How can I get my dog to stop trying to mount me?

Question

I have a lab mix who is 11 months old. He is fixed.

When he stands up he can put his paws on my shoulders, so he is a big boy.

The problem is that even though he's otherwise well behaved, he tends to try and 'tackle' me from behind whenever I start walking away from him. I scream no, take his paws off, i've even smacked his nose with the paper...all that just makes him more aggressive.

As you can imagine...this is all pretty embarrassing when i'm at the park and all, and I wonder if you have any ideas how I can stop this.

Answer 1

You don't state whether your male or female so I'm assuming female. Your dog is trying & succeeding in becoming alfa dog in your presence. It's going to take alot of mental strength to cure him of this. You need to be stronger mentally & physically than  him. Keep a spray bottle of water with you especially when walking away. When you dog tackles you spray him directly in the face with a firm NO-DOWN or OFF. You must become alfa dog in his eyes or this won't stop but will get worse. Good luck  

Answer 2

1. Always put a drag lead on him. Use a light lead, and clip off the loop at the end so it doesn't catch on anything. Make sure to use a flat collar and not a training collar. When your dog jumps on you, non-mark him (ack, ack) and stop him with the lead. Then do some obedience commands with him.

2. Time-out. If your dog continues with his jumping behavior after you have told him to stop, then say "time-out" and remove him to a time-out area (a safe but boring room, e.g. laundry room). Leave him in there for a couple of minutes and let him out. If he starts up again, non-mark him (ack, ack), and say time-out and put him back in time-out. This time lengthen the duration to about 10-15 minutes. Note that if your dog stops the jumping behavior, make sure to praise him a lot and give him good treats. Keep this up and your dog will learn that certain behaviors get him rewards while others get him into a boring room with nothing to do.

3. NILIF program. A great way to establish yourself as leader is through the control of resources. Don't give anything to your dog (including pets and affection) unless he does something for you first. For example ask him for a "sit" before you give him food, toys, or freedom.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

When you have such a big dog as that, its best to let them know that YOUR in charge. Lets say your playing with him in the living room, you turn your back and he tries to bite you. Simply tell him off, grab his collar, take him into a different room and shut the door. (Note: You need to do this right after he does this so that he knows what hes done wrong) After a few minutes let him back in. After a while of this technique he should start to learn that when he is naughty he gets a time out. Do the same this when he tries to mount you. He should learn in time. Hope this technique works for you. x

Answer 4

"I scream no, take his paws off, i've even smacked his nose with the paper...all that just makes him more aggressive. "

Yeah, that's actually teaching him to be aggressive.

Walk away every time he does that.  Ignore him for a minute or two, and then resume playing.  Do not talk to him or make eye contact with him.  Just get up and walk away.  Continue the cycle if need be.  This will take a few days.

Obedience classes would also be good.

Answer 5

You aren't pack leader he is.  First of all why are you allowing him to jump up on you in the first place?  If spinning around stops him then continue this until he stops the behavior.  Smacking will only make him more aggressive and fearful of you.  Learn to be pack leader, it's as simple as you eating out of his bowl before you feed him, you walking out the door first ahead of him. etc.

If he does this behavior turn your back and ignore, if he's grabbed you turn until it forces him off of you and ignore him.  

Watch "It's Me or The Dog" on animal planet saturdays at 9 pm.

Answer 6

if u cant properly ignore him because he wont let u, try ignoring him by going into another room and closing the door.  when he's calmed down come back in and repeat the process if he does it again.  when he doesnt do it again u should reward him with a treat, so that it teaches him he gets attention and food when he's calm