How to Prevent Your Dog from Jumping and Biting on Walks

If your dog is jumping and biting on walks, it might be beneficial to check out a dog training guide to get some tips to train an aggressive dog so that you know how to best handle the situation and what to do to try and prevent it from happening in the future. 

It may be that a dog jumps up at strangers on walks because they are fearful and anxious, or more dominant. A puppy training schedule tells you what to teach your puppy and when as well as how to start training your puppy. This is all useful information for new dog owners who want to get the foundations right. 

Determining Why Your Dog Jumps and Bites on Walks

When a dog is jumping up on walks, biting its lead and misbehaving it can be cute at first but can quickly become exhausting and frustrating. When training your dog to walk out in public or on a lead, you want to be teaching your pup the right things to discourage this undesirable behaviour. 

A dog behaviour training guide will show you how to stop your dog from jumping while walking on the lead. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your pup is doing this.

Being playful

Excitement and having heaps of energy can result in your pup leaping and bounding around on their walk. It’s normal, we get it, walk time is exciting!

Wants you to interact with them

For some dogs, jumping up is a way of saying hello that is impossible to ignore. Social dogs crave interaction, especially if they have been left alone for part of the day. 

Needs your attention

Some dogs are desperate for attention and will do anything to get it. This includes undesirable behaviours. Even a firm but gentle telling-off will do if it means that they have your attention. 

Anxiety

Some dogs that jump up and bite are overstimulated and feel anxious as a result. Going on walks can expose your pup to a variety of triggers and they may feel compelled to jump and bite in defence.

Tired and a bit cranky

Many puppies start to misbehave and jump and bite more frequently because they are overstimulated, tired and cranky. 

Frustration

Some dogs get frustrated by not being able to go where they want to whilst leashed. Other dogs don’t know how to cope with their high emotions and overstimulation as there are too many sights and smells to take in while they’re out and about. 

The consequence is that a dog may redirect their frustration into biting and jumping up during walk time. 

Tips to Avoid Your Dog Jumping and Biting on Walks

When you’re dealing with a puppy biting while walking or a puppy that keeps biting its leash, it’s easy to get frustrated yourself. 

With the following tips to train anxious dogs, you can learn how to stop your dog from pulling on the lead and biting you when going for a walk. 

Provide mental stimulation through puzzle toys

Whether it's a snuffle mat at home or a scavenger hunt with some treats scattered around your yard, you can offer some mental stimulation for your pup so they don’t get bored or frustrated.

This is especially important if you are away for some part of each day and your dog is home alone.  

Offer a tug toy

On walks, the moment you notice the presence of your dog’s jumping or biting trigger, try to redirect it with a tug toy. Playing with a tug toy gives your pup a controlled outlet for their emotions. 

Be sure to get them interested and enjoy the tug-of-war game at home before taking it on walks. 

Redirect their behaviour

Distract your dog by getting their attention and getting them to do a trick before offering a treat. Simply moving their attention away from a trigger can help to subdue the jumping and biting behaviour.

Ignore them if they are seeking attention

If your pup is jumping and nipping to seek attention from you, simply ignore them and keep walking with a neutral face to show them that this is not the right way to get a reaction from you. 

Drain their energy

You can tire out your pooch before taking them on a walk by playing a game first. Releasing some of their pent-up energy with a game of fetch before the walk may reduce the chances of them getting overly excited and jumping and biting on your walk together. 

What You Shouldn't Do When Your Dog Jumps and Bites

Training your pup to walk on a leash without jumping or biting if they are compelled to do so can be difficult. With persistence and patience, you will be able to guide your dog to understand what it should be doing. 

Alongside some tips to stop your dog from biting, here are a few things to remember to not do to reinforce positive behaviour. 

Just like training your dog to come when called, knowing what to do when your dog jumps and bites are one of the most important lessons to learn as a new dog owner. 

Do not scold or yell at your dog

By yelling or scolding your dog, you are more likely to elevate their excitement levels and cause them to become even more aggressive. 

It is more beneficial to make an unusual sound to get their attention, such as a high-pitched whistle, to curb their excitement levels. 

Don't make sudden movements

Yanking on their leash, grabbing at your dog or forcefully pushing them away can trigger a more aggressive reaction in your dog. 

Their jumping and biting may have been out of play or excitement, but if you react negatively, it can quickly become a defensive and aggressive reaction.

Do not punish your dog

Punishment-based techniques do nothing for your relationship and should your furbaby be reacting aggressively due to anxious feelings, you’re only going to make things worse. Punishment is still a form of attention for some dogs as well.

If a dog is fearful of you because you hit them or punish them for its behaviour, they are unlikely to respond how you want them to. Try to redirect them or ignore their behaviour.

Final Thoughts

If your furbaby is jumping and biting on walks, you may feel frustrated and helpless to make them stop. It certainly makes otherwise enjoyable bonding time a stressful experience as you fear for your safety, their safety and the safety of others. 

By trying to determine the reason behind the behaviour before trying some appropriate techniques that we have suggested, you can calmly redirect your pup’s behaviour for the better.