Jumping, Mounting, and Marking

Jumping

Dogs are social creatures and use jumping as a form of greeting or attention. However, they can injure or scare people, especially if they are large. We invariably reinforce this behavior by petting the dog or otherwise interacting with him/her. Even reprimanding the dog is a form of interaction. It is always best to
turn your back on the pet and ignore him/her until they have stopped. Then you can give praise and attention.

Always make your pet sit or lie down for any treats/food/attention. He/she will eventually learn that attention and food is given when they are calm. It is helpful to have your pet in a halter and leash if you know people are coming over. When your dog jumps on your guests, gently pull down on the halter and
reward your dog when he sits. Have your guests ignore your pet until he is calm, then have them reward him.

Mounting and Marking

These conditions are grouped together because the cause is generally the same. The behavior is usually sexual or dominance related and can be lessened by neutering your pet. However, there is no guarantee that the unwanted behaviors will completely diminish after surgery. It is always best to neuter your pet before
these behaviors start, usually about 6 months of age. Also be aware that testosterone will be present in your pet’s bloodstream for 60 days after neutering, so you may not see an improvement for almost 2 months.

If you feel this is dominance related, start the basic training routine with your pet (sit, stay, come) to reassert your dominance in the household. Make your pet sit when they are mounting/marking and reward them when they do. If your pet is showing dominance to children, make the children the pet’s caregiver: feeding, brushing, etc., and ALWAYS make the pet sit before feeding.

Tags: dogs, jumping, marking, mounting