Jumping Puppy

[imported_Tammy Jones]

Hi,
I have a 5 month old black lab/border collie mix. Needless to say, very energetic! She jumps up on people a lot--on us whenever we return home, whenever we go outside to play, and on visitors CONSTANTLY. I always say, "DOWN" very firmly and place my hand on her back to let her know when I mean. I think she just does this when she is very excited. How can I train her not to do this, and will she eventually grow out of it? Yesterday, she jumped on my mother-in-law so much (who, thankfully, is also a dog person!) that I had to put her out in the yard. :oops: That wasn't meant as a punishment, because she loves our yard, but just to rescue my mother-in-law! Thanks for any advice!

Tammy

[Summer Magic]

I'd start her on NILF if she isn't already on it. That way she will know who's in control. She obviously loves people. When my Magic used to jump I would say DOWN then turn my back on her and ignore her for a few minutes. Then I would give her the sit command and THEN pay attention to her. If she's not rewarded for her actions she'll soon stop them because she's not getting what she wants.

[imported_Tammy Jones]

Thanks for the tip about turning my back, etc. I will try that, although I know from experience that she will jump on my back, too. I guess in that case I will just remove myself from her (go inside, or to another room). I agree that she does love people and she's a good dog--just not quite willing to accept that we humans are indeed the boss(es). :wink: I have a newbie question for you: what is NILF? Thanks!

Tammy

[Eric Vecc]

Maybe you could keep her on a leash when guests come over and step on leash when someone is greeting her. I always tell people to bend down and pet my dog. That way he does not have a need to jump up. She may or may not grow out of it, but chances are she will be a full grown dog and might push someone over. Or put some dirty paw marks on your favorite outfit. If she jumps on you, turning your back is the best approach. It is hard to tell a neighbor to ignore her when they come over to visit. You could also teach her to STAY IN A SPOT. We are working on this and want to eventually put Bailey in a down stay in his spot when people are coming to the door (he is a happy pee'er)

[aussiesmum]

NILIF is a great program where you really set boundaries and rules for your dog. Really helps you and your dog understand your relationship (which makes you both happier). You can find it *I THINK* in the defensive dog section.

What we have done with our spring Aussie is deach her "low". It is quite hard and we are still working, but she is starting to get it. Bascially we just tell her "low" when we see her running towards someone or when she is already jumoing on someone. "Low" means sit or down or stand on all fours, just don't JUMP!

(of course we use the Dutch word for low as it is easier for other people to tell her "low" and also it is clear to MOST people that we are TRYING our darndest to train her. Of course there are ALWAYS the grouchies who say things like "you need to control your dog" but luckily they say it to me in Dutch and since I can't really say means things in Dutch yet, I just give them the "got to heck" look)

[Justine Archuleta]

You could also try those harness things that go on their back legs. It does not hurt them, but every time they go to jump it prevents them to do so.. I have it in my Doctors Foster and Smith magazine. It is called a no jump harness. It restricts the use of your dog's rear legs so he will soon learn not to jump. Hope this helps.

[Renee Premaza]

Hi Tammy,

Here's a handout on how to teach a dog to do polite sits for greetings, and how to handle this situation when the dog jumps up just for attention. I hope this helps you:

POLITE GREETINGS

Start working on this with just live-in family members. The more repetitions you do and the more people you can enlist to help you, the better the dog will become at being mannerly for greetings.

Stand at various archways in your house. Keep the dog onleash for this training. Work at one doorway until the dog understands that you will reward him ONLY when he's sitting for greetings. Once he seems to understand this, work at another doorway to get him to generalize the behavior. DO NOT YET WORK AT THE FRONT DOOR.

(1) Someone step on the loop of the dog's leash. Another person QUIETLY and UNEXCITEDLY approaches the dog and quickly tells the dog to SIT before the dog has any chance of jumping. If the dog sits, reward him IMMEDIATELY with a nice food treat produced from a hidden area (behind your back).
(2) Repeat again by approaching quietly and telling the dog to SIT! Reward.
(3) On the 4th approach, test the dog to see if he's gotten the message. Approach the dog and stop in front of him AND DON'T SAY A WORD. Many dogs will voluntarily offer a sit at this point. If this happens, JACKPOT the dog by giving him 3 treats one at a time and tell him he's a genius!! **If the dog doesn't offer a sit, but chooses to jump up, IMMEDIATELY turn on your heel and walk out of the room. TRY APPROACHING AGAIN, but this time, tell him to SIT once again.
(4) Re-approach the dog, and hopefully he'll have realized that sitting is what you want him to do. I've never had a dog go past the 4th approach before "getting it."
(5) Okay, now that your dog is sitting for quiet approaches, begin to push the envelope a bit, and make those approaches just a bit more exciting. He may also get excited and raise those front paws up to jump. Ooops! Walk out of the room. Re-approach again excitedly, but you might want to remind him to SIT.
(6) Here's another way to push the envelope. Place treats in your hands and wave them over your dog's head. If he goes to jump up for them, quickly turn on your heel and walk away. Try it again. If he sits there while you wave that treat over his head, praise the heck out of him and give him that treat!
(7) As he gets better and better, pushing that envelope to the max by approaching him like many people wind up approaching dogs - "Hi Doggy" in a high-pitched voice. Try raising your arms over your head (that might make him jump). If he jumps, walk out of the room. If he sits, reward the heck out of him. It's now time to go to another doorway. Try tapping your thighs or your shoulders because a jumping dog will jump immediately if he's not trained. If your dog decides to sit under THESE circumstances, give him a lobster tail and then go to another archway to train him again - BUT START FROM SCRATCH AT (1).

When the dog is solidly performing well for polite greetings at the doorway with you, it's time to ask for volunteers to help you work on this. You can have a dinner party and invite about 6 guests. You tell them that in order to "earn" their dinner they must help you teach your dog to sit politely for greetings! It is much easier to begin teaching the dog to generalize this behavior with people she KNOWS, LIKES, and TRUSTS! You want to set your dog up to SUCCEED, not to fail. Tell each guest they have to greet her TWICE! Remember, if the dog DOESN'T SIT, they have to walk out of the room and re-approach. Only AFTER the dog has sat nicely for that person, they can give the dog a treat, and then come in and get comfy.

When your dog is doing well for known friends and family, you can start to work on strangers. This will take a much longer time for her to accept strangers, but continue to follow the rules I've given you above.

The most important things in getting your dog to settle down with strangers are:

1. Make entrances a non-event.
2. Do NOT make eye contact with the dog
3. Do NOT talk to the dog
4. Do NOT pet the dog
5. Do NOT stare at the dog
6. Do NOT reach over the top of the dog's head to pet her.
7. The quieter the greeting the better your dog will behave!

REPETITION, REPETITION, REPETITION

HAVE TREATS IN A BIN OUTSIDE WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO COME OVER

Invite your visitor into the house, and then bring your LEASHED dog away from the door and step on the loop of her leash.

Have this person approach the dog, but DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT OR TALK TO THE DOG YET. When the dog is in a SIT POSITION and NOT BARKING, You can click your dog, AND HAVE VISITOR HAND THE DOG A TREAT, or you can give the dog a treat for sitting.
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If your dog jumps on you for attention within the house, turn your back on him and ignore him. OR… leave the room (duck behind the bathroom door) and when he sits or walks away, you can begin interacting with him again. If he sits when you turn your back, tell him "good boy/girl!" Do NOT give treats if the dog has jumped and then sits!! Give treats for voluntary sits and/or if you're training polite sits for greetings.[/b]