Hungarian people used Vizslas for hunting purposes in the 1300s. Owing to the excellent attributes, this dog breed then slowly spread across Europe. Finally, North America imported them in the mid-1800s from European immigrants, where they became popular as both family and sporting dogs. But some people have a hard time understanding why their Vizsla is jumping so much.
Being a hunting dog, the jumping habit of Vizsla isn’t unusual. But there are some reasons if it starts jumping a lot. Such as inadequate physical activities, for attention, to greet strangers, aggression, excitement, to show their love.
Moreover, why is my Vizsla jumping constantly? My Vizsla jump on me all the time, Why? Why does my dog always want to jump up and down on people or other dogs? These are some of the questions that many owners ask themselves when they first get their Vizsla pup. It can be frustrating at times, but there is a reason for this behavior! Read below for more details about why your Vizsla is jumping a lot? What should you do to stop it?
Why Is My Vizsla Is Jumping A Lot?
One of the most exciting things about Vizslas is that they are knowledgeable and energetic and need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to be happy. They were hunting dogs in the past, but now they excel in other fields, such as agility, obedience, tracking, and performing tricks.
If you find yourself wondering, Why Is My Vizsla Is Jumping A Lot? Here are a few reasons why your Vizsla might be jumping A LOT:
Lack Of Adequate Physical Activities
The Vizsla is a high-energy dog breed, and they require plenty of physical activities to maintain their mental wellness. If your Vizsla lacks an adequate amount of exercise for an extended period, he may start displaying jumping behavior.
So, you should give your Vizsla many exercises to help him de-stress and release pent-up energy.
Vizsla Might Be Jumping Due To Excitement
Vizslas will often jump when excited or to greet people. If your dog jumps on you, reward them with a treat every time they do it so that they can understand that jumping is appropriate behavior. They may also be doing this because of anxiety. When you leave them home for too long, they might feel insecure. So, as soon as they see you, they think relieved and excited and jumps at you.
Besides this, seeing their favorite food as treats or toys can also excite them to jump.
Vizsla Might Be Jumping To Show That It Loves You
Some people might think that Vizsla is jumping a lot to show dominance and being the alpha dog. However, this may not be the case with your dog, as it could just be an over-excited breed of animal that can result in excessive barking or even destructive behavior like digging up plants from your garden.
Like most pets, Vizsla loves their owner and may feel the need to show its affection through jumping. It is also a sign of excitability that you can see in many breeds, including Vizsla’s cousins – German Shepherd Dog, Keeshonden, and Poodle.
Vizsla Might Be Jumping Due To Aggression
One of the most common reasons for a Vizsla to jump is due to aggression. Dogs are often reactive, and they will do anything in their power to keep other dogs out of their space, even if it means jumping on them or barking at them. Thus, Vizsla jumps when another dog comes near you or when you try to leave the house.
Dogs can also be reactive to other animals, with cats being the most common culprits for Vizslas that jump up when they see one.
Vizsla Might Be Jumping To Greet Strangers
Vizsla is jumping a lot because he might not know the person, so this is his way of greeting them. But, unfortunately, they will jump on top of you and lick your face without warning, which can lead to some scary moments for a stranger. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with any dog, it is essential to greet them and give a friendly approach calmly. Thus, it will show the dog that you are not going to hurt them.
Anxiety And Boredom
Although Vizsla is an easy-going dog breed still, you cannot deny that they can get anxious and bored.
If you observe that your dog is jumping a lot, it could mean these two things: either he’s feeling anxious or tired of being in one place for so long. Either way, having him jump a lot is bad for his joints and bones.
Are Vizslas Too Hyper?
Since Vizslas are famous as a family pet that suits perfectly in every household. So, these dog breeds are less likely to show hyperactivity or aggression. However, in contrast to the present-day Vizsla, people used these dogs for hunting in the past. Therefore, being a wild dog running and chasing prey, they might have a hyperactive behavior.
It’s common to see Vizslas jumping around when their owner gets home from work or school. The dog may even jump on you as soon as you walk in, which can be both surprising and cute at the same time. But is your Vizsla too hyper?
No, Vizslas are not too hyper. They want more attention from you. They may jump up on your bed or couch when it’s time to rest because they’re looking for a cuddle session. As such, these dog breeds should be around kids and other family members as much as possible to maintain a healthy level of energy.
Can Jumping Habit Of Vizsla Cause Problems?
Are you one of those owners who find the jumping behavior of your Vizsla cute? If it is true, you might also be familiar with the problems that a lot of jumping might cause in your dog.
Thus, some of the problems caused by jumping in your Vizsla are:
- The jumping can cause a dog to become tired quickly.
- Jumping might also lead to some injuries, such as sprains or muscle strains, if the dog accidentally hits something on its way down from a jump.
- Jumping is often a sign of excitement, which can be dangerous if the dog’s jump knocks over an object they play with or eat.
- If your Vizsla is obese, then jumping a lot might lead to a back injury.
- Sometimes jumping a lot burns too many calories of your Vizsla. Thus, your dog will be more likely to be leaner and skinny.
- Besides, any repetitive motion can be complex on a dog’s joints and bones, so it would not do well for an overweight Vizsla.
- If your Vizsla jumps too much at inappropriate times, they may get into some trouble with the neighbors.
What Should I Do To Stop My Vizsla From Jumping?
Since jumping is an inborn action of your Vizsla, total elimination of this habit is quite impossible. But still, you can employ the following guidelines to control and stop your Vizsla from jumping:
- First of all, you should know the reason why your Vizsla is jumping so that you could avoid it in the future.
- Once you know the reason, establish a time limit to indulge in this activity and stop when that time has elapsed.
- Utilize the excess energy of your Vizsla by playing a game with him. It will not only stop the jumping but also help burn calories and maintain your dog’s fitness levels.
- If you have more than one Vizsla, then make sure to give them their respective time limit in which they can jump.
- It would help if you never punish your dog for jumping. Instead, reward it when your Vizsla does not jump to teach them what’s good.
- Try using a leash to control your Vizsla from jumping. If the problem is with other dogs, you can crate them so that they do not get to jump at all.
- Try to distract your Vizsla by offering him toys or treats when you feel they might be jumping.
- Rember your dog’s potential of jumping while you buy furniture.
- To make sure your Vizsla does not jump on other dogs, you should take him to where there are no other canines.
Moreover, you can’t change your dog’s behavior in a day, so make sure you have some patience when dealing with the problem. Every dog communicates in its way, and you should not take the jumping as a sign of disobedience.
How To Train A Vizsla To Not Jump?
If your Vizsla is jumping a lot, it may be causing problems. For example, if the dog jumps on guests and visitors, they might not return or want to visit again because they’re too afraid. Your Vizslas need to learn that people are good, so this behavior can’t continue. The best way to stop your Vizsla from jumping is with a step forward method.
The Step Forward Method:
When you know that the dog wants to jump, take a step forward and say “no” in an assertive voice as soon as their paws leave the ground. If they continue trying to jump, repeat this process but take a step forward each time. You may need to repeat this process for quite some time before it sinks in, but be patient and persistent!
The Sit Method:
If your dog doesn’t have any desire to jump at all, teach them that the word “sit” means to stop what they are doing and plop down on the ground. One way to do this is to feed your dog using a raised bowl. It will help them to sit while eating.
Should You Punish Your Vizsla For Jumping?
If you’re in an intense training session and your dog jumps on you while it’s happening, then yes. It would help correct the behavior using a stern voice or swat to make your dog understand that it’s wrong. If you just let them get away with jumping, they won’t know any better and will continue doing so.
But biting, torturing, and mistreating them in the name of punishment isn’t a good idea. It breaks your bond with your dog. As a result, your dog will be resentful and avoid you in the future. Rather than following your order, harshness may make them rebel and stubborn.
Vizslas are sensitive, and they need respect. It would help if you only punished them in a way that teaches them not to jump, other than physical abuse or scolding. Some methods of correcting your pal without punishing are using a leash, spraying them with water, or using an electric dog collar.
Conclusion
Furthermore, jumping Vizsla is usually not a problem if it does not harm in the process. The key is to make sure that your dog understands what you want them to do. If your dog listens to you, then you should not have any issues with their behavior.
It’s important to remember that the Vizsla will not change their behavior on their own. But punishment is just going to make your dog more afraid of you and make things worse.
Hopefully, this article helped to clear your doubts. If you have any queries, don’t forget to mention them in the comments.
