Jumping on People

[jsz]

My pup is hyper!! I know this is to be expected for awhile, but his behavior towards people when they visit is well, annoying! (for them) The problem is he says hello - fine - but he won't stop saying hello, wanting to be petted, wanting to play. Normally I have to redirect his attention to something else, but this makes it very hard to have a friendly visit with someone. He never barks at anyone...just wags his little tail. Lately he has started to jump up also. I've tried telling them to ignore him, but that does'nt phase him. He'll just grab their hand or anything. Please Help!

[JonandMichelle]

Well, it just sounds to me you need training. Your pup/dog should be in a sitting postion when being petted. For the jumping, when he/she does this just raise your knee into the chest and say NO! Obviously not hitting the chest hard, just hard enough to get the attention and give the correction. It takes time, but a well behaved dog makes the home so much happier, for you and your guests. Good luck.

[Vicki]

Don't knee your little one in the chest. There are many ways to stop a dog from jumping, one is to turn your back on the dog. Be sure you are positively reinforcing the behavior you want; ignore the behavior you don't want, LAVISHLY praise the behavior you do want.

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[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

The problem for me is when I correct Nala for this type of behavior (mostly jumping) then praise her when she stops it cause her to start all over again. I must say that I make her sit for everything, to eat for a treat for her toys to go and to be pet. She is now at the point where she knows to get anything at all she must sit first. She still has a control problem when she first sees us. I'm still happy with her progress.

[jensav]

you can also train in a counter-behavior, the idea being that it's impossible for your dog to jump when he's doing another behavior, for example a sit or a down. my dog has picked up the bad habit of jumping up to lick our faces when we get home. turning our back was one option, but making milo do a sit to get attention really works well. i, too, don't believe kneeing a dog in the chest is the best solution.

[JonandMichelle]

Vicki, why do you say don't knee the dog in the chest? Hopefully people understand not to do this to cause injury, just as a deterrent. Most all books say to do this as do most trainers I have talked to. This approach has stopped Raja from jumping. Please explain your reason for this.

[Mick Trainer]

jsz,

I agree with some of the other posts that you just need to train the pup. To stop jumping up do not knee the pup in the chest but rather as Vicki says turn your back on the pup. I would also add in a negative marker to greater create an association between the jumping and the turning away. When the pup does the right behavior praise it. If you find as Diane has that when you praise the dog starts again then just repeat the exercise until it realises it must always stay on the gound. There can be one negative contigency with this training. After some time some dogs realise that all they have to do to get a pat is jump on you then put all feet back on the ground. If this occurs when the dog jumps up put the dog out side.

Also this training can fall down with you friends as they may not wish to do this to the dog. So arrange for a friend to come over so that the dog recieves that same treatment from ever body that comes over.

If the dog is doing other behaviors than jumping up put him on lead so as you can control him until he settles down. I have also trained my dogs that when someone is at the door to bark first, but then to drop behind the door. I then release the dog once every body is inside and the dog is carm. This may be soemthing you wish to consider.

JonandMichelle,

I cannott and will not attempt to speak for Vicki, but I no longer knee dogs in the chest because there is an ulternative that is gentler to the dog that has no real negative continencies (that cannot easily be fixed). It is also hard for people to get the kneeing correct. When I used to teach it to my customers one in ten would get it right (to hard, to soft). With the training method above I have not had one person un successful with it.

Also especially in this case we are dealing with a pup. When training a pup there should be as little negative training methods as possible. In terms of the books you have read and the fact that so many trainers recommand this shows that these texts should not be viewed as the be all and end all. Writting a book does not make someone an expert. There is only so much that can be written in one book. I am a dog trainer and it is a sad fact that most trainers once given a cure to a behavior are reluctant to change or do not have the training neccesary to find and understand ulternative treatments. Dog Training should always be open to ulternatives and should be constantly evolving.

Mick.

[JonandMichelle]

Thank you Mick for sheding a new light on the subject. This is why Im here on this group, to learn. As for the post I orignaly replyed to, I must have over looked the subject of the pups age. I am sorry. I agree also not to raise the knee on a young pup. Thanks again for the new info. When we get our next Rottie, I will try this approach.

[bearkat]

Clyde is coming up on 14 months old, and I have recently taught him to "give me a hug", which loosely translates into jumping up and putting his front paws on my shoulders. He knows that he can do this by invitation only, and only when I am sitting down. I taught him to sit first, and only when I tap my shoulders can he "get a hug". When he was a baby, I taught him to sit and stay if someone knocked on the door. If he made mistakes, me and my "helper" ignored his pleas for attention. When he didn't attack the "helper" for attention, he got treats, and lots of praise.

There are lots of different methods to correct this problem of not leaving your guests alone, but the important thing is that your dog recognizes that you expect him to be mannerly. Once he understands that his behavior is unacceptable to you, he will do his darndest to do it right, so he gets the cookies and praise. I agree with Mick in that a puppy should have positive reinforcement as opposed to negative.

[Mick Trainer]

Jonandmichelle, always happy to help.

Bearkat, you have just illustrated my point, there is more than one way to train a dog. Find what is going to work for your dog, but if it doen't try something else. Eventually you will find the right method.

Mick

[nightwatch]

I am a first time rottie owner, but I have been around dogs and trained my prior pets with great success. Some one suggested turning your back on the dog when he tries jumping. I bet it would work for a puppy, but it didn't work for me and Charlie. (he's two years old) I would teach him not to jump up and he would remember for a few days, and then forget so I thought it would be good to try to ignore him so not to be rewarded for his actions. Turning your back on him resulted in him still jumping up on your back. He does this regardless of who it is. I liked the suggestion of squeezing paws, I'll have to try that.

[Mick Trainer]

Nightwatch,

Make sure that what ever method you use that you give a negative marker when you do it. It will help with the association. Alao another method that you may want to try is to sperate the dog from you for what he has done.

Mick.

[nightwatch]

Mick, thanks, I'll have to add that to my training methods. Nightwatch

[Chuck]

JSZ is your pup from working lines? Are you planning on doing schutzhund or similar training with it?

I can not say for sure from what you have writen but it is possible you have a dog with high drives. Allowing your pup to jump up on people will build confidence in the pup. This will pay off when doing bite work later on. I realize everyone does not appreciate a pup jumping up on them but if you have friends that do not mind it then I would allow it until the pup gets older. If your purpose of getting the pup is just for a house pet then forget what I have said above.

[jsz]

Chuck,
Thanks for taking that approach on the subject, but it won't help me. I just want a loving, loyal and obedient dog for a pet.
I've tried turning my back on Zeus and he does get down, but when I turn around again he is soon jumping up again. He doesn't stay up but he is still jumping.
He is in obedience training and he is the "trainer's pet" shall we say! He is an angel there, but when we get home it's a different story. He does listen very well and if I have a treat, he will sit forever and wait, but I can't always have a treat and I don't believe I should have to. Praise just seems to get him going more.
I am still just turning my back and saying "down". It works for a few seconds but that's about it.
Sarah