Dog jumping on strangers in public
Nobody wants a jumping dog running up to strangers during a stroll through the park – however many dogs think that especially that is a great place and time to greet everyone with enthusiasm.
When a dog jumps up on people in public, we have a bigger problem going on in addition to the overexcitement: A dog that thinks that it is more fun to engage with strangers than with their owner.
It is important to realize just how much dogs like to do fun, novel and exciting things.
They are “experience junkies” – dogs will always look for the new “high” in form of having a good time.
If a walk consists of the dog going where he wants and the owner merely hanging onto the leash and tagging along for the ride, the whole dynamic of the walk needs to be changed.
A walk should be the time when you are part of providing your dog with those new and fun experiences he craves – and not the time when you tell him “Leave it” as he tries to find these experiences himself.
That means: