How do I get my neighbors' dog to stop jumping on me?

June 6, 2008 2:37 PM

How do I get my neighbors' dog to stop jumping on me?

My neighbors have lived next door for 16 years. After losing 4 dogs and 2 cats to being hit by cars, they still haven't learned and refuse to leash their current dog, a 1-year-old very energetic black lab mix. (Their last dog had invisible fencing, but allegedly ran through it - I think the dog wasn't wearing the collar. They had a habit of leaving it off.) They have taken this dog to obedience classes and it hasn't helped. I have personally witnessed this dog run out in front of, and underneath, the school bus that brings the kids home, although otherwise she seems to avoid the road.

Any time I walk out my door, if the dog is outside, she runs straight for me at lightning speed. She jumps on me and leaves me with numerous scratches and bruises. (More than once her jumps have taken me unaware and shoved me into the corner of a table.) I am tired of being injured and having to walk her home if they aren't watching her. If they do see her, they call her, but she doesn't return to them until she's calmed down.

Sitting down and talking to them hasn't worked. They just. don't. get. it. Other neighbors have threatened to shoot the dog if she comes on their property again - this hasn't deterred my neighbors, just made them think the other neighbors are jerks. (And really, I would never do that - I'm just saying this is a problem for everyone around here and these neighbors are just not getting the point.) They don't show any interest in using their still-existing invisible fencing. The only improvement they have made with this dog is she actually has a collar with her address and phone number on it. I am nervous about calling animal control, because others in the neighborhood have had their anonymity breached in the past.

I do visit these neighbors in their home, and when she jumps on me there, the father of the family smacks her on the rump, hard. I don't approve of hitting a dog, and he doesn't do it in time so that she makes the connection. I know how to put my knee up in the air to block her when she jumps, but it's shorts season and my legs are getting scratched up. How can I make her stop jumping on me? Bonus question: How do I make her stop licking me?

posted by IndigoRain to pets & animals (41 comments total)

Pepper spray or something else that the dog won't like but won't hurt it either. Tell your neighbors what you're going to so they don't freak out. They'll probably freak out anyway, but at least they'll know. And if they really like the dog they'll do something to make it stop.

Other than that, I'd say just call animal control again. If you really don't want the to find out you could use a pay phone and use a fake name (if you can do that, I have no idea because I've never needed to). The police might be another option. If the dog caused you physical harm and you needed medical attention the owners would be held liable.
posted by theichibun at 2:52 PM on June 6, 2008

Water pistol.
posted by pieoverdone at 2:52 PM on June 6, 2008

Yeah - standard bicycle water bottle, full up. Give 'em a squirt on the nose. Combined with a forceful "NO". Gentle but pretty clear to the dog.
posted by GuyZero at 2:54 PM on June 6, 2008

Just off the top of my head... why not carry some treats around and teach the dog a few simple commands when it approaches you (off & sit).

Start by giving the dog a treat the next few times you see it. It will then learn that you carry treats and will want one each time she sees you. After this, when he runs at you, tell her "off." It is going to take a while, 5 - 10 encounters (maybe more) before she realizes what "off" means, but every time she stops jumping on you, give her a treat and praise her.

Once this starts working, teach her to sit using the same method. If all goes well, pretty soon the dog will be running over to you and sitting every time she sees you.

This really isn't your responsibility, and it isn't going to be easy, as the owners are not going to reinforce it, but over time you can achieve what you seek, which is keeping the damn dog off of you.

If you don't care to take the time to try to train him, remember that the life expectancy of their animals are 2.6 years on average, so you only have to suffer for another year and a half or so.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 2:55 PM on June 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

God. I hate people.

Well, if you are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty, you could teach the dog to sit. Perhaps it already knows how? Then just keep a bowl of treats by your front door and when you see the dog coming, give it the hand signal for sit, say "sit," and give it a treat. Honestly, this shouldn't be that hard to do, and would only take you a few days at most, I bet. My dog wants to jump, too, and what works best is to give her something else to do, like "sit."

Maybe, if you're lucky, those f***ing idiot neighbors of yours will see how easy it is to teach a dog not to jump and adopt your methods for their own.
posted by HotToddy at 2:59 PM on June 6, 2008

Lift your knee and get the dog right in the chest as it jumps on you. Use enough force to offend, not break ribs.
posted by idiotfactory at 2:59 PM on June 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Too slow and forgot to preview! Basically what B(oYo) said, although I think you could skip off and go straight to sit. But either one would work.
posted by HotToddy at 3:00 PM on June 6, 2008

It's not legal in most cities to just let dogs run around loose.

I own three dogs, and I break the law with them all the time -- off leash in the park, etc. -- but it's really shitty and imposing to let your dog run unattended in the neighborhood. And especially to let it interact with anyone who hasn't implicitly invited the dog to do so. I hate it when I'm walking the dogs through the 'hood and unleashed dogs appear to start fights.

I'd call animal control over and over again until the big white van hauls it away.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 3:03 PM on June 6, 2008

You need to call animal control on them. The dog either needs to be in the house, or a secured yard. It is going to end up dead or sent to a rescue for issues that are the owner's fault/negligence. An electric fence is not something you can just drop in the ground and slap on a collar and it's all good. You have to train a dog with flags on the boundaries before ever turning it on. Since they can't be arsed with even the basics of obedience, they aren't likely to properly use an electric fence. I say this as someone with three dogs, and a fourth foster that was dumped on the rescue for the owner's improper use of the electric fence.
posted by pieoverdone at 3:22 PM on June 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

When a friendly dog jumps on me, I grab its front paws and just hold them; dogs don't like it, but it does them no harm. Some dogs will jump on me the next time they see me, but none goes for a third jump. Of course, it works only if both your hands are free.
posted by wryly at 3:23 PM on June 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

If the dog is usually loose, you should just take the dog straight to the animal shelter. There it has a chance of finding a loving, responsible owner, and you'll prevent any future problems with the dog being hit by a car, shot, terrifying other dogs out on a leash, or roaming and forming up packs. I've found animal control in most cities to be rather worthless as they invest minimal effort and never solve the problem, and negligent owners never, ever seem to get their shit together and properly care for the dog.
posted by tinkertown at 3:28 PM on June 6, 2008

Does anyone have experience with using an ultrasonic dog whistle? I simply can't imagine that the OP wants to take on training the dog to sit, or toting a water gun everywhere, but maybe a whistle can be carried on a keychain -- and used if it tends to annoy a dog.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 3:30 PM on June 6, 2008

2nding m.c & pie.

I LOVE dogs, but you should call the police or animal control. they are acting irresponsibly in a way that endangers the dog and their neighbors. you should NOT attempt to train or punish their dog.
posted by gnutron at 3:31 PM on June 6, 2008

Lifting a knee works, if you won't call animal control, good fences make good neighbors.
posted by Max Power at 3:48 PM on June 6, 2008

Lifting a knee works

That's a dog's strategy, anyway.

Seriously, I have not found that to be as effective as others have, and it does tend to expose the leg surface to the dog's claws. I have had better success with a slap to the snout.

I am curious about whistles, though!
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 4:04 PM on June 6, 2008

Don't just lift your knee -- nail the dog with your knee right in its ribs or on its nose. Do it good and hard (dogs are tough) -- if the dog doesn't yelp and jump away, you didn't hit it hard enough. A good solid smack with a rolled up newspaper can work, too. A good sharp "OFF!" at the same time helps, too. Don't be gentle -- a light knee or newspaper hit will seem like playtime; you want to teach a very sharp lesson, hopefully only once but it might take twice before the dog sees the pattern. I don't know if you are big and macho or small and retiring, but if you aren't used to using physical force, you will probably need to smack that little fucker a lot harder than you think. You are trying for the middle ground of "I had to defend myself," between the extremes of an ineffective pat and overly harsh abuse.

These aren't good ways to train your dog over the long term, but this isn't your dog and all you want to do is train it to not jump on you. It's ok if the result is that the dog is a little bit afraid of you, or is reluctant to come say hi in the future -- you have other doggy friends, you want this dog to stop being intrusive.

Calling the dog catcher is a pretty extreme option, to be taken after you have done reasonable things like swatting the dog and spraying it with the hose (if you are outside with the hose anyway) and talking to its owners. Be careful with pepper spray -- if the wind is blowing the wrong way you could get yourself, too, and the neighbors may end up with it on their hands (and then in their eyes) when they handle the dog later; we may feel that they may deserve the burning, but they won't see it that way. (I'm assuming that a fence is not a possibility -- but if it is, then that's your solution.)
posted by Forktine at 4:23 PM on June 6, 2008

What a terrible situation for both you and the dog. I agree that it shouldnt be your responsibility to deal with this issue, but I guess you deal with the neighbors you're dealt. It sounds like you have some possible suggestions above, but I wanted to post and say how angry it makes me that these people have negligently let so many animals die under their care. I know you like these people, but if you feel the same way, I would reconsider calling animal control. I know you don't want them to find out it was you, but I would weigh that possibility against the idea that the pooch will (and it does sound as though it's inevitable) die a pretty painful death. If enough people are complaining, they may actually do something about it. I'm sure there are people doing far worse things to animals out there, but how much trouble is it really to take the very simplest security measures to ensure your dog's safety?
posted by theantikitty at 4:28 PM on June 6, 2008

Seriously, if you've talked with them about this and they still haven't done anything, you have nothing to feel guilty about when you CALL ANIMAL CONTROL.
posted by chiababe at 4:29 PM on June 6, 2008

Get a lawyer and threaten to sue next time their dog gets close to you. How they get away with that kind of behavior is beyond. Stop being a wimp...

Of course, if it was me, I would have kicked the dog so hard by now that it would whimper just seeing my picture....
posted by bluefrog at 4:46 PM on June 6, 2008

idiotfactory and forktine almost have it. What you do is a hard knee to the chest (forceful enough to be effective, which is pretty forceful, but not enough to break ribs), with a sharp "OFF" said simultaneously.
posted by crazycanuck at 4:46 PM on June 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Animal control will most definitely be my last resort... these neighbors are good people, just irresponsible pet owners. I think I will try out the water spray first, and if that doesn't work, the newspaper or magazine. I'm not sure about the treat angle - I don't want to give her more reason to seek me out.

I do knee her in the chest... I don't do it hard though, I will have to try that. It's sometimes hard to keep my balance if I'm carrying things and she comes running over.

She knows how to sit - she just doesn't do it unless she's already relatively calm.

I'm also curious about dog whistles - does anyone have any experience using them this way?
posted by IndigoRain at 4:50 PM on June 6, 2008

Put a little ammonia in that water pistol (that is what cyclists do.)

Other than that, can you gather a group of neighbors to go talk to them together? A little intervention, perhaps? You should mention that altho YOU wouldn't sue, there are no guarantees a guest of yours or another neighbor wouldn't.

These are not nice neighbors. Nice neighbors would not let this go on.
posted by konolia at 5:43 PM on June 6, 2008

This dog is gonna bite a kid in the face someday when it's out roaming the hood, or knock over an old lady and break her hip, or run in front of a car that then swerves and kills someone, or.....worse.

Tell me again why you won't call animal control?

Also think about how you'll feel if something like the above DOES happen and you did nothing to stop it.
posted by tristeza at 7:05 PM on June 6, 2008

Animal control will most definitely be my last resort... these neighbors are good people, just irresponsible pet owners.

with respect to your obvious compassion....the description of these pet owners makes them more than just irresponsible. they are criminally negligent.

i agree with those who have suggested that you take the dog, yourself, to the animal shelter. clearly, talking with your neighbors has not helped. check your city's ordinances -- the vast majority of municipal areas restrict off-leash dogs to the owner's property. so, that's one fine. many municipalities also have fines for "nuisance animals" -- which about perfectly describes what's happening in your situation. so, likely there's another fine as well.

if talking with your neighbors, and appealing for the dog's safety -- if not the sanity of their neighbors -- has gotten you nowhere, and if 6 animals have already lost their lives to these peoples' laziness and/or ignorance, you owe it to *that dog* to take her to the shelter. the owners will spend quite a bit of money to "spring her" from the shelter -- hopefully having learned a lesson in the process. even if they DON'T learn a lesson, they will officially have a record with animal control. that gives you more leverage if the problem continues.

if they decide not to "spring her," then that sweet dog has a chance at being adopted by a loving family who might treat her with the respect she deserves.

if all else fails, and the dog is euthanized at the shelter, know this: it is a thousand times preferable to die painlessly in the arms of someone who cares about you, than to die on the side of the road, ignored, after having just been smashed by a car.

p.s. i worked in an animal shelter for 9 years.
posted by CitizenD at 7:15 PM on June 6, 2008 [3 favorites]

Please call animal control!

If you're worried about them putting the dog to sleep, don't be. Calling the animal shelter does not mean the dog will be put to sleep; the policy of most is usually to keep them as long as possible before exercising that option. And they usually give the owners plenty of notice to come pick the dog up. Thus calling the animal shelter will a) probably do no harm to the dog, b) give the owners a wake-up call loud and clear, and c) put the owners on a DO-NOT-LET-ADOPT list with the local shelter, which is where they needed to be long ago.

If you're truly set against callling animal control (will you tell us why?) then try circulating a petition and getting all the neighbors to sign a "This Is Not Cool" letter. That, at least, these neighbors shouldn't be able to just brush off. Sounds like something needs to be done to hit these people upside the duh-filter, hard.
posted by GardenGal at 7:42 PM on June 6, 2008

Knee up on the jump, then an alpha male shout down - BAD DOG!!! with a glare that makes it look like you will bite him or something if he repeats that nonsense. Then turn your back on him. He's out, nothing, insignificant. If you goes for your back, double or triple that response. It seems mean, but it seems to work too. Be warm and friendly other times, but maintain your alpha male superiority over this beast.

You also really need to let the neighbor know that this is not acceptable, and that letting the dog out unleashed is also not acceptable.

If all this fails, get a spray bottle of ammonia and water, fairly dilute, and it goes right to the eyes on the jump. Ask any paper boy.
posted by caddis at 7:58 PM on June 6, 2008

Before getting the poor animal arrested, try this...

When the dog jumps up, turn your back on it. You might add some sort of unhappy sound: "Nuh uh" or something. He jumps up to get attention and he's not going to get it from your back. He gets your attention when he's being good. Otherwise, turn your back and ignore him. A lot of dogs hate being ignored and this technique worked to train mine. It's also safe to do with dogs that aren't yours. There's nothing involved that looks like abuse.

In fact, this is generally how we've disciplined all our dogs for most of their inappropriate dog behaviors: turn our backs and ignore them. Sometimes it's hard to do since the one in particular follows us around trying terribly hard to make eye contact.
posted by booth at 8:01 PM on June 6, 2008

"you" really equals "he" but on further reading should equal "she."
*hangs head sheepishly in less than an alpha male display
posted by caddis at 8:01 PM on June 6, 2008

I think that the training idea is best, but my strategy when I'm visiting the folks is to step lightly on their rear feet when they lift their front paws in the air. Enough to make them yelp, but not enough to cause injury. After a couple reminders I'm generally good for the rest of the trip.
posted by Manjusri at 8:04 PM on June 6, 2008

yes, stepping on the feet works if the knee has not prevented them from getting up and on you, but don't forget to use a loud and forceful "NO, BAD DOG, DOWN!"
posted by caddis at 8:14 PM on June 6, 2008

When a dog jumps on you, it's a play for dominance. The dog isn't dangerous, it just wants to play, and it thinks you are its plaything. When it starts to run up to you, square off ( center yourself over your feet and plant your weight) and say "NO!" as firmly and non screechily as you can. The dog probably won't stop at this point, but this will make an impact. As it approaches, turn the shoulder and knee nearest the dog towards it - when the dog impacts you, throw it off of you with the shoulder and knee. Say "NO!" as it is pushed away.

At this point, the dog will get up, shake its head and try to jump on you again - be ready for it, and do the same thing again. It will very likely give up at this point. Honestly, just throwing the dog on the ground a couple of times will break it of the jumping habit.

I can't say what you should do about the neighbors - they don't sound like good dog parents - but there's no need to euthanize a dog just because it jumps on you!! Be the boss - be smarter than the dog - knock it on its ass a few times and then pet it when it behaves and you will have a good friend.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:47 PM on June 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Try just taking a step back when the dog starts up. And don't bend down. Just say no, and take a step back. That breaks the dog's expected contact with you as it tries to jump up, and leaves it back on the ground. 90% of dogs jumping up for attention are cued to do it, when you lean down towards them, trying to head it off, so don't lean down or extend your hands, either. Take a step back, and put your hands at your sides, or behind you.

Never lean down, and take another step back, if the dog still tries to jump up. Say "No!" or "Sit!" Many dogs will sit briefly after a failure at jumping up, so this is one way to start the "Sit!" command training, too.
posted by paulsc at 10:19 PM on June 6, 2008

It's not that I won't call animal control. It's that I'd really rather not because like I said before, the police were called on a different neighbor (not by me) that was letting their Rottweiler and pit bull run free, and the police told said neighbor who called the police, and got their mailbox knocked down in retaliation. I'm not afraid of my mailbox being knocked down. But I do like these people, having lived next door to them and been friends for 16 years. I will call animal control if I absoulutely must, but I'd rather try something else first. I will probably go to a pay phone and not give my name if I end up having to call.

The 16- and 13-year-old kids in this family say they miss their old dogs... but even they won't leash her. (They also have a 4-year-old.) I think part of the problem is the parents grew up on farms where it was okay to let your dogs run free. This is the suburbs. Maybe they're just all circle-of-life about this thing, like dogs aren't so much part of the family, but mere livestock. Still, it's hard for me to hurt these kids... the 16-year-old was 6 months old when they moved in and I've watched them grow up.

Back story: They fed a stray cat for 2 years. It never came in the house but for all intents and purposes, their house was its home. Then they got this dog (found abandoned on the side of the road - their animals have never been adopted from shelters but gained from family and friends) and suddenly decided the stray was undesirable because it could make this dog sick, and simply stopped feeding it. It was slowly starving. They were throwing shoes at it and the 16-year-old was shooting at it with his air gun (although when I told his mom, who was unaware, he stopped.) I had to finally tell him to absolutely NOT shoot at this cat when I was around. He claimed he was only aiming for the ground near him to scare him. Finally they were going on vacation, and I planned to capture the cat and take it to the shelter. At the last minute, my mom broke and asked them if it was okay if we did this.. and they said "fine! please do! thank you!" We did. He was so wild that they had a heck of a time getting him out of the trap, and he was put to sleep after 3 days.

BTW, they vowed to get this dog spayed. Then she went into her first heat, and they were complaining about having to change her doggy pads that they bought for her. They vowed again to get her spayed "this month." It's 4 months later and she still isn't spayed.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:14 AM on June 7, 2008

I will strongly consider calling animal control.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:16 AM on June 7, 2008

You've pointed out that FOUR PREVIOUS DOGS have been killed by cars. Calling animal control is not for your good, it is for the good of the dog.

Getting hit by a car is a miserable, terrifying and painful way for a dog to die.

Animal control will start by having a very stern talk with your neighbours that may scare them into appropriately training their pet. They need someone who actually has the power to do something (take possession of their dog) to make them step up the plate.

This is NOT cruel - to either the neighbours or to the dog. Calling Animal Control is simply the most responsible and responsive thing to do here. It can be done anonymously.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:40 AM on June 7, 2008

Animal control will most definitely be my last resort... these neighbors are good people

I realize you've known them since you were a child, but from everything you've told us (the cat story is icing on the cake), I don't consider them very high-quality people. Intelligent, mature adults do not have a history of behavior like this.

People have tried to reason with them. People have gotten angry with them. Through their *willful* negligence they continue to violate the rights and safety of others.

I know this is horribly socially-difficult, but perhaps you should be clear and honest and tell them that if they do not restrain their dog you'll report them yourself. Stick to the facts of the situation and remind them that it's a problem for multiple people in the neighborhood. If there is any incident after that, call animal control. If the dog hurts you again (even if it's "just" scratches and bruises), call the police. Good people don't inflict this upon their neighbors.

The problem isn't training the dog, the problem is training the people.
posted by D.C. at 5:42 AM on June 7, 2008 [1 favorite]

From what you say in your background explanations these people shouldn't be pet owners - end of story. Call animal control.
posted by koahiatamadl at 5:45 AM on June 7, 2008

I would just like to point out that all of these suggestions for getting the dog not to jump on you do not solve the underlying problem with the dog. While it will be convenient for you personally not to be mauled, the dog will continue to run free and to jump on everyone else, including children (that it might terrify and also playfully "nip") and the elderly (that might get their frail bones broken).

Not to be all lecturey, but don't you think you owe it to your whole community to work out a more permanent solution?

Anyway I had another idea; is there somewhere on your own property that you could chain the dog every time it comes over? Just keep a leash by the front door and after you get the dog not to jump on you, slap a leash on it and chain it to the front porch? (Or somewhere in the shade, but obviously visible from the neighbor's house so they aren't left guessing where their dog is.) Leave it water, but not food.

Maybe the neighbor's constantly having to come over and fetch their dog will drive in how constantly this problem happens. It seems really unfair that you always have to walk the dog back home, just to have it escape again.
posted by GardenGal at 8:37 AM on June 7, 2008

i strongly advise you not to just call the shelter anonymously. many shelters, like the one i worked with for 9 years, simply ignore anonymous calls and/or have a policy against accepting them. most of the time, anonymous calls are linked with neighbors being ugly to each other, not to egregious animal care violations.

again, i think your strongest course of action is to wait until the dog comes onto your property, and then take the dog to the shelter yourself. if you're concerned about individual retaliation, inform the police in advance and request peacekeeping patrols or an increased presence in the neighborhood. you might also recruit 2 or 3 neighbors to go with you to the shelter.

i really understand your hesitations, and can empathize with your concern about having to live next door to someone who "has it out for you." i still contend, however, that the dog deserves for *someone* to act in her best interests. and it cannot be denied -- the best interests of that dog are to be removed from that home, immediately.

good luck. what an awful situation.
posted by CitizenD at 9:44 AM on June 7, 2008

Agree that this family needs animal control to give them a whack on the snout for being bad pet owners. Since you like these people, I would give them one last, direct warning: if they continue to mistreat their animals, you WILL call animal control and won't feel bad about it. Make sure that they understand that while you like these people as neighbors, you cannot stand by and let them harm their animals.

As for the immediate, you do need to establish animal dominance over the thing.

I've heard from a reliable source that this is a good book about learning about the psychology and motivations of dogs. And people.

When a dog jumps on you, as I understand it, only things can be happening: you are a sort of stranger to him, and he's trying to establish where you stand in his dog-society hierarchy. Or, you are not a stranger, and he is dominant over you in his view. Or, at the very least, you and he are equals, and his "betters" in his hierarchy have done nothing to disabuse him of this notion. Or, finally, he IS the top dog, and you (and his owners) are his playthings.
posted by gjc at 11:08 AM on June 7, 2008

nthing kneeing the dog in the the chest. A one year old lab is nearly indestructable.
posted by fonetik at 12:46 AM on June 8, 2008