite anxious and just leaps at me. I’ve tried calling him over and asking for a middle if I see one approach but when another dog is jumping all over him he gets so overwhelmed so fast he will do anything to get away and runs in circles intermittently leaping at me! I did think of putting him on the lead but I don’t know if that would make him more stressed as he’d be unable to get away??

I do always ask owners to call their dog off but often get the ‘he wants to play’ ‘he’s friendly’ and I can see why they might think mine would be the same as he’s off lead and energetic so looks more playful?? I avoid where I can but it does happen at least weekly……

Thankfully he doesn’t ever jump at anyone else but he can leap pretty high and with winter coming I’d like to be able to end up not covered in muddy paw prints at the end of a walk!

Any suggestions of what I could try to keep him calmer/more reassured in this instances?

Generally speaking, dogs being off lead is a signal that they're friendly and okay to be approached by others. If you don't want other dogs approaching, the best thing would be to pop him on a lead the minute you spot another dog, and if possible, walk off in the other direction.

I have a dog who is anxious around other dogs and I always put him on the lead if we see another dog anywhere in the vicinity. People are (generally) quite good at "respecting the lead" and will call their dogs away or ask if he's okay to be approached.

I’m fine for them to approach and a sniff is no problem, it’s the ones who barrel into him or chase when he gets stressed. 95% of interactions are fine and calm it’s just the few.

I will try the lead though, I guess my worry was him either feeling trapped if they do approach or becoming more anxious if he has no positive calm interactions at all

Our springer/collie would jump into my arms if he wasn't sure about another dog. Especially those who hurtled over at a rate of knots. Having him on the lead did help with other owners realising that boisterous dogs weren't too welcome.

But he's not having calm, positive interactions now - every time he gets scared, it's increasing his anxiety around other dogs.