Factors affecting dog jumping on people

Abstract

Jumping on people is one of the most frequent problems in dogs. However, little is known about the factors influencing this behavior. The aim of the study was to assess whether in some period of their life the dogs jumped on people in five different contexts (on their household members entering their house, strangers entering the house where the dogs permanently lived, household members during walks, strangers during walks, and household members in veterinary settings before a medical examination); to estimate dog-related factors in each of these contexts, and to identify behaviors associated with the dog jumping on its owner entering the house. Dogs jumped more on their household members entering the house and during walks than on strangers. Dogs jumped on the household members and strangers entering the house more often than on walks. Dogs did not jump on their household members in veterinary settings before a medical examination. Larger dogs jumped on their household members entering the house less often than smaller dogs. Guard dogs jumped on strangers entering the house less commonly than other dogs. Female dogs jumped more on the household members and strangers during walks than males. Dogs that were walked at least twice a day were more likely to jump on their household members during walks than dogs that were walked less often. A quickly wagging tail and hindquarters, holding ears back close to the head and approaching in a low posture were the most frequent behaviors associated with the dog jumping on its owner. Dogs were more likely to lick their owner’s face when the owners crouched than when they stood upright immediately after entering their house. In conclusion, familiarity, location, human body position, dog’s sex and size, use of the dog and frequency of walks can affect dog jumping on people.