Jumping on a leg / Dog training
00:00 - Footage of Sam. The dog is trying to mount.
00:39 - Viewer Question. Introduction - What will happen in the video.
02:01 - Viewer Video.
02:16 - Why won't my dog listen? The difference between human and canine thinking.
04:42 - Problem Solving. The nuances of the accompanying gesture for the "No" command.
07:50 - The "No" command. Examples with Sam.
08:57 - Problem Solving - Continued. How to explain to a dog NOT to jump on your leg.
10:56 - The dog understood and listened. What to do next?
12:13 - Is it possible to fight a dog's urge to mount?
12:43 - Example with Sam. Behavior/mounting management.
13:00 - Neutering and Spaying. 3 Reasons Why Dogs Jump on People's Legs or Other Legs.
15:26 - Sam Wants to Show Off to the Audience :)) I Pick Sam Up
The Dog Jumps on a Guest's Leg. What Should I Do?
Let's start with what NOT to do. Don't run up to the dog yelling and screaming, actively pulling it away from the guest's leg, and demonstratively scolding your pet for inappropriate behavior. In other words, when such an awkward situation occurs, don't make a scene out of it. Why? For roughly the same reason why parents are advised against reacting emotionally to a young child suddenly saying an inappropriate word, even if they don't understand its meaning. A violent reaction, whether laughter or anger/yelling, always sends a signal that what just happened is attracting a lot of attention, which creates fertile ground for a similar situation to be repeated in the future in order to attract further attention.
Similarly, a dog jumping on a guest's leg doesn't understand that such inappropriate behavior is putting you in an awkward situation. A dog isn't aware of its instincts; it simply follows them. But if these actions, thanks to a strong human reaction, make it the center of everyone's attention, then the dog will begin to recognize these actions and, just like a small child, may repeat them again and again, wanting to attract attention again.
Does this mean that unwanted behavior should be ignored? No. In such a situation, you simply need to remain calm and composed, sternly tell the dog "no" and immediately redirect its attention to another action or object, as I explained in the video. If the guest is willing, they can throw the dog a ball, or you can say "Place" and give the dog a chew bone to redirect it to. In this case, each owner, knowing their pet well, can determine for themselves what is most effective in helping the dog forget about the guest's legs.
But sometimes a dog becomes so overexcited that treats and toys lose their appeal, and the obsession with the guest's legs persists. Some owners in this situation give their dog a time-out and lock them in another room. However, isolation and time-out are extreme measures. Teaching self-control will be far more beneficial. To do this, attach your dog to a short leash, which will help you control its behavior and better prevent unwanted impulses toward the guest. Then, give the dog the "down" command. If it still tries to fight and ignores the "down" command without letting go of the leash, stand between the dog and the guest, sternly and in a low voice say "no," paying attention to all the nuances I explained in the video (pause and accompanying hand signal), and then tell it to "down" again. The goal of this training session is to calm the dog and reduce its emotional stress. After your dog has calmed down for a while, you can remove the leash. This way, you'll not only be showing your leadership (= being a strict but loving parent), but you'll also be helping your dog learn to control its urges and behave more respectfully in front of guests. :)