jumping on people

[chermes]

I have a 7 1/2 month old lab/stand. poodle mix that insists on getting in everybodies face when they come home. She goes to obedience twice a week but acts like a different dog there. At home she is a wild Indian. We have tried the correction collar on her when company comes but she doesn't care. She goes into a wild fit trying to get at the company and won't sit for a second. When I come home from work she is all over me. I have tried ignoring her, doesn't matter she keeps after me, holding her front legs up, thinks this is a nice game. Lightly stepping on her back toes doesn't work because she is all over the place and jumps and moves too fast. She will sometimes just touch your rearend with her feet and cantor off as if saying Hi as she passes through. I dread having company over because of her behavior. I know confining her will never teach her. Any thoughts on this will be helpful.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

I know exactly what you are going through. Drake did the same thing. Drake would jump on everyone. He was only playing, but when a 75 lbs dog is all up in your face jumping on you, it is not really fun play!
We were old to push him away when he jumped. Tried and didn't work because Drake loves to play rough and he though we were playing with him. The next thing we tried that worked was when he jumped, we held his paws and just stood there for about 5 minutes (sometimes longer). So he was standing on his hind legs. We also were told to firmly hold his paws. Not to hurt him, but it would make him uncomfortable. He got tired just standing on his hind legs and them we let him go. It took about 5 or 6 times doing that and he hasn't jumped since!

[Hbrika]

I have a similar problem.

Our yellow lab is a big sweetheart but doesn't liek to be alone. She has been to obedience school and did very well but once in awhile she gets really rammy and jumpy.

These are a few things that have helped.

1) Dominance and Submission
Get your dog on their back and straddle them staring them in the eye. When they look away they are acknowledging you as the 'alpha'. Hold them in place a bit then get up slowly telling them to 'stay'. Free and praise.

At first this was a bit difficult because Gully likes it! Now however I tell her 'stay' when I dominate her and she is much calmer. I then stroke her ears while she is down and tell her that she is good.

2) Sometimes she just needs to run. Saying "want to go outside" and opening the back door teaches your dog "outside"=fun. Whether it is to put them out for a bit or to start a play session , both work.

3) Training. If I say "want to do soem training" she loves it. It means treats, attention and lots of praise. A few minutes a day will work but it tends to turn into a game. You will be impressed. Your dog will remember obedience school.

4) Chew toy. You probably have these. Find something they really really like to chew and leave a few around so they can rip at them when they need to horse around.

I hope this helps. I am still training my dog and she is still teaching me to be a puppy.

HB

[Pam]

Labradoodle you are not alone! My Bella is a 7 1/2 month old standard poodle whose main fault right now is jumping up on company. She does not do this to people living in our house but when newcomers come she gets soooo excited. This of course is very embarrassing and annoying. One of the things we were told to try was to bend the knee as she is advancing towards you. This does not allow for her to get close enough to really be able to bounce up. Like your dog, she is a different dog when the choker chain is on and obedience training is going on. It's like that little silver necklace is magic. I am sure that constant reinforcement will find us winning this battle but it certainly is frustrating at times!

[Dixieland Dancer]

To stop my dogs from jumping up, I knee them in the chest when they jump up. When I first teach this approach I call my dog to me on purpose and when they jump give them the knee. As they are being knee'd I tell them "NO JUMP". After they kind of catch on then you can show them the knee before they jump. You will notice they think twice about jumping.

As far as company.... have someone willing to work with you on this problem come over to the house. Explain to them before they get there how to knee the dog in the chest when they jump. As they are getting knee'd you and your training partner need to tell them "NO JUMP". As in any training please know that consistency is the key. Never let your dog jump on you, even if you are playing if you don't want them to do it when you or company comes home!

Best of Luck

[carrie]

First off please, please don't roll your dog onto it's back and hold it there unless it is a small puppy that you are testing. This is not needed and in extreme cases very dangerous!
I would not advise calling a dog to me to knee it in the chest - the dog is not supposed to like this and you are thus training it that coming to you is unpleasant.

I have been talking a lot lately about the importance of eye contact and here it is paramount. Instruct ALL people coming into the house to stand still as soon as the dog approaches. Everyone then crosses their arms so that your right hand is on your left shoulder and your left hand is on your right shoulder and your arms are crossed over your chest. ALL people around the dog must do this. As you cross your arms look up at the ceiling, ALL of you, until the dog loses interest, which it will quicker than you think. Nobody talks or looks at the dog but as soon as the dog is calm you carry on greeting your visitors. If the dog starts to perform again you resume your strange positions. At the point YOU would like to introduce the dog you get the dog to sit and allow visitors to say hello. (Leaving a lead or short rope on the dog when you are in the house will help too) Do this EVERY time the dog starts to jump at you and let me know how it goes, please.
You will feel a total prat, but when you see some results, especially when people who know what the dog is usually like come to visit, it won't feel that silly anymore.

[3-greys-and-a-mutt]

The arm-crossing trick works wonders in our house, too. We just cross our arms and look away, and instead of jumping on us, the dog just looks at us like, 'what's going on?' Fabulous training technique in my book!

[Stenograsaurus]

Originally posted by carrie:
<STRONG>I would not advise calling a dog to me to knee it in the chest - the dog is not supposed to like this and you are thus training it that coming to you is unpleasant.</STRONG>

I thought the same thing too. That's like when a dog gets loose and they come to you after you have yelled for them and you smack them or punish them in some way.

[AngieS]

i had the same problem. what has worked for me with my almost 8 mo. old Boxer is when company comes over put him in a sit/stay before he can have any attention. at first i had to use a short leash because he wouldn't stay for very long before getting back up(he was too excited). but after he realized he wouldn't get any attetion until he was being good and not jumping he hasn't jumped on anyone else.
another thing to try is have treats by the door when guest come in to get a treat and make him sit then give the treat to him and pet him as long as he isn't jumping.
no matter what you try to stop this behavior be patient and persistant

[MHMama]

This is one big advantage to having such a small dog. When Ricky jumps up at me, I tell him to get off my ankle.
Love to all

[delidog]

what a great combination of dogs...i would love to see a picture of your labradoodle!!!!! the deli dog

[Logan]

I think the idea of a short lead on the dog, plus obedience training is excellent. One of my "obedience obsessed" friends suggested as a quick fix to grab the dog by the front paws. Then they can't do anything and it isn't fun anymore. Thank goodness, I don't have this problem. Mine just wiggle around everyone's feet and put yellow hair all over their clothes! I'm working on that one.

[Dixieland Dancer]

I agree that kneeing the dog in the chest would cause the dog not to want to come to you. However, I assume that your relationship with your dog is already a loving and affectionate one. We are talking about correcting a behavior that is not wanted. Not establishing a relationship with your dog.

When the dog does not jump up it is praised and/or rewarded without exception every time it comes to you during this training period. By calling the dog to me it has the chance to realize that by not jumping it will get the reward faster. This method has worked successfully for me with several dogs and I have dogs who think they are velcro'd to me so I don't think it harmed their affection for me.

The theory of ignoring the dog until the desired behavior is exibited is also a good idea. It depends on what your comfortable with and the dog in question

Happy training

[karen israel]

LOL! MHMAMA! "Get off my ankle"! What a hoot!
I swear, I always try to remember Carrie's advise by not reqarding bad behavior. As hard as it is, being the wimp I am, it works like a charm, cause Cody, the spoiled brat HATES to be ignored. He's even turned, "Humpfed" and laid down sulking! It's a riot! But as long as I win, it's ok. I've been knocked down too many times! I'm still learning!
By the way. I too, want to see a photo of Labapoodle!

[ August 22, 2001: Message edited by: karen israel ]

[Logan]

Originally posted by MHMama:
<STRONG>This is one big advantage to having such a small dog. When Ricky jumps up at me, I tell him to get off my ankle.
Love to all </STRONG>

Ha Ha Ha!!! I had just reread your post and was getting ready to comment when I saw that Karen Israel picked up on it too!! LOL!!

That is hilarious. Maybe you and Ricky ought to have a comedy act!!!!