Jumping

[kastle]

Little Lucy recently turned 8 months old. At her last weigh in, she was 93 pounds. I've only had her living with me for a month or so and she came to me with some bad behaviors. The worst is probably the jumping. Any time someone walks through the door, they are greeted with her jumping on them. I've tried putting her in the crate, putting her behind a gate and treating her to distract her but she still continues to do it. I'm willing to try anything. Any suggestions.

-Sooner or later I'll get some pictures of her up. I'm still trying to figure out how to get them bigger than a postage stamp.

 

[NinaA]

Be firm. Be very firm. No jumping up anytime on anyone. Quick correction. Practice with friends coming in the door. She should sit and stay seated, or at least stand still, but never jumping, because when she reaches 140 lbs, and even now, she can seriously hurt someone. Also, I would recommend a couple of rounds of obedience school immediately. I always start mine in school ASAP. Echo went the next day! Good luck.

 

[Sheila B.]

Keeping a leash on her may help you give her a quick and firm correction. Agree that training is definitely in order and the more friends that will help, the better. Those rewards for a good sit, stay will eventually do the trick but patience is the key and the hard part. Good luck!

 

[Thule's Mom]

and, the person being jumped on should keep their hands by their sides - don't touch the dog - turn away and ignore - dogs can perceive touch as affection.

 

[ardeagold]

I agree. Put a leash on her before you open the door. Have treats handy and make her sit. Just keep reinforcing the sit command. Tell them do not pet her or talk to her until she sits, then they can reward her with a treat.

The leashes that are really great for this are slip leads. That way you're not fumbling with clasps while the dog is jumping all over the place like a crazy creature.

We have these all over the house. At least one by each door, and one in each car. I use them more than any other lead unless I'm out in an area where they need a true collar and lead. When out we use a prong if needed and/or a martingale collar and regular lead.

All of ours are 6' long, however, I can see instances where a 4' may come in handy too.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-British-Slip-Collar-Leash/dp/B001B183A6/ref=pd_sim_k_1

 

[victoria1140]

we have this trouble with Beau and we found that every time someone comes in to the house they are given a high value treat. They tell him to sit and then once he has calmed down he is given the treat, not until. It has worked fairly well as with Beau its the initial excitement of meeting someone.

 

[JPerrelli]

Does the collar part of the slip leash adjust itself once on? It looks like there's a brown piece that slides down for the collar. I really like the colors!

 

[ardeagold]

You can slide down the leather part, but we rarely do. If you're walking with it, when/if the dog pulls, it tightens like a choke. It's meant for walking...nothing else.

If we're going to a location where I know I need more control, I use a real leash and collar...either flat, prong, martingale or hair saver choke. We have many. LOL

I have a heavy (3/4" thick) one for Cole that has a metal slide down piece instead of the leather tab, but don't use it often.

I prefer the 1/2" thick ones. The "slim" (3/8") is too thin. They also make them in leather. And you can get all kinds of colors...even multi-colored ones. Theyr'e called British Slip Leads.

 

[kastle]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try them all. I currently have her in a clicker training class and it seems to be going well but she still has a long way to go. I have a lot of family and friends that usually just let themselves in my back door. Do you think it would be a good idea to leave some special treats by the door so that they can give Lucy some if she sits for them?

 

[Alex]

Do you think it would be a good idea to leave some special treats by the door so that they can give Lucy some if she sits for them?

I like that idea, except I would specify "when" she sits, not "if." I find friends and family often want to give puppies treats because they're cute and they "tried," and that just teaches them the wrong thing.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

And consistency is the most critical thing for this...my dogs are invisible to me UNLESS all four of their feet are on the floor. They KNOW that I will not acknowledge them AT ALL if they jump on me. Consequently...nobody jumps ...on ME. But they will jump up on my son virtually everytime he comes here..because he has ALWAYS let them and acknowledged them when they do it. I have days...I swear...when I could use a choke chain on the KID...because it confuses the dogs to no end that it's not "always" the rule.

 

[Thule's Mom]

I never rewarded with treats for this..... the only acknowledgement Thule got was when everyone was in the door and settled, then she could be acknowleged by petting.. I don't think this is a behaviour that needs be rewarded with food. IMHO!!!

 

[lacey9875]

I like that idea, except I would specify "when" she sits, not "if." I find friends and family often want to give puppies treats because they're cute and they "tried," and that just teaches them the wrong thing.

Have you met my Mother? :!rolling:

Maggie went through a period of jumping around that age so badly that she failed her advanced obedience class, much to my embarrassment. She was horrible. She'd sit but as soon as your hand touched her, she was up on her back legs slurping at your face.

When I got her in a sit, I'd hold the leash so part of it was on the floor and then stood on it, so if she went to jump she couldn't.

 

[victoria1140]

Originally Posted by kastle
Do you think it would be a good idea to leave some special treats by the door so that they can give Lucy some if she sits for them?

this is what we do and it works for us as we know Beau is really excitable so it helps focus his brain into gear