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I have a dog, had her for a couple of years now. She was near wild and untrained when I got her, and she's much better now. Heels on a leash, comes when called, smart, knows a lot of tricks. And when she's alone with me, she's calm and happy. But I am embarrassed to say that she jumps on my friends when they come over and I have yet to think of a solution to make her stop. Here's what I do already:
- Give her plenty of exercise. At least, we walk and play fetch until she's exhausted.
- Give her plenty of mental exercise with puzzle games.
Here's what I've tried and failed at:
- Ignoring her. If you ignore her she gets more and more obsessed. Starts barking and jumping and trying to grab clothes with her mouth (she put hole in my shirt once). She also is small enough that she tends to nail you right in a sensitive spot sometimes and heavy enough that it hurts.
- Hire a dog trainer. This was a complete failure and waste of money. The trainer was worthless. I was able to do more training her using my own ways (mainly treats and praise and a whole lot of exercise) than with his silly bean bags and water balloons (yes, he had me throwing water balloons at the dog. I regret listening to him).
- Trying to praise her or give her a treat when she seems to calm down and stop jumping. Gets her started right up again.
What does work but isn't acceptable long term:
- Tell the dog to go to bed, close her crate door, let friends in and let them sit, then let her out of bed. She comes to them while sitting and gets petted. But the minute they get up for any reason, she jumps on them. I can't keep sending the dog to bed or not let my friends get up and get a beer in the middle of the game or something!
Any tips or tricks to help stop this behavior are much appreciated.
If it helps, this dog is a mix, but most likely a herding dog mix based on her energy (which is great for me and being outdoors) and her spontaneous herding.
You can try this simple exercise, and also have a few people on board who will help you with this one.
When you or they come in, ask them to pat their chest to encourage the dog to jump up. When the dog makes the lunge to get up, tell them to step immediately towards and right up TO the dog, effectively putting it off balance so they have to step back and put their front legs down.
Do this multiple times until you dog doesn't trust that he or she will have a torso or legs to lean on when they get up into the air.
There is nothing mean or physical about this exercise. It works with most dogs.
Note to add: it might be helpful to have a toy or treat for distraction after they have been put off balance.
How about putting a leash on the dog whenever someone is at the door. That way you can pull the dog back and make the dog sit and stay before any greeting is done. Petting stops the second the dog gets up. Greets are done with the dog sitting.
Believe me, if Wyatt McRiot could learn that, any dog can learn that. Now Wyatt is welcome anywhere, by anyone, and he gets lots of copliments about his lovely manners and he still gets his ears rubbed and he still gets cookies at the businesses that hand out dog cookies.
Kneeing & Stepping on Toes is Cruel & Can cause Broken Bones! Also can make it hard for her to trust Coming to you on Recall.
Work with her on a Solid Sit/Stay & Down/Stay Use a leash when friends are over & Every time they get up reinforce the commands. This is NOT a one time thing you are going to need to do this Every time for several visits over several months. Don't let your friends encourage her.
Katie did this every time friends came over they Encouraged her! Very discouraging since I was Training her to be a Service dog & she was already super friendly dog. I Finally got her to behave in public BUT when friends came over she was Wild dog! Finally when she was about 3 years old Friends had enough started complaining I Told them YOU Encouraged her You Stop it ... I was pi$$ed. So the ones that wanted the behavior to stop Started telling her to Sit/Stay when I opened the door 5 Visits later she was Calm & started ignoring them
As the dog jumps up, turn around immediately and don't touch him so the dog gets your back. Say, UH-UH, SIT (Does he know sit?). When he sits, turn back around and tell him he's good and give him a treat.
He wants to see your face, not your back. He will learn that he only gets to look at you when he sits.
I was also told to stick up a knee to push them down, but the turning around worked a lot better.
Kneeing & Stepping on Toes is Cruel & Can cause Broken Bones! Also can make it hard for her to trust Coming to you on Recall.
Work with her on a Solid Sit/Stay & Down/Stay Use a leash when friends are over & Every time they get up reinforce the commands. This is NOT a one time thing you are going to need to do this Every time for several visits over several months. Don't let your friends encourage her.
Katie did this every time friends came over they Encouraged her! Very discouraging since I was Training her to be a Service dog & she was already super friendly dog. I Finally got her to behave in public BUT when friends came over she was Wild dog! Finally when she was about 3 years old Friends had enough started complaining I Told them YOU Encouraged her You Stop it ... I was pi$$ed. So the ones that wanted the behavior to stop Started telling her to Sit/Stay when I opened the door 5 Visits later she was Calm & started ignoring them
Well you don't go all Kung-Fu on the dog with your knee- It's a bump in the brisket and a loud 'NO'. Works for me IF the simple turn to the side method doesn't.
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